PCBWay Plug-In for KiCad

Send your layout to PCBWay for instant production with just one click.

Ever wondered if, after finishing your design in KiCad, you could place an order on PCBWay with a single click? Well, that dream is now a reality—no April Fool's joke here!

With the new PCBWay plugin for KiCad, you can now streamline your workflow and send your project directly to manufacturing. This powerful tool is available for free and is designed to make your life easier when it comes to ordering PCBs and assemblies.

Once you click the PCBWay Plug-in button within KiCad, the plugin will automatically export all necessary files from your project (make sure you have the latest version installed, released on July 11, 2024):

• Gerber files in the correct format for production
• IPC-Netlist file
• BOM file containing all component details
• Pick and Place file for assembly

After uploading these files, simply click "Save to Cart" to place your order instantly—usually taking only a few seconds. Our engineers will review the files before starting the production process to ensure everything is accurate and ready for manufacturing.

Note: The plugin has been updated for KiCad 8, allowing you to place direct assembly orders. However, we require the "Manufacturer Part Number" of each component. Be sure to run "Update Board from Schematic" and install the latest plugin version to ensure accuracy.



Installation from the Official KiCad Repositories

To get started, open the "Plugin and Content Manager" from the main menu in KiCad and install the "PCBWay Plug-in for KiCad" from the list of available plugins.

Manual Installation

If you prefer, you can download the latest ZIP file from GitHub, then use the "Plugin and Content Manager" in KiCad to install the plugin by selecting "Install from File."

About BOM

The plugin allows us to extract all component information from your design (make sure the latest plugin version is installed). To speed up the quotation process, we need the following details:

• Designator (required)
• Quantity (required)
• MPN/Part Number (required)
• Package/Footprint (required)
• Manufacturer (optional)
• Description/Value (optional)

You just need to add these properties in your schematic as shown in the image below:

As a sponsor of KiCad, we are committed to supporting its ongoing development and innovation. We believe in the power of open-source tools and are proud to contribute to their success.

Note: We would like to thank the open-source community for their contributions. Since we are still learning how to contribute directly on GitHub, please feel free to reach out to us via email or support channels if you have any questions or feedback.