Convert PDF schematic to KiCAD etc.

Thread Starter

Irving

Joined Jan 30, 2016
3,843
I have an 8 page schematic in A4 PDF format (schematic originals I believe were A3, but quality is OK) with >1000 components. Redrawing it manually so it can be resurrected & updated is going to be onerous.

Long shot I know, but any ideas for automating the capture, or am I in for a few weeks of pain?
 

jpanhalt

Joined Jan 18, 2008
11,087
Any idea what program, if any, was used for the original? My guess is that component libraries will be an insurmountable hurdle. All of the electronic CAD programs with which I am familiar link a symbol to a package/device.

At best, you will have to step through the design and define every symbol as a device, which may not be that bad, as most of the passives will be a standard size.
 

Thread Starter

Irving

Joined Jan 30, 2016
3,843
You could offer it as a job on the forum..
I could have, but no budget...

I did it myself, wasn't too bad once I worked out how to use heirarchical sheets and how to deal with the differences between what were nearly but not quite identical channels. So that reduced drawing time by a lot...
 
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