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PCB Forum How to merge two KiCad 7.x PCB circuits into one
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  • kicad 7
  • pcb design
Related

How to merge two KiCad 7.x PCB circuits into one

colporteur
colporteur over 1 year ago

What is your technique for combining two KiCad  projects into one?

I'm trying to develop some skill in KiCad  7, for combining the schematic and PCB of two completed projects into one. I've a small power supply circuit I would like to reuse in other projects. I was hoping to copy and paste the details into an existing project thereby avoiding some overhead. I wouldn't have to draw the schematic and I wouldn't have to layout the components on the PCB.

I've become frustrated and am thinking the best approach is to start from scratch each time. That seem so inefficient. Maybe you have project starting points as a template to begin with no a project.  I've little over a year in KiCad so an expert I am not. I was hoping to draw on some experience of the members who have a strong grasp of KiCad. I just like to become more efficient. Starting from scratch is so boring.

Any suggestions KiCad aficionados? 

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Top Replies

  • shabaz
    shabaz over 1 year ago +2
    Hi Sean, I've not tried to reuse portions of a PCB layout, but, there's a good feature in KiCad 7 to at least speed up the PCB portion, especially for modular bits of functionality. It is called 'Pack…
  • baldengineer
    baldengineer over 1 year ago +1
    Schematics are easily copied/pasted between KiCad instances. I've done it multiple times. Just be aware that Edit -> Paste Special gives you some control over how to handle the reference designators. …
Parents
  • mayermakes
    mayermakes over 1 year ago

    I make templates for some project that might come in handy later (actual kicad templates) for example for the Sudosom (ESp32 Linux module in the style of a Cm4) I made a template for the connectors and board shape as well as Sub sheets for all the sections.
    In case its about a specific design  for example a power supply that gets reused over and over I copy paste them in to new projects.on schematic and board level.
    whenever I need them I just copy paste them from the projects into my new current work.
    BUT BE AWARE: always copy the reused parts in first on both levels and make sure to not reenumerate the components in your design! this would mess up the matching between schematic and board level and you would have to rearange/route on the pcb level again.

    there is at this point no dedicate "module" approach for kicad but i think this is a frequent request to the devs.

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  • mayermakes
    mayermakes over 1 year ago

    I make templates for some project that might come in handy later (actual kicad templates) for example for the Sudosom (ESp32 Linux module in the style of a Cm4) I made a template for the connectors and board shape as well as Sub sheets for all the sections.
    In case its about a specific design  for example a power supply that gets reused over and over I copy paste them in to new projects.on schematic and board level.
    whenever I need them I just copy paste them from the projects into my new current work.
    BUT BE AWARE: always copy the reused parts in first on both levels and make sure to not reenumerate the components in your design! this would mess up the matching between schematic and board level and you would have to rearange/route on the pcb level again.

    there is at this point no dedicate "module" approach for kicad but i think this is a frequent request to the devs.

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