A KiCad plugin that allows you to search and import electronic components from LCSC/EasyEDA and JLCPCB directly into your KiCad projects, including symbols, footprints, and 3D models.
🚀 v0.5.0 — Footprint pipeline switched to upstream (2026-05-11): The footprint converter is now backed by a vendored copy of easyeda2kicad.py v1.0.1 (see
plugins/lcsc_manager/vendor/easyeda2kicad/), eliminating theKicadModTreeruntime dependency. Footprints that previously fell back to a 2-pad placeholder on installs withoutKicadModTreenow convert correctly. See CHANGELOG.md and NOTICE.md for licensing.v0.4.0 added a Settings dialog and per-project / global library-path overrides — see the "Customizing library paths" section below.
- 🔍 Multi-parameter search: Search by component name, value, package type, and manufacturer
- 📊 Rich search results: View LCSC ID, name, package, price, stock, and library type (Basic/Extended)
- 🔀 Sortable columns: Click column headers to sort results by any field
- 👁️ High-quality previews: Symbol and footprint previews rendered directly from EasyEDA's SVG API
- ⚡ Fully asynchronous: Previews load independently — browse and import without waiting
- 💾 Preview caching: Better performance with cached previews
- ⌨️ Keyboard support: Enter to search, ESC to close
- 📦 Automatically download symbols, footprints, and 3D models (WRL and STEP formats)
- 💰 Real-time stock, pricing, and datasheet information from JLCPCB API
- 📚 Add components to project-specific libraries
⚠️ Smart overwrite detection with selective import options- 🎨 Seamless integration with KiCad 9.0+
- 🔄 Support for both LCSC/EasyEDA and JLCPCB parts
Note about KiCad PCM: This plugin is not available in the official KiCad Plugin and Content Manager due to KiCad's commercial services policy. Plugins that directly integrate with commercial APIs (like LCSC/JLCPCB) require a formal contract between the service provider and the KiCad team. As a third-party developer, I cannot submit to the official PCM. However, you can install it through the methods below.
- Open KiCad PCB Editor
- Go to Tools → Plugin and Content Manager
- Click Manage (bottom-left)
- Click Add Repository
- Enter the following URL:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hulryung/kicad-lcsc-manager/main/repository.json - Click OK and close the repository manager
- Search for "LCSC Manager" in the PCM
- Click Install
- Restart KiCad
-
Download the latest release
- Go to Releases
- Download
kicad-lcsc-manager-x.x.x.zipfrom the latest release
-
Extract to KiCad plugins directory
Find your KiCad version (e.g., 9.0) and extract to:
- Windows:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\Documents\KiCad\9.0\3rdparty\plugins\ - macOS:
~/Documents/KiCad/9.0/3rdparty/plugins/ - Linux:
~/.local/share/kicad/9.0/3rdparty/plugins/
- Windows:
-
Install Python dependencies
⚠️ REQUIREDIMPORTANT: The plugin will NOT work without these Python packages!
Install them using KiCad's Python (not your system Python):
macOS:
/Applications/KiCad/KiCad.app/Contents/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/Current/bin/python3 -m pip install --user requests pydantic
Windows (PowerShell):
& "C:\Program Files\KiCad\9.0\bin\python.exe" -m pip install --user requests pydantic
Linux:
pip3 install --user requests pydantic
-
Restart KiCad completely
-
Verify installation
- Open KiCad PCB Editor
- You should see the LCSC Manager icon in the toolbar
- Or go to Tools → External Plugins → LCSC Manager
Import components from LCSC/EasyEDA with real-time stock and pricing information
- Open KiCad PCB Editor with a saved project
- Launch the plugin:
- Click the LCSC Manager icon in the toolbar, or
- Go to Tools → External Plugins → LCSC Manager
-
Search for components:
- Enter search terms (e.g., "RP2040", "10uF", "0603")
- Optionally filter by package type (e.g., "LQFN", "SOT23")
- Press Enter or click Search
-
Browse results:
- View component list with LCSC ID, name, package, price, stock, and type
- Click any column header to sort results
- Select a component to view previews
-
Review previews:
- Symbol tab: Symbol preview from EasyEDA
- Footprint tab: Footprint preview from EasyEDA
- Previews load asynchronously - you can browse and import while loading
-
Select import options:
- ✓ Import Symbol
- ✓ Import Footprint
- ✓ Import 3D Model
-
Click "Import Selected" to add the component to your project
-
Find imported components in your project libraries (default paths):
- Symbol:
<project>/libs/lcsc/symbols/lcsc_imported.kicad_sym - Footprint:
<project>/libs/lcsc/footprints.pretty/ - 3D Models:
<project>/libs/lcsc/3dmodels/
- Symbol:
Click the ⚙ Settings… button in the import dialog to change where LCSC components are stored. Four values are configurable:
| Field | Default | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
library_path |
libs/lcsc |
Root folder relative to the project |
symbol_lib_name |
lcsc_imported.kicad_sym |
Symbol library filename |
footprint_lib_name |
footprints.pretty |
Footprint library folder |
model_3d_path |
3dmodels |
3D model folder |
Settings can be saved at one of two scopes:
- Global —
~/.kicad/lcsc_manager/config.json. Applies to every project unless overridden. - This project only —
<project>/.lcsc_manager.json. Overrides the global config for that project. Commit this file if you want the layout shared with your team, or add it to.gitignoreif it's personal.
Resolution order is default < global < project. The Settings dialog shows a
live preview of the resolved absolute paths and indicates which scope each
value comes from. Changes apply to future imports only — existing libraries
are not moved automatically.
- Search by LCSC ID: Enter part numbers like "C2040" for exact matches
- Search by value: Try "10uF", "100nF", "10k" to find capacitors and resistors
- Filter by package: Add package filter like "0603", "0805", "SOT23" for better results
- Browse quickly: Click through components rapidly - previews load in the background
- Check stock: Basic parts are usually cheaper and more available than Extended parts
To remove the plugin from your system:
bash uninstall_test.shThe script will:
- Detect and remove the plugin from KiCad plugins directory
- Optionally remove Python dependencies (if not used by other apps)
- Optionally remove configuration and logs
Alternatively, manually remove:
- Plugin:
~/Documents/KiCad/9.0/3rdparty/plugins/com_github_hulryung_kicad-lcsc-manager/ - Config/Logs:
~/.kicad/lcsc_manager/
- KiCad: 9.0 or later (recommended)
- May work with KiCad 7.0+ but not officially tested
- Python: 3.9+ (bundled with KiCad)
- Python packages:
requests>=2.31.0- For API callspydantic>=2.5.0- For data validation
- Internet connection: Required for downloading components from LCSC/JLCPCB
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/hulryung/kicad-lcsc-manager.git
cd kicad-lcsc-manager
# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Run tests
python -m pytest tests/kicad-lcsc-manager/
├── plugins/lcsc_manager/ # Main plugin code
│ ├── api/ # LCSC/EasyEDA API client
│ ├── converters/ # Symbol, footprint, 3D model converters
│ ├── library/ # KiCad library management
│ ├── preview/ # Preview rendering
│ └── utils/ # Config, logging utilities
├── scripts/ # Build and packaging scripts
├── tests/ # Integration tests
├── .github/workflows/ # CI/CD (auto-release on tag)
└── README.md
Check out my other KiCad and LCSC-related tools:
A web-based tool to convert EasyEDA/LCSC components to KiCad format with real-time 2D and 3D visualization. Perfect for previewing components before importing them into your project.
Features:
- Web-based interface (no installation required)
- Real-time 2D footprint preview
- 3D model visualization
- Instant conversion and download
BOM (Bill of Materials) extension tool that automatically fetches LCSC component information and exports enhanced BOMs.
Features:
- Automatic LCSC component lookup
- Stock and pricing information
- Export to various formats
- Batch processing support
Starting with v0.3.0, this plugin incorporates conversion logic directly ported from the upstream project easyeda2kicad.py v1.0.1 by uPesy (AGPL-3.0). Every ported function carries a "Ported from easyeda2kicad.py v1.0.1 <module>" docstring for full traceability.
What was ported:
| Upstream source | Ported into |
|---|---|
kicad/export_kicad_3d_model.py — _get_obj_bbox, get_materials, get_vertices, generate_wrl_model |
plugins/lcsc_manager/converters/model_3d_converter.py — 3D model centering, Z bottom alignment, Rec.601 luminance, EE placement offset |
easyeda/easyeda_importer.py — Easyeda3dModelImporter.parse_3d_model_info |
model_3d_converter.py::_extract_3d_model_info — extracts uuid, c_origin, z, c_rotation from SVGNODE |
kicad/parameters_kicad_footprint.py — KI_LAYERS table |
converters/jlc2kicad/footprint_handlers.py::layer_correspondance — correct mapping for all 17 EasyEDA layers |
kicad/export_kicad_footprint.py — _SOLID_REGION_LAYERS, _parse_solid_region_path |
footprint_handlers.py::_SOLID_REGION_LAYERS filter + h_SOLIDREGION M/L/H/V/A/Z parser |
kicad/export_kicad_footprint.py — pad number normalization |
footprint_handlers.py::_normalize_pad_number |
kicad/parameters_kicad_footprint.py — KI_VIA template |
footprint_handlers.py::h_VIA — plated THT emission |
easyeda/easyeda_importer.py — add_easyeda_pin |
converters/jlc2kicad/symbol_handlers.py::_extract_pin_number — canonical multi-unit pin number |
easyeda/easyeda_api.py — _create_ssl_context |
api/lcsc_api.py::_discover_ca_bundle — macOS KiCad certifi fallback |
easyeda/easyeda_api.py — _get_cache_path/_read_from_cache/_write_to_cache |
api/lcsc_api.py::_cache_path/_cache_read/_cache_write — opt-in disk cache |
This plugin was originally structured using concepts and base handler code from:
- JLC2KiCad_lib — base jlc2kicad handler structure (MIT)
- easyeda2kicad_plugin — KiCad plugin wrapper
- KiCAD-EasyEDA-Parts — alternative implementation
MIT License — see LICENSE file for the plugin wrapper code.
License note: Portions of the conversion logic are ported from easyeda2kicad.py, which is licensed under AGPL-3.0. Each ported function is marked with a docstring attribution. Users redistributing this plugin should review both the MIT license of the plugin wrapper and the AGPL-3.0 license of the upstream easyeda2kicad.py project.
According to KiCad's commercial services policy, plugins that directly integrate with commercial APIs (like LCSC/JLCPCB) require a formal contract between the service provider and the KiCad team. As a third-party developer, I cannot submit to the official PCM without such a contract.
However, you can still easily install this plugin via:
- Custom repository in KiCad PCM (recommended)
- Manual installation from GitHub releases
If installed via custom repository:
- The plugin will show update notifications in KiCad PCM
- Click "Update" when a new version is available
If installed manually:
- Check the Releases page for new versions
- Download and extract the new version to the same location
- Restart KiCad
This plugin is primarily developed and tested with KiCad 9.0. It may work with KiCad 7.0+ but is not officially tested or supported.
Previews are fetched directly from EasyEDA's SVG API and displayed in a WebView. Make sure you have an internet connection. If a component has no preview data on EasyEDA, a placeholder message will be shown.
Yes! You can search by:
- Component name (e.g., "RP2040", "ATmega328")
- Component value (e.g., "10uF", "100k")
- Package type (e.g., "0603", "SOT23", "LQFN")
- Or any combination of these
Yes, both WRL (VRML) and STEP formats are downloaded when available. They are automatically linked to the footprint.
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
If you encounter any issues or have questions, please open an issue on GitHub.