KiKit Processor

Processing script for KiKit panelizes PCBs and draws a fixture sketch and positions the whole panel for easy CNC and MSLA processing.

The script:

Panelizes the board
Moves the finished panel to the origin (0, 0)
Adds alignment holes
Adds silskcreen text
Extends the copper layers

The resulting output is intended for repeatable CNC/MSLA processing.

Install kikit

Install kikit:

pipx install --system-site-packages kikit

Usage

# Panelize the PCB using the preset defined in `myPreset.json`.
kikit panelize -p myPreset.json \
    ../Flow_Controller/Flow_Controller.kicad_pcb \
    panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb

The new panel/Flow_Controller_Panel.kicad_pcb file will contain the panelized PCB with the following feature specified in myPreset.json. E.g.: Grid of 1 x 2 with space 2.1 mm and fiducials.

    "layout": {
        "type": "grid",
        "rows": 1,
        "cols": 2,
        "hspace": "2.1mm",
        "vspace": "2.1mm"
    }

See all values in default.json

Check the kikit panelization examples.

The container solution

Dockerfile.kikit, based on kicad/kicad:10.0.4 with KiKit 1.8.0.

Build once:

docker build -f Dockerfile.kikit -t kicad10-kikit:1.8.0 .

Run panelization:

docker run --rm --user "$(id -u):$(id -g)" \
    -v "$PWD:/workspace" \
    kicad10-kikit:1.8.0 \
    panelize -p myPreset.json \
    Board_Game_Timer.kicad_pcb \
    panel/Board_Game_Timer_Panel.kicad_pcb