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AI Features

AI Component Lab

Skip the tedious part of starting a design. Give the AI Component Lab a part name, a datasheet, or a pinout image and it generates a complete, linked symbol and footprint pair — ready to drop into your schematic and board. It also converts existing parts between KiCad, EAGLE, Altium, and Allegro.

# What It Is

The Component Lab is a dedicated editor tab. Open a new one from the tab bar’s + button. Each tab is independent and keeps working in the background while you switch to other tabs, so a long generation never blocks your work.

When you supply only a part name or datasheet, it generates both halves with AI. When you import an existing symbol and footprint, it simply links and bundles them — no AI call. Import just one half and it generates only the piece you’re missing.

# Inputs

Provide any combination of the following — type into the fields or drag files onto the drop zones:

InputAccepts
Part nameFree text — e.g. LM358, ESP32-WROOM-32, NE555
DatasheetA datasheet URL, or an attached PDF
Pinout imagePNG, JPG, JPEG, WebP, or GIF
Symbol fileKiCad (.kicad_sym), Altium, EAGLE (.lbr), or EDIF (.edn)
Footprint fileKiCad (.kicad_mod), Altium, or EAGLE library
3D modelSTEP (.step / .stp), WRL, or X3D — bundled with every export

# Workflow

  1. Enter a part name and/or datasheet, or attach a PDF or pinout image
  2. Optionally import an existing symbol or footprint into its drop zone
  3. Pick an AI model; the remaining daily generations are shown beneath the button
  4. Click Generate (or Link & Build if both halves were imported)
  5. Watch the progress log — resolving the datasheet, extracting text, analyzing, building
  6. Review the result and save or export
[ Screenshot ]

AI Component Lab with a part name entered and the model selector open

# Reviewing & Editing

The result shows the symbol and footprint side by side, with a summary (manufacturer, MPN, pin and pad counts, description), a scrollable pin table (pad, name, type, side), and any warnings about extraction or pinout mismatches.

Hover a preview and click Edit symbol or Edit footprint to open it in the Symbol Editor or Footprint Editor. Saving there round-trips your changes back into the lab.

# Saving & Exporting

Save to Library stores the linked symbol + footprint pair in your custom library, ready to place. Or use the Export menu to write the part out for another tool:

  • KiCad — .kicad_sym + a .pretty footprint folder
  • EAGLE — a single .lbr library
  • Altium — .SchDoc + .PcbDoc
  • Allegro / OrCAD — EDIF (.edn) plus a footprint reference

Any attached 3D model is included with each export.

# Models & Limits

  • Sign-in required — AI generation needs a ProtoFlow account
  • Daily quota — Free includes 3 generations a day; Pro 10; Max 100. Link & Build (both halves imported) uses none
  • Model choice — pick from the available models; some are reserved for Pro and Max plans

Next Steps