Discussion:
[kicad-users] Is it posible to import Gerber to PCBnew?
timofonic timofonic timofonic@gmail.com [kicad-users]
2015-09-21 19:37:38 UTC
Permalink
Hello.

On going to redesign UniSolder in KiCad, the original author agreeded it as
you can see in the following forum thread.

http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7218
Really universal soldering controller

I'm going to switch from Eagle to KiCad. Despite being a newbie at
electronics, EDA and having severe difficulties to switch to KiCad, this is
going to be my personal major challenge and really want to do it.

In order to make the process,
a bit less painful, I would like to know how to reuse the Gerber files to
import them to PCBnew.

Due to really very personal reasons, I'll redesign the PCB to adapt it to a
personal portable electrics suitcase extreme lab-workshop with a laptop
included. Ideas are welcomed, but I'll post a detailed forum post about it
on some of major electronics forums ( slaving kicad.info too) after making
one about my custom UniSolder.

I have no idea how to make fit many things with other stuff on my list on
such really limited space while being economical (PSU,
uCurrent/OpenCurrent[1] [2] [3] [4], enough space for tools, Open Hardware
oscilloscope if possible, UV exposure box and many more things). I know
this is going to be really crazy, but I really want to do it.

Are there some way to import the Gerber and then make it appropriately
associated to the redrawn schematic?

Any help would be really appreciated, you'll also be noted in the
contributions list ;)

Kind regards.

PS: Maybe I'll post this on KiCad.info, Dangerous Prototypes, All About
Circuits and EEvBLOG too. But I'll mention ever contribution and help in
all them.

[1] http://www.eevblog.com/projects/ucurrent/
[2] http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencurrent/
[3]
http://ludzinc.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/whats-all-this-kicad-stuff-anyhow.html
[4] http://ludzinc.blogspot.com.es/2014/05/closing-kicad-gaps.html
ricksbmw@gmail.com [kicad-users]
2015-09-21 22:12:38 UTC
Permalink
kicad-users https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635
The search function works well. Try it sometime.


https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635

kicad-users https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635 This group is for users of KiCad, the amazing integrated EDA program. Not only does it capture schematics and layout PCBs, it is open source, free an...



View on groups.yahoo.com https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635
Preview by Yahoo
timofonic timofonic timofonic@gmail.com [kicad-users]
2015-09-21 23:20:12 UTC
Permalink
It's okay. But the reply is a bit dubious about the possibilities of it.
Maybe I'm not skilled enough or need to read with a more fresh mind.

It seems there are limitations. What worries me more are traces, to
conserve the already done routing process. Maybe these limitations got
reduced over time, who knows...

I would like to use available footprints or export them individually,
create a new library if the device isn't available on the minds library or
fix it if necessary.

I'll need to learn a lot not for this...


kicad-users
<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635>
The search function works well. Try it sometime.
[image: image]
<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635>
kicad-users
<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635>
This group is for users of KiCad, the amazing integrated EDA program. Not
only does it capture schematics and layout PCBs, it is open source, free
an...
View on groups.yahoo.com
<https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/kicad-users/conversations/topics/19635>
Preview by Yahoo
ricksbmw@gmail.com [kicad-users]
2015-09-22 02:33:50 UTC
Permalink
I have read other posts on this subject that suggest that info that is not needed to produce pcbs is not included in the gerbers. This means you cannot exactly reproduce the pcb layout in a form that can be altered by pcbnew. This is not a kicad issue, but one of following the gerber standard.
Andy Eskelson andyyahoo@g0poy.co.uk [kicad-users]
2015-09-22 15:46:03 UTC
Permalink
Think of the gerbers as an image file of the tracks

It's an output only process. All you can really do after that is treat
them as a graphic source and edit them with a graphic package if you
really need to.

(All the gerbers were designed for were driving a photoplot type machine)

Andy


On 21 Sep 2015 19:33:50 -0700
Post by ***@gmail.com [kicad-users]
I have read other posts on this subject that suggest that info that is not needed to produce pcbs is not included in the gerbers. This means you cannot exactly reproduce the pcb layout in a form that can be altered by pcbnew. This is not a kicad issue, but one of following the gerber standard.
Loading...