I see KiCad can do hierarchy drawings but…
What if I just want to draw a single high level “block diagram” or System wiring diagram?
I want to show a box for each sub-assembly
Each with their various connectors…
Then show the wires going between connectors
Then a box representing the top assembly which encloses all the sub-assembly boxes
etc.
Is there anyway to do this in KiCad?
Thanks for any help.
I think KiCAD is not a right tool to draw a block diagram, maybe you need to choose another tool to draw it, for example:
Draw.IO, Visio, Openoffice/Libreoffice Draw, DIA, AxGlyph, etc…
Hello and welcome @Fran_iii
The Schematic Editor for Kicad 6.99 (the future 7) has the tools for drawing block diagrams.
There are graphic lines, basic shapes and text boxes with user select fonts. Line styles, colours and thicknesses together with background colours are all user selectable.
You could create a schematic symbol for each of the blocks, and use electrical wires to connect to those pins.
Switching in between the schematic editor and the schematic symbol editor is quite fast after the initial library setup and symbol creation (which takes a minute or so).
It’s not ideal, but doable. It may be viable if you do not want to learn some other program because you occasionally want to make some block diagram. You are quite obviously limited to what you can do with schematic symbols, and making a PCB out of it would make no sense at all.
Can I download a compiled Kicad 6.99 for Windows 10?
Can I install it seperately from Kicad 6.02?
Are you using it and is it stable?
Thanks for the help.
When creating a schematic symbol as a simple rectangle… representing some sub-assembly, can I add an existing part to the new schematic symbol.
For example:
And then repeat the process for each sub-assembly?
Thanks for any help.
Download light if you don’t want the libraries. Download x86_64 if you want libraries.
Yes, as I understand it will install in a 6.99 folder in your KiCad folder in Program files (per default).
I haven’t tried 6.99 yet.
Please remember that you cannot open anything in V6 which is saved in V6.99.
Yes and yes. 6.99 will only install separately, however it will need its own libraries so 6.99 libraries need also to be downloaded.
6.99 is development which will become 7 next year.
6.99 IS NOT STABLE… it changes weekly.
ALSO stuff created in 6.99 cannot be opened in 6.0.2. consequently a block diagram would have to stay in 6.99 and the rest in 6.0.2
I use it to chase bugs, look for improvements to suggest and play.
Yes, in both 6.99 and 6.02.
The procedure is:
Open symbol editor,
Start new symbol,
Scroll through libraries on LHS to find the connector & highlight.
Right click then COPY.
PASTE into new symbol screen.
Duplicate if the other connector required is the same, or repeat the above if a different connector is required.
Add your rectangle at any stage.
NOTE: when moving (or mirroring or rotating) a connector or whatever in the symbol editor, make sure you have highlighted all that part to be moved, otherwise only the selected line/pin/rectangle will move. Once a symbol is in the symbol editor it stops being a symbol and becomes a bunch of bits.
You can only save this new symbol in a personal library, not an existing Kicad library, so before starting make some personal libraries.
Finally, I’ll repeat my and @albin s comment:
I don’t know what new features KiCad 7 will have but here’s a block diagram I did in KiCad 5 using a few custom symbols.
you can use other software for block diagram purpose. KiCAD is use for schematic.
Kicad is not the right tool to draw block diagram but since IG has lines and shapes and you can input texts you can try doing it on the schematic working space. You might get the block diagram but not that good.
Thanks.
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