dxf2kicad_mod

Create Kicad footprint from DXF file. This simple and dirty script was designed for my own purpose a few years back. At that time, I was using Kicad to design a simple PCB, but the shape of footprint could not be designed using Kicad footprint design tool. A workaround is to create the shape in CAD tools and convert it to the Kicad footprint format. Hence this work was a bit of hacking.

A generated footprint from a dxf file:

The corresponding kicad_mod file which could be viewed by Kicad footprint viewer.

How it works

It will read the DXF file and find lines and arcs (only supporting these two types so far) which compose a close-loop graphic, it converts arcs to lines and connected all lines together using fp_poly command in kicad_mod file. Each layer is handled separately, the layer name is converted to layer name in kicad_mod file.

Limitations

• it only support lines and arcs so far, but it could fulfill my requirement so far. In the future, I may add more shape support (by converting the shapes to lines)
• each line must connect with another line or arc's beginning or end point very precisely, as the algorithm searches the points location only. If it is overlapped, it will fail to find the connecting point but it will provide some hint to tell you where it is lost, you may check the location if it is overlapped or not connected well.
• There must not be a line or arc on top another lines in the same layer due to the same reason above. Sometimes, people draws two lines on the same location, and it very hard to find where. Again the message in command line will provide some hints for you.

how to use

install python

install dxfgrabber

https://github.com/mozman/dxfgrabber.git

clone this repe

clone https://github.com/pandysong/dxf2kicad_mod.git
cd dxf2kicad_mod

using following command line to generate kicad_mod

python dxf2kicad_mode "Your-dxf-file-name-here" > "your kicad_mod file.kicad_mod"

Or using pipenv

Install pipenv is not yet installed:

pip install pipenv

clone this repo

clone https://github.com/pandysong/dxf2kicad_mod.git
cd dxf2kicad_mod

using pipenv to install dependencies

pipenv install

enable pipenv

pipenv shell

Then use it as normal

python dxf2kicad_mod.py test_data.dxf > test_data.kicad_mod