Plotting of pad outlines and numbers on fabrication layers:
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You can now embed various elements in your schematics, pcb layouts, footprints and symbols:
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Worksheets
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Datasheets:
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3d Models:
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Fonts:
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New ERC check for local and global labels with the same name (from Wishlist: ERC local/global net name collisions (#9461) · Issues · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab)
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Nets can now have multiple netclasses assigned. This can be used for fine-grained, modular, custom DRC rules. New functionality includes:
- Introduces ordering of netclasses
- Allows netclasses to have null properties (except on the default netclass)
- Effective netclasses are constructed from non-null netclass fields in netclass priority order (with default netclass parameters always used as fallback)
- DRC checks for netclass equivalence as requiring both items to have the same set of constituent netclasses
- Modify DRC to test netclass name (A.netclass == ‘my_netclass’) against the comma-separated list of priority-ordered constituent netclasses
- Adds DRC function A.hasNetclass(‘my_netclass’) to test if a given netclass is assigned to an item
- Schematic and PCB netclass coloring taken from the effective aggregate netclass for a net
Note that we have also tidied up the case where previously the default netclass could have a schematic color assigned, but not a pcb color. Now, the default netclass can have neither color assigned. These should be set in the global color settings if customisation is required.
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STEP export now supports exporting a subset of components based on what is selected in the PCB editor or a list of reference designators (supporting wildcards):
The latter is now supported in kicad-cli with the --component-filter option.
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DRC skew rules now have an optional flag (within_diff_pairs). When set, the DRC rule is run independently for every identified differential pair in the traces which match the rule conditions. When left out, the current DRC behaviour remains whereby skew is run acros all matching nets (for example, for checking the skew of a bus). For example, for the following schematic:
With this board layout:
DRC with this rule:
(rule diff_skew
(constraint skew (max 3mil) (within_diff_pairs))
(condition "A.hasNetclass('DIFF_PAIR')"))
yields:
In addition, the router and DRC definition of skew have been unified to always be measured relative to the longest trace in the skew set (be that the longest in each diff pair, or the longest in all traces, depending on if (within_diff_pairs) is set).
The router will also pick up the correct constraint for skew tuning where skew is definied using a (within_diff_pairs) rule.
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Layer pairs can be added to a preset list. “Enabled” pairs, along with the currently-set pair if not itself a preset, can be cycled with the “Shift+V” hotkey:
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There is a new Shape Modification tool next to Fillet and Chamfer: “Dogbone” corner relief for cutouts that have to fit something with square corners (specifically: sharper than the edge-routing milling bit, often 1 or 2mm):
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The Position Relative tool can now use an arbitrary point as the reference (which can be snapped to objects)
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In eeschema, net colors defined by netclasses can now be displayed in a highlighting style, by selecting the ‘Highlight net colors’ in the netclass setup panel (from discussion in Is it possible to make netlist colors look more like Altium? - #4 by JamesJ)
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Note that the net color highlighting setting has been moved to the application settings, in schematic display options:
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In the PCB editor, there is now an at-cursor indicator showing what exactly the cursor is snapping to, which also now includes intersections between lines, circles and arcs:
This can be useful when constructing geometry. For example, you can draw a hexagon:
More importantly for footprint drawing, it is easier to make something like this using just a couple of construction lines and circles:
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Front and back designations for user layers. (If marked as front or back, they will be flipped when the board view is flipped.)
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DNP indications when plotting. (Note that “Cross-out” will also strikeout the reference designator.)
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There is a new tool for creating “real” outsets from a limited set of shapes: segments, rectangles, circles and pads (except trapezoidal or custom shaped). If you choose rounded corners, these use real arcs rather than interpolated polygons:
When possible (i.e. no arcs), you also get polygons back, which means you can do boolean operations on them. This means quite a few common fiddly operations in footprint drawing become more straightforward:
When possible (mostly for rectangle-based outsets), it can be asked to attempt to round outwards to some grid multiple. This can be used, for example, for rounding courtyards to the IPC-recommended 0.01mm grid rather than manually bumping things around by 0.005mm here and there.
It can also be used (with a little manual trimming of end caps) for, say, snake-shaped slots:
The ‘bounding hull’ tool still exists and remains the only way to handle arbitrary polygons (in particular ones with holes or concave corners).
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