What it does

KiCad MCP Pro integrates LLM agents with KiCad 10 and 9 for schematic and PCB design workflows. Agents can set up projects, capture schematics, lay out PCBs, run design validation (DRC, ERC, DFM), perform signal and power integrity analysis, execute SPICE simulations, and export manufacturing files (Gerber, BOM, STEP, IPC-2581, PDF, pick-and-place). The server works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients.

Who it's for

Hardware engineers and PCB designers who need Claude to review designs, suggest improvements, validate against manufacturing rules, or automate manufacturing handoff. Teams automating design checks, iterating on layouts, or preparing production packages benefit most.

Common use cases

• Iterate schematic designs with Claude and auto-generate netlists
• Validate PCB layouts against DFM and EMC rules before manufacturing
• Run signal and power integrity analysis on board designs
• Generate and review manufacturing packages with Gerber and BOM exports
• Automate PCB annotation, layer management, and via placement
• Perform SPICE simulations and analyze results in design context

Setup pitfalls

• Requires Python 3.12+ and KiCad 10/9; version mismatches may cause capability loss
• Paths in KICAD_MCP_PROJECT_DIR and KICAD_MCP_WORKSPACE_ROOT must be absolute; relative paths will fail silently
• KiCad IPC socket availability determines runtime; use health --json or doctor --json to diagnose before connecting
• Server modifies project files directly with write access; ensure version control and backups before production use