Import a KiCad project

You have an existing KiCad project and want to work with it in openIE CAD. This guide imports it into the unified document, validates it, and re-exports manufacturing files. It assumes an MCP-connected agent (see the quickstart).

The shape of the workflow is: import → land in the UDD → check → export.

1. Import the project

Bring the KiCad project in. It is parsed into the unified document model (UDD), the single representation every other tool operates on — so once it’s imported, the board is just another openIE CAD design.

“Call import_kicad on my KiCad project and confirm what landed in the document.”

After import, the design lives in the same shared session as the viewer and sketcher.

2. Check the imported board

Imported designs can carry rule violations the original tool tolerated. Run the design-rule check before doing anything else.

“Run run_drc on the imported board and list any violations.”

Work through any findings as in Run design-rule checks, re-running run_drc until clean.

3. Export

With a clean board in the UDD, export the manufacturing files.

“Call export_gerber and give me the Gerber X2 bundle.”

For the full fabrication file set — drill, BOM, pick-and-place, and cost — see Export for fabrication.

Other source formats

KiCad is one of several formats that land in the UDD the same way. Use the matching tool for your source:

• import_atopile / import_atopile_with_layout — Atopile projects, with or without layout.
• import_zener / import_zener_with_layout — Zener designs, with or without layout.
• import_tscircuit — tscircuit designs.
• import_kcl — KCL geometry.
• import_ifc — IFC building/BIM models.
• import_deepcad — DeepCAD models.

Once any of these lands in the UDD, the rest of this guide (check, then export) is identical. For the complete catalog of supported formats, see the formats reference.