AIVON's KiCad Plugin to Simplify the PCB Quotation Process

AIVON has integrated an official KiCad plugin that connects a completed PCB layout to AIVON's online quotation workflow. After design-rule checks are finished, engineers can launch the plugin from the KiCad PCB Editor, prepare manufacturing data automatically, and open a pre-filled quotation page, without separately exporting, zipping, and uploading production files.

The plugin is available through KiCad's Plugin and Content Manager and is free to install.

A Direct Link Between PCB Design and Manufacturing

A finished layout in KiCad already contains the information needed to manufacture a board. In a conventional quotation process, that information still has to be converted by hand:

• Plot Gerber files for copper, solder mask, silkscreen, and board outline
• Export drill files
• Prepare a BOM and pick-and-place file when assembly is required
• Package the files and upload them to a manufacturer website
• Enter board specifications again on the quote form

Each of those steps adds time. More importantly, it creates avoidable errors: a missing layer, an older Gerber set from a previous revision, or a file format that does not match what the factory expects. Those issues become more visible when a prototype goes through several spins in a short period.

The AIVON KiCad plugin is intended to close that gap. It does not change how users capture schematics or route boards. It adds a manufacturing path that starts from the same project file the engineer is already working on.

What Changes with the AIVON KiCad Plugin

From the PCB Editor, the plugin reads the current board, packages the manufacturing data required by AIVON, and opens the quotation interface with key parameters already populated, including board dimensions and layer count.

Users then review and adjust production options such as quantity, thickness, copper weight, surface finish, and solder mask color before adding the order to cart.

Engineering review remains part of the process. A clean DRC, a complete board outline, and a standard design-for-manufacturability check are still required before production. The plugin removes repetitive file handling; it does not replace those checks.

Traditional Quotation VS Plugin Quotation

The difference is easiest to see in the quotation sequence.

The conventional process typically looks like:

Design → Export → Package → Upload → Re-enter specifications → Quote

With the AIVON plugin, the workflow becomes:

Design → DRC → AIVON Plugin → Quote

The manufacturing capability behind the order is unchanged. What changes is the number of manual transfers between the EDA tool and the quotation page.

This matters particularly for engineers working through multiple prototype revisions. Instead of repeatedly preparing a separate manufacturing package and entering the same board information for each quotation, the current KiCad design becomes the starting point for the manufacturing workflow. The approach also keeps the quotation process closer to the engineering workflow. The PCB layout remains the source of the manufacturing data, while production parameters can still be reviewed and adjusted before an order is placed.

How to Install the AIVON KiCad Plugin

KiCad users can install the plugin from Tools → Plugin and Content Manager. Open the Fabrication Plugins tab, search for AIVON, install the package, and apply pending changes. After the PCB Editor is refreshed, the AIVON icon appears on the toolbar.

For users looking for a step-by-step guide on how to install the AIVON KiCad plugin and use it to request a PCB quotation, AIVON has published a complete walkthrough in its KiCad Hub. The installation and quotation workflow is also available in the video below, providing a quick visual guide to getting started with the plugin.

As AIVON continues to develop its KiCad integration, the goal is to make the transition from PCB design to manufacturing more straightforward without adding complexity to the engineering workflow. The plugin provides a starting point for a more connected design-to-quotation experience, while keeping engineers in control of the final manufacturing decisions.