使用说明

KiCad MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that allows LLMs to programmatically create, read, and modify KiCad 8 schematic (.kicad_sch) and PCB layout (.kicad_pcb) files.

Features

Schematic tools: Place symbols, add wires, labels, power symbols, global labels, delete elements, run ERC
PCB tools: Place footprints (single or arrays), move footprints, route traces, add vias/zones, set board outline, assign nets to pads, add mounting holes, run DRC, export Gerbers/SVG/3D
Library search: Query KiCad symbol and footprint libraries
JLCPCB parts search: Search the JLCPCB catalog by keyword, category, or LCSC number (no authentication required)
Autorouting: Route PCBs via Freerouting integration (DSN export, route, SES import)
File-based: Directly reads/writes KiCad S-expression files with a lossless parser — no running KiCad instance needed for core operations

Requirements

Python 3.10+
KiCad 8 (for kicad-cli, library files, ERC/DRC)
Java runtime (optional, for Freerouting autorouter)
Freerouting JAR (optional, for autorouting)

Installation

pip install -e ".[dev]"

Running the Server

python3.13 -m kicad_mcp.server

With debug logging:

KICAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG python3.13 -m kicad_mcp.server

With optional log file:

KICAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG KICAD_MCP_LOG_FILE=/tmp/kicad-mcp.log python3.13 -m kicad_mcp.server

Use Python 3.13 if KiCad 8 is installed — it includes the pcbnew module which enables DSN export for Freerouting autorouting. The server communicates over stdio (MCP protocol) and logs to stderr.

Usage with Claude Code

Add to your project's .mcp.json or ~/.claude.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kicad": {
      "command": "python3.13",
      "args": ["-m", "kicad_mcp.server"],
      "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "/path/to/kicad-mcp/src",
        "KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR": "/usr/share/kicad/symbols",
        "KICAD_FOOTPRINT_DIR": "/usr/share/kicad/footprints",
        "KICAD_3DMODEL_DIR": "/usr/share/kicad/3dmodels"
      }
    }
  }
}

Use the Python version that has KiCad's pcbnew module (typically Python 3.13 on Fedora with KiCad 8). Update the PYTHONPATH to point to where you cloned this repo.

Environment Variables

Variable	Description	Default
`KICAD_SYMBOL_DIR`	KiCad symbol library directory (falls back to `KICAD9_SYMBOL_DIR`, then `KICAD8_SYMBOL_DIR`)	`/usr/share/kicad/symbols`
`KICAD_FOOTPRINT_DIR`	KiCad footprint library directory (falls back to `KICAD9_FOOTPRINT_DIR`, then `KICAD8_FOOTPRINT_DIR`)	`/usr/share/kicad/footprints`
`KICAD_3DMODEL_DIR`	KiCad 3D model directory	`/usr/share/kicad/3dmodels`
`KICAD_MCP_LOG_LEVEL`	Log level (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR)	`INFO`
`KICAD_MCP_LOG_FILE`	Optional log file path	(stderr only)
`FREEROUTING_JAR`	Path to Freerouting JAR file	downloaded to `~/.cache/kicad-mcp/freerouting.jar`

Tools (53)

Schematic (24)

Tool	Description
`schematic_read`	Read and parse a .kicad_sch file
`schematic_place_symbol`	Place a component symbol in the schematic
`schematic_add_wire`	Add a wire between a series of (x, y) points
`schematic_add_label`	Add a net label at a position in the schematic
`schematic_add_power_symbol`	Add a power port symbol (GND, +3V3, +5V, etc.) at a position
`schematic_add_global_label`	Add a global label for inter-sheet connectivity
`schematic_delete`	Delete any schematic element by UUID
`schematic_add_labels`	Add multiple net labels in a single operation (one file read/write cycle)
`schematic_delete_many`	Delete multiple schematic elements by UUID in a single operation
`schematic_add_power_symbols`	Add multiple power symbols in a single operation (one file read/write cycle)
`schematic_get_pin_positions`	Get the actual pin endpoint positions for a component in schematic coordinates
`schematic_add_no_connect`	Add a no-connect (X) flag at a pin position
`schematic_add_no_connects`	Add multiple no-connect flags in a single operation
`schematic_modify_lib_symbol_pin`	Modify a pin's electrical type in the schematic's lib_symbols section
`schematic_annotate`	Assign reference designators to unannotated symbols
`schematic_move_symbol`	Move an existing schematic symbol to a new position
`schematic_add_lib_symbol`	Add a custom symbol definition to the schematic's lib_symbols section
`schematic_delete_lib_symbol`	Delete an unused symbol definition from the schematic's lib_symbols section
`schematic_cleanup_lib_symbols`	Remove all orphaned lib_symbol definitions with no matching instances
`schematic_set_symbol_property`	Set a property on a placed symbol instance without disturbing pins/wires
`schematic_set_lib_symbol_property`	Set a property on a lib_symbol definition (the default for new instances)
`schematic_list_symbols`	Return a thin listing of all placed symbols (no pin details)
`schematic_rename_label`	Rename all labels matching old_name to new_name, preserving UUIDs
`schematic_run_erc`	Run Electrical Rules Check (ERC) on a schematic using kicad-cli

PCB (22)

Tool	Description
`pcb_read`	Read and parse a .kicad_pcb file
`pcb_place_footprint`	Place a footprint on the PCB
`pcb_move_footprint`	Move an existing footprint to a new position
`pcb_add_trace`	Add copper trace segments between points
`pcb_add_via`	Add a via at a position
`pcb_add_zone`	Add a copper zone/pour
`pcb_set_board_outline`	Set the board outline on the Edge.Cuts layer
`pcb_assign_net_to_pad`	Assign a net to a specific pad on a footprint
`pcb_add_mounting_hole`	Add a plated mounting hole footprint (references H1, H2, ...)
`pcb_place_footprint_array`	Place an array of identical footprints in a grid or circular pattern
`pcb_set_zone_net`	Assign a net to an existing copper zone
`pcb_flip_footprint`	Flip a footprint to the opposite side of the board
`pcb_autoroute`	Route a PCB automatically
`pcb_delete_footprint`	Delete a footprint from the PCB by reference or UUID
`pcb_delete_footprints`	Delete multiple footprints in a single operation
`pcb_delete_traces`	Delete multiple traces (segments) by UUID in a single operation
`pcb_delete_vias`	Delete multiple vias by UUID in a single operation
`pcb_run_drc`	Run Design Rules Check (DRC) on a PCB using kicad-cli
`pcb_export_image`	Export a PCB image (SVG) for visual review
`pcb_export_3d`	Export 3D model of the PCB
`pcb_export_gerbers`	Export Gerber and drill files for manufacturing
`pcb_export_manufacturing`	Export all manufacturing files for a fab house in one call

Utility (7)

Tool	Description
`list_symbols`	Search KiCad's symbol libraries for a component
`list_footprints`	Search KiCad's footprint libraries
`get_netlist`	Extract netlist from a schematic (component-to-net mapping)
`sync_schematic_to_pcb`	Update PCB from schematic: nets, footprints, and pad net assignments
`search_jlcpcb_parts`	Search JLCPCB parts catalog. No authentication needed
`get_jlcpcb_part`	Get details for a specific JLCPCB part by LCSC number
`list_jlcpcb_categories`	List available JLCPCB part categories for filtering searches

Running Tests

pytest -v

Tests that need KiCad's libraries or kicad-cli are skipped automatically when those aren't installed.

Architecture

src/kicad_mcp/
  server.py        # MCP server entry point (FastMCP)
  sexp_parser.py   # Lossless S-expression parser/writer
  schematic.py     # .kicad_sch file operations
  pcb.py           # .kicad_pcb file operations
  library.py       # KiCad library search, lookup and caching
  cli.py           # kicad-cli + Freerouting wrapper
  jlcpcb.py        # JLCPCB parts search (public API)
  types.py         # Shared data types

The server works by directly reading and writing KiCad's S-expression files. A custom parser (sexp_parser.py) handles lossless round-trip parsing: it preserves quoting, escapes, number spelling, token ordering and structure, and writes files with KiCad 8's own layout, so a file saved by KiCad comes back byte-for-byte identical apart from the elements that were changed. Writes go to a temporary file that is atomically renamed over the original.

Schematic pin positions and PCB footprint rotation and flipping follow KiCad's own transforms; the test suite checks them against kicad-cli netlists and the values pcbnew produces.

License

MIT

使用说明

KiCad MCP Server

Features

Requirements

Installation

Running the Server

Usage with Claude Code

Environment Variables

Tools (53)

Schematic (24)

PCB (22)

Utility (7)

Running Tests

Architecture

License

相关 MCP

Blender 3D建模MCP服务

iOS模拟器交互服务器

网页抓取与搜索MCP服务器

B站视频搜索服务

Minecraft MCP服务器

SSH远程命令执行MCP服务器