🧭 Winding Generator — KiCad Action Plugin

This KiCad pcbnew Action Plugin generates planar magnetic windings (rectangular spiral inductors/transformers) directly in the PCB editor.

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✨ Features

• Rectangular spiral with rounded corners
• Adjustable parameters:
  • Width & Height (outer window)
  • Corner Radius
  • Track Width
  • Track Spacing (Guard)
  • Inner Gap (first-turn clearance)
  • Number of Turns
  • Start position: Left-Top / Left-Center / Left-Bottom
• Pick center using the mouse on the canvas
• Works with KiCad 7 / 8 / 9
• Toolbar icon included
• Simple installer script

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📦 Repository Structure

winding-generator/

1. winding_generator.py # Main KiCad Action Plugin (Python)
2. install_to_kicad_plugin.py # One-click installer (asks for plugin folder)
3. icon.png # Toolbar icon

🧰 Requirements

• KiCad
• Python
• Windows / macOS / Linux

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⚙️ Installation (Recommended)

1. Clone the repository.
2. Run the installer file, which is "install_to_kicad_plugin.py".

• A folder picker will ask for your KiCad plugins directory.
  If you don’t know it, open KiCad PCB Editor and go to: Tools → External Plugins → Open Plugin Directory, then copy that path into the picker.
• The installer saves your choice and can guess common locations next time.
• It copies:
  • winding_generator.py
  • icon.png into your KiCad plugins folder.

3. Refresh in KiCad

• In KiCad PCB Editor: Tools → External Plugins → Refresh Plugins
• You should see “Winding Generator” in the menu and a red winding toolbar icon.

Tip: If the plugin doesn’t appear immediately, restart KiCad.

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🖥️ How to Use

1. Open your board in KiCad PCB Editor.
2. Click the Winding Generator toolbar icon (red spiral) or run it from
   Tools → External Plugins → Winding Generator.
3. In the dialog:
   • Click Use mouse to pick the center from the canvas (or type X/Y in mm).
   • Set Width, Height, Radius, Gap, Track Width, Guard (spacing), Turns.
   • Choose Start position (Left-Top / Left-Center / Left-Bottom).
   • Select the Layer (e.g., F.Cu).
4. Click OK. The spiral is drawn as TRACKs and 90° ARCs on the chosen layer.

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🔧 Parameters (Quick Reference)

Field	Meaning
Center X/Y (mm)	Spiral center. Use Use mouse to capture from the canvas.
Width (mm)	Outer window width of the rounded rectangle.
Height (mm)	Outer window height of the rounded rectangle.
Radius (mm)	Corner radius.
Gap (mm)	Inner clearance from window to first turn.
Width (mm)	Track width (copper trace width).
Guard (mm)	Track-to-track spacing between adjacent turns.
Turns	Number of spiral turns.
Start Position	Left-Top / Left-Center / Left-Bottom path start.
Layer	Target copper layer (F.Cu, B.Cu, In1.Cu, …).

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🛠️ Installer Script (Details)

You can re-run the installer any time, but do not forget to update the plugin in Kickad.

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📄 License

MIT License.

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👤 Author

Developed by Othman Abujazar
University of Paderborn — Planar Winding Generator for KiCad.

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