python script to generate .pdf and .gerber files from a kicad project

LICENSE.txt

MIT License

Copyright (c) [spuder] 2022

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.

plot_board.py

'''
Heavily borrowed from this location: https://github.com/blairbonnett-mirrors/kicad/blob/master/demos/python_scripts_examples/plot_board.py

Parameters

Takes 2 parameters
1. Path to kicad file
2. Location of where to save pdfs

    A python script example to create various plot files from a board:
    Fab files
    Doc files
    Gerber files

    Important note:
        this python script does not plot frame references.
        the reason is it is not yet possible from a python script because plotting
        plot frame references needs loading the corresponding page layout file
        (.wks file) or the default template.

        This info (the page layout template) is not stored in the board, and therefore
        not available.

        Do not try to change SetPlotFrameRef(False) to SetPlotFrameRef(true)
        the result is the pcbnew lib will crash if you try to plot
        the unknown frame references template.


Usage

    There are 4 main lines that generate a file. e.g..

    pctl.SetLayer(F_SilkS)
    pctl.OpenPlotfile("Silk", PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, "Assembly guide")
    pctl.PlotLayer()
    pctl.ClosePlot()


The first line takes the F.Silks layer
The second line takes 3 parameters (file-name-append, file type, unknown)
The third line actually plots the layer
The forth line reads the temp file and writes it out to a pdf

You can write to the following formats

PLOT_FORMAT_SVG
PLOT_FORMAT_PDF
PLOT_FORMAT_GERBER

    
'''
#!/usr/bin/env python
import sys

from pcbnew import *
filename=sys.argv[1] #e.g left-main/left-main.kicad_pcb

board = LoadBoard(filename)

pctl = PLOT_CONTROLLER(board)

popt = pctl.GetPlotOptions()

# popt.SetOutputDirectory("plot/")
popt.SetOutputDirectory(sys.argv[2])



# Set some important plot options:
popt.SetPlotFrameRef(False)
popt.SetLineWidth(FromMM(0.35))

popt.SetAutoScale(False)
popt.SetScale(1)
popt.SetMirror(False)
popt.SetUseGerberAttributes(True)
popt.SetExcludeEdgeLayer(False);
popt.SetScale(1)
popt.SetUseAuxOrigin(True)

# This by gerbers only (also the name is truly horrid!)
popt.SetSubtractMaskFromSilk(False)

pctl.SetLayer(F_SilkS)
pctl.OpenPlotfile("Silk", PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, "Assembly guide")
pctl.PlotLayer()

#########################
#### CuBottom.gbr    ####
#### CuTop.gbr       ####
#### EdgeCuts.gbr    ####
#### MaskBottom.gbr  ####
#### MaskTop.gbr     ####
#### PasteBottom.gbr ####
#### PasteTop.gbr    ####
#### SilkBottom.gbr  ####
#### SilkTop.gbr     ####
#########################

# Once the defaults are set it become pretty easy...
# I have a Turing-complete programming language here: I'll use it...
# param 0 is a string added to the file base name to identify the drawing
# param 1 is the layer ID
plot_plan = [
    ( "CuTop", F_Cu, "Top layer" ),
    ( "CuBottom", B_Cu, "Bottom layer" ),
    ( "PasteBottom", B_Paste, "Paste Bottom" ),
    ( "PasteTop", F_Paste, "Paste top" ),
    ( "SilkTop", F_SilkS, "Silk top" ),
    ( "SilkBottom", B_SilkS, "Silk top" ),
    ( "MaskTop", F_Mask, "Mask top" ),
    ( "MaskBottom", B_Mask, "Mask bottom" ),
    ( "EdgeCuts", Edge_Cuts, "Edges" ),
]

for layer_info in plot_plan:
    pctl.SetLayer(layer_info[1])
    pctl.OpenPlotfile(layer_info[0], PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, layer_info[2])
    pctl.PlotLayer()

######################
#### AssyTop.pdf #####
######################

# Our fabricators want two additional gerbers:
# An assembly with no silk trim and all and only the references
# (you'll see that even holes have designators, obviously)
popt.SetSubtractMaskFromSilk(False)
popt.SetPlotReference(True)
popt.SetPlotValue(False)
popt.SetPlotInvisibleText(True)

pctl.SetLayer(F_SilkS)
pctl.OpenPlotfile("AssyTop", PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, "Assembly top")
pctl.PlotLayer()

###############################
#### AssyOutlinesTop.pdf  #####
###############################

# And a gerber with only the component outlines (really!)
popt.SetPlotReference(False)
popt.SetPlotInvisibleText(False)
pctl.SetLayer(F_SilkS)
pctl.OpenPlotfile("AssyOutlinesTop", PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, "Assembly outline top")
pctl.PlotLayer()

######################
#### Layout.pdf  #####
######################

# The same could be done for the bottom side, if there were components
popt.SetUseAuxOrigin(False)

## For documentation we also want a general layout PDF
## I usually use a shell script to merge the ps files and then distill the result
## Now I can do it with a control file. As a bonus I can have references in a
## different colour, too.

popt.SetPlotReference(True)
popt.SetPlotValue(True)
popt.SetPlotInvisibleText(False)
# Remember that the frame is always in color 0 (BLACK) and should be requested
# before opening the plot
popt.SetPlotFrameRef(False)
pctl.SetLayer(Dwgs_User)

pctl.OpenPlotfile("Layout", PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, "General layout")
pctl.PlotLayer()

# Do the PCB edges in yellow
popt.SetColor(YELLOW)
pctl.SetLayer(Edge_Cuts)
pctl.PlotLayer()

## Comments in, uhmm... green
popt.SetColor(GREEN)
pctl.SetLayer(Cmts_User)
pctl.PlotLayer()

# Bottom mask as lines only, in red
#popt.SetMode(LINE)
popt.SetColor(RED)
pctl.SetLayer(B_Mask)
pctl.PlotLayer()

# Top mask as lines only, in blue
popt.SetColor(BLUE)
pctl.SetLayer(F_Mask)
pctl.PlotLayer()

# Top paste in light blue, filled
popt.SetColor(BLUE)
#popt.SetMode(FILLED)
pctl.SetLayer(F_Paste)
pctl.PlotLayer()

# Top Silk in cyan, filled, references in dark cyan
popt.SetReferenceColor(DARKCYAN)
popt.SetColor(CYAN)
pctl.SetLayer(F_SilkS)
pctl.PlotLayer()

########################
#### Assembly.svg  #####
########################

popt.SetTextMode(PLOTTEXTMODE_STROKE)
pctl.SetLayer(F_Mask)
pctl.OpenPlotfile("Assembly", PLOT_FORMAT_PDF, "Master Assembly")
pctl.SetColorMode(True)

# We want *everything*
popt.SetPlotReference(True)
popt.SetPlotValue(True)
popt.SetPlotInvisibleText(True)

# Remember than the DXF driver assigns colours to layers. This means that
# we will be able to turn references on and off simply using their layers
# Also most of the layer are now plotted in 'line' mode, because DXF handles
# fill mode almost like sketch mode (this is to keep compatibility with
# most CAD programs; most of the advanced primitive attributes required are
# handled only by recent autocads...); also the entry level cads (qcad
# and derivatives) simply don't handle polyline widths...
# 
# Here I'm using numbers for colors and layers, I'm too lazy too look them up:P
popt.SetReferenceColor(19)
popt.SetValueColor(21)

popt.SetColor(0)
#popt.SetMode(LINE)
pctl.SetLayer(B_SilkS)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(14)
pctl.SetLayer(F_SilkS)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(2)
pctl.SetLayer(B_Mask)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(4)
pctl.SetLayer(F_Mask)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(1)
pctl.SetLayer(B_Paste)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(9)
pctl.SetLayer(F_Paste)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(3)
pctl.SetLayer(Edge_Cuts)
pctl.PlotLayer()

# Export the copper layers too... exporting one of them in filled mode with
# drill marks will put the marks in the WHITE later (since it tries to blank
# the pads...); these will be obviously great reference points for snap
# and stuff in the cad. A pctl function to only plot them would be
# better anyway...

popt.SetColor(17)
#popt.SetMode(FILLED)
popt.SetDrillMarksType(PCB_PLOT_PARAMS.FULL_DRILL_SHAPE)
pctl.SetLayer(B_Cu)
pctl.PlotLayer()
popt.SetColor(20)
popt.SetDrillMarksType(PCB_PLOT_PARAMS.NO_DRILL_SHAPE)
pctl.SetLayer(F_Cu)
pctl.PlotLayer()

# At the end you have to close the last plot, otherwise you don't know when
# the object will be recycled!
pctl.ClosePlot()

# We have just generated 21 plotfiles with a single script

As an alternative, you might want to have a look at the very powerful KiBot tool.

Great Script, I would like to adapt it and make my own derived script.
Could you add a license, so others can re-use it ?

Thank you!

@MarcelMG Ive added a license. Hope it works for you.

Can you add drill and XY file output too?