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Importing and exporting between Kicad and Solidworks

by: Apr 14,2021 16800 Views 0 Comments Posted in PCB Design Tutorial

PCB Design Tutorial KiCAD CAD Import CAD Export STEP

Summary:       How to import dxf files into Kicad and how place them at the desired layer. How to export final PCB so it can be imported into other CAD programs to make an assembly

Often you will need to work between programs to make sure all aspects of your design work together. I will show you how to import dxf files into Kicad for designing your PCB and how to export the PCB so it can be rendered into Solidworks or other CAD programs.


To insert a dxf file into Kicad you must go to File->Import->DXF. Make sure that the extension of the file is .dxf and not .DXF or the import might fail depending on your Kicad version. The select the layer in which the file will imported to. You will usually want to send it to drawings as you'll usually be importing an outline for the space where the PCB needs to fit into. You may also want to import it into the edge.cuts layer if what you are importing is the outline of the PCB with the location of the mounting holes, but this is not usually the case.



When exporting the PCB to another CAD program you have two options. If you loaded all the step files into your footprints, using the STEP export will be relatively easy and will even export the components on the PCB, but it won't export the pad locations or the silkscreen printing. The figure below shows how to export using the STEP export menu. If you do this you will end up with STEP files of the PCB and of each component that you already had STEP files assigned to in Kicad. Those component STEP files will be located at the correct spot on the PCB, but you won't be able to see any of the pads.



If you would like to add pad locations and silkscreen to your export you are able to export different layers as a dxf file and import those layers into your CAD program so you can create parts and an assembly from those layers. To do that go to File->Plot select DXF under the Plot Format drop down menu as file format and select the layers you want to export.



From that you can use each individual dxf file to create an extrusion to make a new part with all the PCB information (except for the components). Note that you might have problems when exporting circular geometries because those won't be exported as circles and will be composed pf many small line segments to form a circle. This may cause problems if you are trying to mate the PCB in an assembly with the concentric mate, but you can fix this by editing the drawing and replacing those line segments with a circle in Solidworks or your CAD program. You can mix this technique together with the STEP export so that you can create a PCB with electrical components on it. The figure bellow shows what you'll end up with if you follow these steps. Don't forget that the sharp corners on the PCB cut will be slightly rounded at inner corners, so make sure you account for that in your design if you are making a PCB that will be press fitted into an opening or mounting structure.


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