How to define a mechanical layer

I do not know if I am really missing something but why there are no default mechanical layer option in KiCad?
The only way to make a mechanical layer, it seems I have to Add a user-defined layer, change its name to Mechanical and then give it a layer type. Auxilary, off-board front or off-board back.

Specifically, what I want to do now: the fab house asks me to place the depth routing area (partial milling) of my PCB in a mechanical layer to define it.

So 2 questions:

  1. Is this the proper way to create a mechanical layer? If yes, which of the three type options should I pick for the mechanical layer?
  2. Why there is no mechanical layer by default? KiCad has so many extra layers like User.Eco1/2, User.Comments, User.Drawings and User.1 to User.45 to add. But I would have though mechanical layer is more important than all those and should come first.

IMO, yes . . . is your mechanical detail applicable to both sides of the board, e.g. the board profile, if it is then use Auxiliary

image

if it is side specific (a routed blind profile probably would be) then choose if it’s the Front or Back of the board that you want to specify info for.

image

At a guess . . . mechanical layers are most often used for things like board profile, KiCad has the Edge.Cuts layer for that so a dedicated Mechanical layer is not often needed.

1 Like