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Charmhigh CHMT48VB – KiCad CSV ⇄ DPV

CSV/POS: — | DPV: —

CSV/POS: KiCad placement export (Ref, Val, Package, PosX, PosY, Rot, Side). Offsets applied on Save/Export (original unchanged). Active Tab: CSV/POS

Components: DPV EComponent. Offsets applied on Save DPV (original unchanged). Active Tab: Components (DPV)

Material Stacks: DPV Station. IDs must be unique; STNo. is mapped from here. Active Tab: Material Stacks (DPV)

Panel Array (Panel_Array)

Panel Coordinates (Panel_Coord)

Panel List: DPV Panel_Array & Panel_Coord. Active Tab: Panel List (DPV)

Overview

This tool converts KiCad placement files to Charmhigh CHMT-48VB DPV format. The workflow involves loading your KiCad data, configuring feeder assignments, and exporting a machine-ready DPV file.

Step 1: Export from KiCad

In KiCad PCB Editor:

Go to File → Fabrication Outputs → Component Placement (.pos, .csv)
Choose CSV format with millimeters as units
Select Top or Bottom side (process each side separately)
Save the file

Step 2: Load CSV/POS File

Click Load CSV/POS in the toolbar
Select your KiCad placement file
Review the data in the CSV/POS tab
Optionally set X/Y Offset values to compensate for machine calibration

Step 3: Convert to DPV

Click Export as DPV
The system generates:
- Components – placement data (EComponent table)
- Material Stacks – feeder assignments (Station table)
- Panel List – panelization settings
If you have a Master Feeder Library, matching settings are auto-applied

Step 4: Configure Material Stacks (Feeders)

Go to the Material Stacks tab:

ID = Physical feeder slot number on your machine (1-29 for front, 30+ for rear)
PHead = Pick head (1 or 2)
Note = Component value (e.g., "10k", "100nF") – this links feeders to components
Set DeltX/DeltY for pickup offset adjustments
Set Height for component thickness

Tip: Select configured rows and click Save to Library to reuse these settings in future projects!

Step 5: Review Components

Go to the Components tab:

Verify STNo. matches your feeder assignments
Set Skip = 1 for components you don't want to place
Adjust Angle if rotation needs correction (Ctrl+Arrow keys)
Double-click Skip or PHead cells to toggle values

Step 6: Configure Panels (Optional)

If you have multiple boards on one panel, go to Panel List:

Set NumX/NumY for array dimensions
Set IntervalX/IntervalY for board spacing
Add Panel_Coord entries for each board origin

Step 7: Save DPV File

Click Save DPV in the toolbar
The system validates your data and offers to fix any issues
Choose whether to exclude skipped components (if any)
Save the file – this creates a standard Charmhigh DPV file
Transfer the DPV file to your CHMT-48VB machine

Tips for Repeat Projects

Master Feeder Library – Save your feeder configurations once, auto-apply to new projects
Export/Import Stack Lists – Save/Load Material Stacks as .stack files for specific projects
Consistent Component Values – Use consistent naming in KiCad (e.g., "10k" not "10K" or "10kohm") for reliable library matching

Console