| name | operating-kicad-eda |
| description | KiCad EDA orchestration via kicad-mcp MCP server. Routes 17 tools for schematic creation, PCB layout, autorouting, DRC, and Gerber export. Enforces serialized PCB ops, library-first lookup, and autoroute-only routing. |
| user-invocable | true |
| argument-hint | <operation: schematic|pcb|route|drc|export|full-pipeline> |
| allowed-tools | Read, Bash |
Operating KiCad EDA
MCP tool router for KiCad 9. Never guess, never hand-route, never parallelize PCB writes.
When to use
| Scenario | Use | Approach |
|---|
| Create schematic from design doc | Yes | schematic() operations |
| Generate PCB from schematic | Yes | build_pcb_from_schematic |
| Route a PCB | Yes | autoroute(operation="run") only |
| Fix DRC violations | Yes | drc(operation="autofix") |
| Export manufacturing files | Yes | export() Gerber/BOM/render |
| Hand-place a single trace | NO | LLM traces violate clearances |
Iron rules
- NEVER hand-route โ
pcb(add_trace/add_via) produces DRC-failing garbage. Use autoroute(operation="run").
- NEVER guess names โ footprint and symbol names change between KiCad versions. Always
library(operation="search") first.
- SERIALIZE PCB ops โ MCP PCB tools do load/modify/save. Parallel calls corrupt the
.kicad_pcb file.
- VERIFY after changes โ
drc(operation="run") + audit(operation="all") before declaring done.
MCP tool routing table
| Task | MCP Tool | Operation |
|---|
| Search parts | library | search |
| Create/edit schematic | schematic | create_symbol, add_wire, add_label |
| Build PCB from schematic | build_pcb_from_schematic | โ (standalone) |
| Place footprints | pcb | place_footprint |
| Set board outline | pcb | set_board_outline |
| Add zones (copper pour) | pcb | add_zone |
| Auto-route | autoroute | run |
| Run DRC | drc | run |
| Auto-fix DRC | drc | autofix |
| Export Gerber | export | gerber |
| Export BOM | export | bom |
| 3D render | export | render |
| Estimate board size | estimate_board_size | โ (standalone) |
| Suggest placement | suggest_placement | โ (standalone) |
| Full audit | audit | all |
Standard pipeline
1. library(search) โ find symbols and footprints
2. schematic(create_symbol) โ place all components
3. schematic(add_wire/add_label) โ connect nets
4. [Python] footprint injection script โ fix kicad-cli lookup
5. build_pcb_from_schematic โ initial PCB
6. pcb(set_board_outline) โ product form factor
7. suggest_placement or pcb(place_footprint) โ position components
8. autoroute(run) โ FreeRouter
9. drc(run) โ check
10. drc(autofix) โ fix violations
11. pcb(add_zone) โ GND copper pour both layers
12. export(gerber) โ manufacturing files
13. export(render) โ 3D views
References
Exit criteria
