What's new in VOLNARA — every release, explained.
You can now export your designs as native .kicad_pcb files. The exporter writes the full board — outline, footprints, pads, traces, and net definitions — in KiCad's S-expression format. Open the file directly in KiCad 7+ to run additional DRC, make manual edits, or generate Gerber files for fabrication. Available on Pro and Business plans.
The board viewer has been rebuilt to show your designs the way they'll actually look. You'll see an FR4 substrate, green solder mask, copper traces with gold-plated pad finish, and component models rendered with realistic materials — black IC packages, silver connectors, tan capacitors. Orbit, zoom, and pan to inspect every detail before exporting.
The core of VOLNARA: describe a board in plain English and the engine figures out what you need. Your prompt is parsed into a structured specification — MCU family, power topology, peripherals, and connectors — then matched against the template library. Templates for ESP32, STM32, USB-C, Li-ion charging, IMU, and common passives are included at launch. A rule-based parser handles most prompts locally; an optional LLM path handles complex or ambiguous descriptions.
Components are now placed automatically using a grid-snapping algorithm with collision avoidance. The maze router connects all nets from the schematic, respecting trace width and clearance constraints. Board outlines are generated with rounded corners and configurable mounting holes. The layout engine runs in under a second for most 2-layer boards.
The first export formats are live. The BOM export generates a CSV with reference designators, values, footprints, and quantities — ready to paste into a distributor's BOM tool. The pick-and-place (CPL) export outputs component positions, rotations, and layers in the format assembly houses expect. Footprint dimensions are pulled from KiCad's standard library where available.