KiCAD MCP: AI-Assisted PCB Design

KiCAD MCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) implementation that enables Large Language Models (LLMs) like Claude to directly interact with KiCAD for printed circuit board design. It creates a standardized communication bridge between AI assistants and the KiCAD PCB design software, allowing for natural language control of advanced PCB design operations.

🎉 NEW FEATURE! Schematic Generation

We're excited to announce the addition of schematic generation capabilities! Now, in addition to PCB design, KiCAD MCP enables AI assistants to:

• Create and manage KiCAD schematics through natural language
• Add components like resistors, capacitors, and ICs to schematics
• Connect components with wires to create complete circuits
• Save and load schematic files in KiCAD format
• Export schematics to PDF

This powerful addition completes the PCB design workflow, allowing AI assistants to help with both schematic capture and PCB layout in a single integrated environment.

Project Status

This project is complete and ready for production use:

• Implemented full Python interface compatibility with KiCAD 9.0
• Created a modular and maintainable component architecture
• Implemented comprehensive tools for board manipulation, component placement, and routing
• Successfully tested operations from project creation to component placement and routing
• Created a streamlined MCP server implementation that reliably passes commands to KiCAD

The server works seamlessly with Cline/Claude, enabling AI-assisted PCB design through natural language.

What It Does

KiCAD MCP transforms how engineers and designers work with KiCAD by enabling AI assistants to:

• Create and manage KiCAD PCB projects through natural language requests
• Create schematics with components and connections
• Manipulate board geometry, outlines, layers, and properties
• Place and organize components in various patterns (grid, circular, aligned)
• Route traces, differential pairs, and create copper pours
• Implement design rules and perform design rule checks
• Generate exports in various formats (Gerber, PDF, SVG, 3D models)
• Provide comprehensive context about the circuit board to the AI assistant

This enables a natural language-driven PCB design workflow where complex operations can be requested in plain English, while still maintaining full engineer oversight and control.

Core Architecture

• TypeScript MCP Server: Implements the Anthropic Model Context Protocol specification to communicate with Claude and other compatible AI assistants
• Python KiCAD Interface: Handles actual KiCAD operations via pcbnew Python API and kicad-skip library with comprehensive error handling
• Modular Design: Organizes functionality by domains (project, schematic, board, component, routing) for maintainability and extensibility

System Requirements

• KiCAD 9.0 or higher (must be fully installed)
• Node.js v18 or higher and npm
• Python 3.8 or higher with pip (the version that comes with KiCAD 9.0 is sufficient)
• Cline (VSCode Claude extension) or another MCP-compatible client
• Windows 10/11 (current version is optimized for Windows; Linux/Mac support planned)

Installation

Step 1: Install KiCAD 9.0

1. Download KiCAD 9.0 from the official KiCAD website
2. Run the installer and select the default installation options
3. Ensure that the Python module is installed (this is included in the default installation)

Step 2: Clone and Set Up the KiCAD MCP Repository

git clone https://github.com/kicad-ai/kicad-mcp.git
cd kicad-mcp
npm install
npm run build

Step 3: Configure Cline (VSCode Claude Extension)

1. Install VSCode from the official website if not already installed

2. Install the Cline extension (Claude for VSCode) from the VSCode marketplace

3. Edit the Cline MCP settings file:

   • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\globalStorage\saoudrizwan.claude-dev\settings\cline_mcp_settings.json
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json
   • Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json

4. Add this configuration to the file (update paths as needed for your system):

"kicad": {
  "autoApprove": [],
  "disabled": false,
  "timeout": 60,
  "command": "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe",
  "args": [
    "C:/path/to/kicad-mcp/dist/kicad-server.js"
  ],
  "env": {
    "PYTHONPATH": "C:/Program Files/KiCad/9.0/lib/python3/dist-packages",
    "DEBUG": "mcp:*"
  },
  "transportType": "stdio"
}

5. Restart VSCode or reload the window for changes to take effect.

Step 4: Verify Installation

1. Open VSCode with the Cline extension
2. Start a new conversation with Claude
3. Ask Claude to create a new KiCAD project:

   Create a new KiCAD project named 'TestProject' in the 'test' directory.
   

4. Claude should use the KiCAD MCP to create the project and report success

Usage Examples

Here are some examples of what you can ask Claude to do with KiCAD MCP:

Project Management

Create a new KiCAD project named 'WiFiModule' in my Documents folder.

Open the existing KiCAD project at C:/Projects/Amplifier/Amplifier.kicad_pro

Schematic Design

Create a new schematic named 'PowerSupply'.

Add a 10kΩ resistor and 0.1µF capacitor to the schematic.

Connect the resistor's pin 1 to the capacitor's pin 1.

Board Design

Set the board size to 100mm x 80mm.

Add a rounded rectangle board outline with 3mm corner radius.

Add mounting holes at each corner of the board, 5mm from the edges.

Component Placement

Place a 10uF capacitor at position x=50mm, y=30mm.

Create a grid of 8 LEDs, 4x2, starting at position x=20mm, y=10mm with 10mm spacing.

Align all resistors horizontally and distribute them evenly.

Routing

Create a new net named 'VCC' and assign it to the power net class.

Route a trace from component U1 pin 1 to component C3 pin 2 on layer F.Cu.

Add a copper pour for GND on the bottom layer.

Design Rules and Export

Set design rules with 0.2mm clearance and 0.25mm minimum track width.

Export Gerber files to the 'fabrication' directory.

Features by Category

Project Management

• Create new KiCAD projects with customizable settings
• Open existing KiCAD projects from file paths
• Save projects with optional new locations
• Retrieve project metadata and properties

Schematic Design

• Create new schematics with customizable settings
• Add components from symbol libraries (resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc.)
• Connect components with wires to create circuits
• Add labels, annotations, and documentation to schematics
• Save and load schematics in KiCAD format
• Export schematics to PDF for documentation

Board Design

• Set precise board dimensions with support for metric and imperial units
• Add custom board outlines (rectangle, rounded rectangle, circle, polygon)
• Create and manage board layers with various configurations
• Add mounting holes, text annotations, and other board features
• Visualize the current board state

Components

• Place components with specified footprints at precise locations
• Create component arrays in grid or circular patterns
• Move, rotate, and modify existing components
• Align and distribute components evenly
• Duplicate components with customizable properties
• Get detailed component properties and listings

Routing

• Create and manage nets with specific properties
• Route traces between component pads or arbitrary points
• Add vias, including blind and buried vias
• Create differential pair routes for high-speed signals
• Generate copper pours (ground planes, power planes)
• Define net classes with specific design rules

Design Rules

• Set global design rules for clearance, track width, etc.
• Define specific rules for different net classes
• Run Design Rule Check (DRC) to validate the design
• View and manage DRC violations

Export

• Generate industry-standard Gerber files for fabrication
• Export PDF documentation of the PCB
• Create SVG vector graphics of the board
• Generate 3D models in STEP or VRML format
• Produce bill of materials (BOM) in various formats

Implementation Details

The KiCAD MCP implementation uses a modular, maintainable architecture:

TypeScript MCP Server (Node.js)

• kicad-server.ts: The main server that implements the MCP protocol
• Uses STDIO transport for reliable communication with Cline
• Manages the Python process for KiCAD operations
• Handles command queuing, error recovery, and response formatting

Python Interface

• kicad_interface.py: The main Python interface that:

  • Parses commands received as JSON via stdin
  • Routes commands to the appropriate specialized handlers
  • Returns results as JSON via stdout
  • Handles errors gracefully with detailed information

• Modular Command Structure:

  • commands/project.py: Project creation, opening, saving
  • commands/schematic.py: Schematic creation and management
  • commands/component_schematic.py: Schematic component operations
  • commands/connection_schematic.py: Wire and connection management
  • commands/library_schematic.py: Symbol library integration
  • commands/board/: Modular board manipulation functions
    • size.py: Board size operations
    • layers.py: Layer management
    • outline.py: Board outline creation
    • view.py: Visualization functions
  • commands/component.py: PCB component placement and manipulation
  • commands/routing.py: Trace routing and net management
  • commands/design_rules.py: DRC and rule configuration
  • commands/export.py: Output generation in various formats

This architecture ensures that each aspect of PCB design is handled by specialized modules while maintaining a clean, consistent interface layer.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Problem: KiCAD MCP isn't showing up in Claude's tools

• Make sure VSCode is completely restarted after updating the Cline MCP settings
• Verify the paths in the config are correct for your system
• Check that the npm run build completed successfully

Problem: Node.js errors when launching the server

• Ensure you're using Node.js v18 or higher
• Try running npm install again to ensure all dependencies are properly installed
• Check the console output for specific error messages

Problem: Python errors or KiCAD commands failing

• Verify that KiCAD 9.0 is properly installed
• Check that the PYTHONPATH in the configuration points to the correct location
• Try running a simple KiCAD Python script directly to ensure the pcbnew module is accessible

Problem: Claude can't find or load your KiCAD project

• Use absolute paths when referring to project locations
• Ensure the user running VSCode has access permissions to the directories

Getting Help

If you encounter issues not covered in this troubleshooting section:

1. Check the console output for error messages
2. Look for similar issues in the GitHub repository's Issues section
3. Open a new issue with detailed information about the problem

Contributing

Contributions to this project are welcome! Here's how you can help:

1. Report Bugs: Open an issue describing what went wrong and how to reproduce it
2. Suggest Features: Have an idea? Share it via an issue
3. Submit Pull Requests: Fixed a bug or added a feature? Submit a PR!
4. Improve Documentation: Help clarify or expand the documentation

Please follow the existing code style and include tests for new features.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.