I have a zone which I want permanently unfilled, but when I hit “B” to fill all zones it keeps filling. How can I keep this zone unfilled? Using KiCad 8.0.4.
Select the Zone, right click it and . .
Convert to a Rule area and set it to keep out zone fills . . .
Will that do what you need ?
Thanks Raptor, I had been trying this, but it kept removing my track fills on the bottom of the pcb. By following your suggestion, it occurred to me to make these filled polygons instead! Cheers mate.
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I don’t understand why you just not delete this zone. Zone permanently unfilled simply not exists at PCB.
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You are doing very strange things with KiCad. It looks like all the copper tracks are some kind of zone, instead of normal copper tracks. Why?
The top & bottom copper were done in Autocad and imported into KiCad
I would probably import the autocad stuff on a user layer, and then redo the whole PCB in KiCad. I don’t know how much is north of your screenshot, but even if it’s complex, then continuing with what it is now probably gets you into more trouble.
The main reason for converting to KiCad is that you can use real footprints, and footprints also have technical layer that autocad knows nothing about, the most important is the solder mask layer. With footprints, you also get the holes for your THT connectors.
The pcb was originally done in Autocad.
I’ve imported the top & bottom copper layers into Kicad as a dxf. The circuit diagram is done in kicad and footprints allocated to each component, I will then assign net names to each copper island as I place/position the components. It’s worked well in the past.
What would speed it up would be if I could use the Autocad’s X,Y data and import it in to Kicad to position the components automatically.
Doing this the normal way would be simpler and quicker. The only thing I would keep is Edge.Cuts from the dxf file.
It is also an excellent candidate for the Replicate Layout plugin in KiCad. With it, you manually place the footprints for one circuit and route the tracks (keeping those autocad zones is just horrible). Then you click a bit with the mouse, and the Replicate Layout does the other 7 instances of the circuit. It places all footprints, except one reference footprint for each instance, and it also replicates the tracks between those footprints.
Converting this to a normal KiCad project can be done in a few hours (Assuming a schematic, or at least a picture of the schematic) is available. But there can be some things that make it lost longer such as getting the footprint for that (D-Sub?) connector at the bottom right.
I get what your saying Paul, but the problem I have is, I don’t design the RF part of the circuit (the tracks around the cut outs) our RF engineer does that in Autocad (They’re not KiCad users), I do get free reign on the tracks around the SOIC. So I just import from Autocad, that way I know the tracks are exactly as they have designed them.
I have done several PCB’s this way and manufactured and never had a problem, although the example shown is relatively simple in terms of RF we do a lot more complex PCB’s in terms of RF.
Another reason I do it this way is creating gerber from Autocad is a pain, but as you know creating gerber from KiCad is a breeze this is why I tend to import.
On a side note… Our circuit diagrams are originally drawn in Autocad.
If you know of a way they could be imported in Kicad, please let me know.
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It looks like the biggest problem here is lack of education on your RF designer side. Sure, autocad can be forced into making a PCB, but it is a convoluted workflow. Apparently you do not have much experience with KiCad yet either. I suggest that after some time, and you have become comfortable with KiCad, you go have a talk with those rf designers (and / or their bosses) and give them a demonstration of what can be done with KiCad. They will then probably switch to KiCad to do their designs. If you have this talk, also be sure you can demonstrate how small parts (RF filters, antenna’s etc) can be transferred from autocad to KiCad (for example in a footprint), as I guess that some collaboration with mechanical CAD will always remain important for them. The only problem I see is that you may be out of a job after that talk.
I don’t know what a schematic made in autocad looks like. Is there any real connection between a schematic and a PCB when made in autocad? Netlist? footprints? You can use Schematic Editor / Place / Add Image to import an image, then scale it and draw the KiCad schematic right over it. You still have to draw the whole schematic by hand, but it does make it quicker because you are looking both at the old and the new in the same location. This is of course provided that the original schematic is well designed. If you want to refactor the schematic at the same time, this probably does not help much.
The Autocad schematic is just a 2D drawing (although the symbols are blocks), no connection between it and the PCB. I’m more than happy to re-do it in Kicad.
As for getting people to change or embrace new software here is a nightmare, there is a lot of “We’ve always done it this way” which really p*sses me off! We’re still using Autocad2012!!!
If they did embrace kiCad (it’ll never happen), it wouldn’t effect me anyway. I predominantly use Solidworks in my day to day role, the PCB’s are just a side job I get from the boss from time to time and if there is a chance to improve the way we do things and learn new software e.g. KiCad I like to take it.
Thanks for the chat Paul your advice has been good and I will take it onboard. Cheers!
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