WayriCAD is an open-source suite of 18 KiCad plugins for printed circuit board (PCB) design and analysis. It includes schematic and PCB project merging, hierarchical subsheet reuse, fanout routing, via stitching, trace impedance and RLC analysis, power integrity (PI), signal integrity (SI), thermal analysis, bill of materials (BOM) editing, and portable project libraries. Each tool installs independently through KiCad's Plugin and Content Manager (PCM) and runs locally after setup.
WayriCAD is maintained by Wayri. The official source repository is wayri/WayriCAD. Start with the tool that solves your immediate task.
Current suite release: 3.6.6 · GPL-3.0 license; Project Fusion is MIT licensed.
New in 3.6.6: Standalone QuickTherm can run a bounded Gmsh/CalculiX 3D steady-conduction board model from declared component power, with solver setup in its native window. Quick PI adds an opt-in Gmsh tetrahedral copper-volume DC model and 3D result viewer; its 2.5D workflow stays the default. Install their independent QuickTherm PCM ZIP and Quick PI PCM ZIP, then restart KiCad. See the 3.6.6 release notes for setup, validation and limits.
Project Fusion 0.9.4 is included in the 3.6.5 source and wheel: Download its independent PCM ZIP or install it from the WayriCAD PCM repository. Merge up to 100 saved projects or selected hierarchical subsheets, optionally copy their routed PCB blocks and local libraries, arrange blocks in a visual preview, and review linked source updates. This testing package targets KiCad 10; full-project apply requires saved and closed target editors. See the Fusion guide and 3.6.5 release notes.
New in 3.6.4: Mechanical Check can compare a second saved PCB at a specified 3D position, detect exact interboard collisions and close approaches, and show per-finding X/Y/Z or custom cross-sections. See the 3.6.4 release notes.
QuickTherm is a standalone plugin in 3.6.0. Its own package and example results, step-by-step guide, source, and KiCad manifest are separate from Quick PI. Install its own QuickTherm PCM ZIP. Upgrade Quick PI to 3.6.0 to remove its former thermal action, then restart KiCad.
Trace RLC and Quick SI in 3.6.1 include corrected microstrip and stripline estimates and a manual CPW/GCPW or coupled-stripline cross-section view. See the capability matrix for supported geometry and unresolved cases.
Use Releases for published packages. KiCad 10 is the validated target. KiCad 11-only installations are not supported yet: several engines still need KiCad 10 native Python. See compatibility and known limits.
Installation guide · Illustrated user guide · Troubleshooting · CLI guide · Jobsets and automatic reports · Releases
3.6.6 release notes · 3.6.5 release notes · 3.6.4 release notes · 3.6.3 release notes · 3.6.2 release notes · 3.6.1 release notes · 3.6 release notes · 3.5 release notes · 3.4 release notes · Validation and limitations
New to KiCad plugins? Follow the step-by-step GUI guide, including ZIP installation, first launch and troubleshooting.
- In KiCad Manager, open Plugin and Content Manager. Add the repository URL below, select WayriCAD Plugin Repository, and install the tools you need.
- Alternatively, download an individual
WayriCAD-<tool>-<version>-PCM.zipfrom Releases and use Install from File. Do not unpack the ZIP yourself. - For the IPC tools, in Preferences → Plugins, enable the API and configure Python. Let KiCad finish preparing each plugin environment, then restart the PCB Editor. Fusion uses the native SWIG loader and does not require enabling the API: install its PCM ZIP, apply, restart PCB Editor, and choose Tools → External Plugins → Wayri Project Fusion.
- Open and save your board/project, then launch a WayriCAD action from Tools → External Plugins or the PCB Editor's top toolbar. Use WayriCAD — All tools… at the top of the External Plugins menu to search the full installed list when the flat KiCad menu does not fit on screen. The KiCad 10 packages include lightweight menu launchers alongside their IPC toolbar actions. Maximize the editor if the toolbar is crowded; use Preferences → PCB Editor → Plugins to show or hide individual buttons. Toolbar launches use the originating project; standalone launches may need a file selection. A loading window appears while a plugin prepares its runtime and opens its own window.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wayri/WayriCAD/develop/pcm/repo.json
Initial dependency setup needs internet access or a prepared wheel cache. Once prepared, application pages, previews and project processing run locally. Some tools use a separate native KiCad runtime; runtime setup explains overrides and offline installation.
- Combine designs or reuse a circuit: Project Fusion merges projects and selected schematic sheets with optional routed layout, variant selection, visual placement, dependency copying and reviewed linked updates.
- Inspect PCB electrical behaviour: Quick PI, Quick SI and Trace RLC / Impedance report results with explicit model assumptions and coverage.
- Review component temperatures: QuickTherm models declared losses and thermal inputs with a board result overlay.
- Prepare assembly and fabrication: BOM Studio, Constraint Studio and Manufacturing Readiness provide field editing, rules and release checks.
Application captures and rendered interface previews; select a picture or tool title for its guide. Example values are not predictions for your board.
Machine-specific paths in screenshots are replaced with generic project locations; surrounding UI and numerical results are preserved.
 Review pads, existing copper and proposed tracks/vias before applying. |
 Marble MGTAVCC at a hypothetical 1 A; a selected rail path, not a whole-board load. |
 Protocol screening keeps missing models and reference coverage visible. |
 Inspect the connected copper path and per-section electrical coverage. |
 Map saved footprint thermal inputs and per-part temperature limits, inspect board overlays and sortable component results, place probes, and export HTML/JSON evidence. The pictured board model uses declared demonstration material and airflow inputs. |
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 Templates, bulk editing, conditional exports and explicit cost/mass coverage. |
 Motor EMF/force, winding layouts, coupled fields and KiCad SPICE; see model limits. |
 Edit custom DRC rules visually, manage clearance matrices and reusable constraint sets, and stage per-layer routing profiles for reviewed export. Shipped interface rendered with a demonstration snapshot; scope colours are condition matches, not native DRC results. |
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Every name below opens that plugin’s README. The full tool directory explains inputs, outputs and write boundaries.
| Icon | Plugin and guide | Features | Description |
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Project Fusion | Project merging; subsheet extraction; visual block placement; linked updates | Combines schematics and routed PCB blocks into one saved KiCad project. |
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BOM Studio | Templates and field editing; component grouping; variants; CSV/XLSX/TSV exports | Organizes component data and produces purchasing or assembly bills of materials. |
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Embed3D | Local symbol and footprint libraries; 3D model copying/embedding; link repair; backups | Makes project libraries and 3D models portable by collecting dependencies locally. |
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Quick PI | 2.5D DC solver; voltage, current-density and loss maps; copper meshes; decoupling review | Estimates voltage drop and Joule losses in PCB power rails using actual copper geometry. |
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QuickTherm | Component input mapping; temperature views; optional board conduction models; virtual heatsinks; HTML/JSON reports | Estimates steady-state component and board temperatures from declared losses and thermal assumptions. |
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Trace RLC / Impedance | Connected route measurements; RLC estimates; reference-layer impedance; via and zone analysis | Measures routed copper and estimates its resistance, inductance, capacitance and impedance. |
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Quick SI | Delay and electrical length; reflections and termination candidates; skew and I2C checks; return-path and test-point review | Screens routed signal paths for timing, termination and reference-layer concerns. |
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Fanout Generator | Perimeter and BGA escapes; adaptive routing; differential-pair seeds; preview and grouped apply | Generates reviewed escape tracks and vias from SMD, BGA and LGA pads. |
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Via Stitching | Square/staggered grids; density profiles; net/layer filters; clearance checks; grouped apply | Places net-connected stitching vias in selected copper regions. |
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Bulk Label Editor | Wildcard and regex replacements; references, values, fields and PCB text; preview and apply | Renames repeated labels and component text in bulk. |
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Pin Extractor | PCB cross-selection; pin/net tables; safeguarded path tracing; diagrams; CSV/Markdown exports | Turns board connectivity into connector pinouts and signal-path documentation. |
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Harness Workbench | Connector mapping; bundles and splices; wire gauges and loads; SVG/interactive maps; procurement BOM | Documents wiring between boards, connectors and peripherals. |
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Copper Balancer | Eight thieving patterns; per-layer density maps; clearance/keepout checks; saved-copy output | Adds reviewed isolated copper to balance local PCB copper density. |
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Mechanical Check | STEP model coverage; collision, height and clearance checks; interboard placement; cross-sections | Reviews physical fit between components, boards and mechanical geometry. |
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Heater Designer | Serpentine and spiral copper; multilayer heaters; regional resistance control; electrical/thermal preview | Creates PCB heating patterns for declared resistance and temperature targets. |
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Planar Magnetics | Multilayer winding generation; LCR and field estimates; motor/actuator models; ngspice simulations | Designs PCB windings and evaluates supported magnetic and electromechanical concepts. |
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Manufacturing Readiness | Fabricator profiles; board geometry audits; native DRC/jobsets; release gates; hashed ZIP exports | Checks manufacturing constraints and packages reviewed fabrication outputs. |
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Constraint Studio | Visual DRC rule forms; clearance matrices; netclasses; reusable sets; per-layer routing profiles | Creates and reviews KiCad design constraints in a staged project workspace. |
BOM Studio keeps templates, cell and bulk editing, grouping, and conditional exports in three primary views. Mechanical Check retains exact solids and adds a quick 2D envelope screen without FreeCAD. Copper Balancer reports rejected sites and per-tile density deficits. Quick PI includes decoupling placement; QuickTherm is separately installable; Quick SI includes return-path and test-point workflows. These are distinct checks inside the suite, not claims of full electrical or mechanical certification.
Constraint Studio is the suite's visual constraint manager: custom DRC rule forms, clearance matrices, netclasses, reusable sets and per-layer routing profiles share a staged workspace. Review generated rules and file diffs before offline apply, then validate with KiCad's native DRC.
Remove obsolete suite package entries to avoid duplicate actions. Embed3D combines the former Localizer and Portable Assets workflows and keeps the embed-3d package ID. Visual Diff and Design Variant Workbench are retired; their standalone source directories and those of consolidated tools are removed from repository history. PDN Decoupling is now a tab in Quick PI. Return-Path Auditor and Test Point Descriptor are tabs in Quick SI; their separate packages are retired. Native KiCad variants replace the standalone variant tool. The source installer backs up retired installations; it does not delete project data. Keep existing BOM workspaces and project backups.
For a source installation, build packages and run python tools/install_suite.py to preview the destination, then repeat with --apply. Use --destination for an explicit location. Installation details.
Use wayricad jobs to create repeatable analysis/report sequences and insert them into KiCad jobsets. Native DRC/ERC, BOM, PI, SI and RLC presets collect a local HTML index, logs and JSON/hash evidence. Setup and examples.
Install the source interfaces with python -m pip install -e .. Use the CLI guide · Jobsets and automatic reports for reviewed plan/apply routing, native DRC verification, PI, RLC and library commands. Apply writes a new board copy; verification reports native DRC findings and preserves source hashes.
For repository work, start with AGENTS.md and CONTRIBUTING.md: architecture, validation, runtime checks and release safeguards.
python -m pip install -e ".[test]"
python tools/prepare_suite.py
python tools/generate_suite_icons.py
python -m unittest discover -s tests
python build_pcm.py --output-dir .validation/candidate-pcm-3.6.6
python tools/validate_packages.py --archive-dir .validation/candidate-pcm-3.6.6
Imported applications have separate test suites. Native tests require the relevant installed engines; skipped checks are not compatibility evidence. Read compatibility and the Marble smoke-test record for the distinction between checks, demonstrations and unverified operations. Historical release notes describe their original versions.
WayriCAD development has made substantial use of AI coding assistants and large language models (LLMs), including OpenAI Codex, for implementation, debugging, tests, documentation and research assistance. Project maintainers remain responsible for the code and release decisions. AI-generated code and explanations can contain errors; validation evidence and model limitations are documented separately.
We thank the KiCad community, upstream open-source projects, researchers and contributors whose work supports this suite. See acknowledgements and the full AI-development disclosure.
Project Fusion 0.9.4 PCM download is available as an independent testing package. It retains its MIT license and native KiCad loader. Fusion guide.