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grb2kicad

Convert Gerber and Excellon drill files into a KiCad project (.kicad_pro, .kicad_sch, .kicad_pcb), similar to GerbView → Export to PCB Editor.

Gerber files describe manufacturing graphics, not design intent. The output is a reference PCB you can clean up in Pcbnew: tracks, polygons, silkscreen graphics, and drill locations as vias. There are no nets, footprints, or schematic connectivity.

Install

go install ./cmd/grb2kicad@latest

Or from a clone:

go build -o grb2kicad ./cmd/grb2kicad

Usage

grb2kicad -o myproject -name myboard path/to/gerbers/*.gbr path/to/board.drl
grb2kicad -o myproject path/to/gerber-directory/

Flags:

Generated layout:

myproject/
  myboard.kicad_pro
  myboard.kicad_sch    # placeholder schematic
  myboard.kicad_pcb    # imported geometry
  gerbers/             # copy of input files

Layer detection

Files are mapped from common KiCad plot names (*-F_Cu.gbr, *-Edge_Cuts.gbr) and Protel extensions (.GTL, .GBL, .GKO, …). Unrecognized Gerber files are still parsed if the extension looks like Gerber.

Example

Real board export (4-layer KiCad 5.1 gerbers):

go run ./cmd/grb2kicad -o ./examples/out -name DFC_REV_D ./examples

A minimal synthetic board is in examples/simple. Footprint clustering tests: examples/std_layout.

Tests

go test ./...

Tests shell out to KiCad when installed: kicad-cli pcb drc on generated boards (including FOOTPRINTS inject/merge) and kicad-cli sch erc on the simple2 pass-2 schematic. macOS default: /Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app; set KICAD_CLI to override. Without KiCad, those tests skip.

Two-pass workflow (planned)

Pass 1 does not infer components from pad clustering alone — it sets up a board you can open and draw closed boxes (+ optional labels) on dedicated user layer(s).

Pass 2 reads those grouping regions, assigns pads to parts, writes footprint mods, schematic grid, and matching Reference / Footprint properties.

Today most of pass 1 exists; pass 2 grouping ingest (--groups-gerber or similar) is not built yet. --footprints with --cluster-mm is a temporary stand-in.

Bookmarked (later, not now)

• Schematic routing / net connectivity from copper
• Schematic labels beyond refdes/value (designator text from silk, net names, etc.)

Limitations

• No kicad-cli GerbView import/export yet; conversion is implemented in Go (fumin/gerber parser). Output is validated with kicad-cli pcb drc in tests when KiCad is installed.
• Flashed pads become vias or filled circles; no footprint reconstruction.
• Negative/raster Gerber features are not supported.
• Drill parsing covers common Excellon headers, not every vendor variant.

License

MIT