mirror of
https://github.com/Part-DB/Part-DB-server.git
synced 2025-06-21 01:25:55 +02:00
Started to write documentation on KiCAD integration
This commit is contained in:
parent
bf5ed030fe
commit
168b4f6c15
1 changed files with 55 additions and 0 deletions
55
docs/usage/eda_integration.md
Normal file
55
docs/usage/eda_integration.md
Normal file
|
@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
|
||||||
|
---
|
||||||
|
layout: default
|
||||||
|
title: EDA / KiCad integration
|
||||||
|
parent: Usage
|
||||||
|
---
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
# EDA / KiCad integration
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Part-DB can function as central database for [EDA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_design_automation) or ECAD software used to design electronic schematics and PCBs.
|
||||||
|
You can connect your EDA software and can view your available parts, with the data saved from Part-DB directly in your EDA software.
|
||||||
|
Part-DB allows to configure additional metadata for the EDA, to associate symbols and footprints for use inside the EDA software, so the part becomes
|
||||||
|
directly usable inside the EDA software.
|
||||||
|
This also allows to configure available and usable parts and their properties in a central place, which is especially useful in teams, where multiple persons design PCBs.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
**Currently only KiCad is supported!**
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
## KiCad Setup
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
{: .important }
|
||||||
|
> Part-DB uses the HTTP library feature of KiCad, which is experimental and not part of the stable KiCad 7 releases. If you want to use this feature, you need to install a KiCad nightly build (7.99 version). This feature will most likely also be part of KiCad 8.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Part-DB should be accessible from the PCs with KiCAD. The URL should be stable (so no dynamically changing IP).
|
||||||
|
You require a user account in Part-DB, which has the permission to access Part-DB API and create API tokens. Every user can has its own account, or you setup a shared read-only account.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
To connect KiCad with Part-DB do following steps:
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
1. Create an API token on the user settings page for the KiCAD application and copy/save it, when it is shown. Currently KiCAD can only read Part-DB database, so a token with read only scope is enough.
|
||||||
|
2. Create a file `partd.kicad_httplib` (or similar, only the extension is important) with the following content:
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
{
|
||||||
|
"meta": {
|
||||||
|
"version": 1.0
|
||||||
|
},
|
||||||
|
"name": "Part-DB library",
|
||||||
|
"description": "This KiCAD library fetches information externally from ",
|
||||||
|
"source": {
|
||||||
|
"type": "REST_API",
|
||||||
|
"api_version": "v1",
|
||||||
|
"root_url": "http://kicad-instance.invalid/en/kicad-api",
|
||||||
|
"token": "THE_GENERATED_API_TOKEN"
|
||||||
|
}
|
||||||
|
}
|
||||||
|
```
|
||||||
|
3. Replace the `root_url` with the URL of your Part-DB instance plus `/en/kicad-api` replace the `token` field value with the token you have generated in step 1.
|
||||||
|
4. Open KiCad and add this created file as library in the KiCad symbol table under (Preferences --> Manage Symbol Libraries)
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
If you then place a new part, the library dialog opens and you should be able to see the categories and parts from Part-DB.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
### How to associate footprints and symbols with parts
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Part-DB dont save any concrete footprints or symbols for the part. Instead Part-DB just contains a reference string in the part metadata, which points to a symbol/footprint in KiCads local library.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
You can define this on a per-part basis using the KiCad symbol and KiCad footprint field in the EDA tab of the part editor. Or you can define it at a category (symbol) or footprint level, to assign this value to all parts with this category and footprint.
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
For example to configure the values for an BC547 transistor you would put `Transistor_BJT:BC547` on the parts Kicad symbol to give it the right schematic symbol in EEschema and `Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-92` to give it the right footprint in PcbNew.
|
Loading…
Add table
Add a link
Reference in a new issue