I designed a fairly complicated board with many different components and I need to duplicate it multiple times onto the same PCB (same traces and everything). I have a complete schematic for one iteration and I am not sure what the easiest way to accomplish this goal is. In the past I copied the schematic, updated the PCB from schematic, copy and pasted my layout, and then used the swap tool to manually change each and every component. This method is too tiresome and time consuming to continue, so can anyone help me with my project?
Is panelisation what you are attempting to do?
There is a plugin tool for this. In Altium, they’re called rooms. In Kicad, Replicate layout . I had same question :
(I am guessing you are not wanting to panelize, just duplicate chunks of the SCH and PCB)
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This is how I do it…
You didn’t say what you want to end up with - thus…
Example (video): Multiple copies as Individual units.
Screenshot: Multiple copies with Edge_Cuts connected for CNC Milling the full shape
I didn’t fuss with any clean-up or hiding the Rat-Lines… You get the idea…
Yeah, you may dig up a Plugin to do (what?) You can also do desired sections the PCB…
And, Copy & Paste them…
I can’t believe I forgot the most important piece of information. When I duplicate the parts I want new reference designators. When I copy the schematic it automatically assigns new numbers (which is good), but I then want the copy on the pcb to have those new numbers without me having to manually rename everything and then relink the schematic.
No, @retiredfeline, I am not trying to panelize. I would just use the array tool like @BlackCoffee said, but this is not what I want.
Ok then this is not a layout problem but a schematic one.
Isn’t it both though? The problem is that I cant get my layout to agree with my schematic.
In the PCB-Editor:
Tools>Geographical_Reannotate
I’m not sure geographic re-annotate is exactly appropriate in this case. You still wouldn’t have a link between schematic and layout unless you then go back and manually renumber all the schematic reference designators.
For OP, I suspect screenshots of your current state of schematic and layout would be helpful. Also, version info is also often handy if you think you might be running into bugs.
My guess is you are best off with schematic hierarchical sheets (design the schematic for a “channel” once and instantiate the sheet multiple times). KiCad will automatically handle the reference designators so you don’t end up with duplicates. If you update layout from there, you’ll end up with a bunch of “new” parts on the side. That’s okay though, you can then do the layout for one instance of that sheet and use the Replicate Layout plugin to recreate it (with correct reference designators). (Same suggestion as @glenenglish above, just with a little more context).
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@scandey Thank you for the added context. I have my first channel in a heirarchical sheet and I installed the replicate layout plugin. I copied the sheet 7 times (I need 8 channels) and when I run the plugin it wont work. I have my layout, I select one footprint , click replicate layout, and it tells me “selected anchor footprint is on the schematic sheet which does not have multiple instances. replication is not possible.” Do you know what my problem is or could you link me somewhere that might be useful? I added some pictures to show off what I am doing.
We (I) knew nothing about OP’s Schematic and if it doesn’t have the repeated items, then doing the Array in PCB is okay.
If OP wants the items duplicated in Schematic then, in Schematic OP can Copy&Paste them - they will auto renumber.
If OP Array’d them in PCB in the same order as they were Pasted in Schematic, then Re-Annotate (in PCB) has Order selection option’s.
Of course, OP could, in the Schematic, after Copy&Paste, he could Re-Annotate and build the PCB from the new/updated Schematic.
But, sounds like OP already has the PCB as he wants it so, re-doing the PCB to ‘Update From Schematic’ would only cause OP to need to completely redo the PCB layout…
Always best to Plan Ahead…
Example video
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Take it one step at a time. Have you used Schematic Editor / Tools / Update PCB from Schematic [F8] to put all the footprints of the other instances on the PCB?
And then, KiCad is still built around one PCB for one project, so fix Edge.Cuts.
After that, you also have to manually place one reference footprints for all of the instances before the replicate layout plugin can work properly.
From what I have read . . .
Did you place your Anchor footprints (I assume you need 8 off) in the PCB layout before trying to run the Plugin ?
(Try to follow the instructions here: GitHub - MitjaNemec/ReplicateLayout)
Also before running the plug in, make sure you save the schematic.
The plugin is reading the schematic file so the saved version must bu uptodate for it to work properly
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Thank you to everyone who tried to help me. I got the plugin to work and It looks good
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