https://github.com/snhobbs/kicad-parts-placer

Auto place components into pcbnew from a centroid file. Useful for maintaining a common board form factor.
https://github.com/snhobbs/kicad-parts-placer

eda electronics kicad kicad-plugin layout manufacturing pcb pcb-design pcb-footprints pcb-layout pcb-manufacturing pcba python tools

Last synced: about 2 months ago
JSON representation

Auto place components into pcbnew from a centroid file. Useful for maintaining a common board form factor.

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/snhobbs/kicad-parts-placer
• Owner: snhobbs
• License: lgpl-3.0
• Created: 2022-11-17T14:30:49.000Z (almost 3 years ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2025-07-09T04:11:44.000Z (3 months ago)
• Last Synced: 2025-07-09T05:24:39.465Z (3 months ago)
• Topics: eda, electronics, kicad, kicad-plugin, layout, manufacturing, pcb, pcb-design, pcb-footprints, pcb-layout, pcb-manufacturing, pcba, python, tools
• Language: Python
• Homepage:
• Size: 237 KB
• Stars: 27
• Watchers: 4
• Forks: 1
• Open Issues: 0
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • Changelog: HISTORY.rst
  • Contributing: CONTRIBUTING.rst
  • License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

          
# kicad-parts-placer

**Tool for precise, batch placement of components in a KiCad PCB layout.**

+ [Blog Post](https://maskset.net/kicad-parts-placer.html)

## Features

+ Exact batch placement of components in a layout

+ Groups the components allowing them to be moved and positioned as a group, easily ensuring exact alignment

+ Useful for:

  + Creating bed of nails tester

  + Positioning mechanically important parts

  + Maintaining a form factor across different designs

+ Similar in function to this [Altium feature](https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/pcb-cmd-placecomponentsfromfileplacecomponentsfromfile-ad)

## Example Use: Pogo pin & test pad placement

An example is provided at [example/example-placement](example/example-placement).

This example starts from a centroid file generated from an existing design, which is edited to serve as the input configuration:

![Config file from centroid](documents/config_placements.png)

A schematic is drawn up with matching reference designators:

![tester schematic](documents/example-placement.svg)

The schematic is exported to a PCB which will look like this:

![Exported PCB](documents/exported_board.png)

Running the script on this board with this command exports the following board with the components exactly aligned ready for layout. The group can be treated as a footprint, placed where ever is useful. During layout you only have to deal with a single coordinate as the position within the group is locked.

```{python}

kicad-parts-placer --pcb example-placement.kicad_pcb --config centroid-all-pos.csv --out example-placement_placed.kicad_pcb --drill_center

```

![Generated PCB](documents/placed_components_board.png)

## Uses

    + Critical component placement: Exact placement of mounting holes, sensors, connectors, etc

    + Maintaining a form factor: Use the spreadsheet representation to either start a new project of a certain form factor or to ensure no parts have moved during layout

    + Reusing a bed-of-nails: Place the board outline and test pads the exact same way between versions to ensure the same jig can be used.

    

## Notes

+ Place parts in pcb layout from a configuration table.

+ Allows writing a config script which fully defines the parts

+ Connections are made either by updating from a schematic or passing a netlist

+ Use example of schematic to pcb placement

+ All parts are grouped together, locking their relative placement

+ Internal configuration is a dataframe with ref des, label/value, footprint, position x, position y. Notes fields can be added for documentation generation.

+ A separate config object can be that could pull in a board outline, stackup, etc describing the board.

+ Position, rotation, & ref des are available in the centroid file, that avoids requiring the source board be kicad.

## Installation

### PyPi

```

pip install kicad-parts-placer

```

### From Source

```

git clone https://github.com/snhobbs/kicad-parts-placer

cd kicad-parts-placer

pip install .

```

### KiCad Plugin

This tool is also available as a plugin via KiCad’s Plugin and Content Manager (PCM).

## References

+ [OpenFixture: Manual KiCad Location Export](https://tinylabs.io/openfixture-kicad-export)

+ [KiCad Schematic-to-PCB Position Plugin by Ian Ross](https://github.com/ian-ross/kicad-plugins)