A drill preview can align perfectly with the copper while still assign holes to the wrong manufacturing group. Plated and non-plated holes may share a nominal diameter but serve different purposes. Review hole identity separately from scale and position before approving the fabrication package.
The KiCad 10 PCB Editor manual documents drill-output generation and related options. Confirm the export arrangement used in the actual release. A filename or tool number should not be the only place where a critical hole requirement is communicated.
Build a hole inventory from the design
List the intended hole groups by finished requirement, plating status, layer span where relevant, and function. Include mounting holes, connector holes, vias, slots, and specialized operations. Keep the distinction between a required finished hole and a manufacturing tool choice explicit. If a drawing lists nominal finished diameters while a report lists tool diameters, ask the fabricator to explain the relationship rather than treating the two tables as automatically inconsistent.
Compare this inventory with the fabrication drawing. If the drawing labels a mounting feature as non-plated but the CAD pad is plated, resolve the conflict before export. A fabricator should not have to guess which representation takes precedence.
Review the exported tool groups
| Check | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Every intended group is present | Exported hole count and representative locations |
| Tool dimensions are interpreted correctly | Declared units and parsed tool table |
| Plating identities remain separate | File grouping or explicit supported attributes |
| Slots retain their meaning | Rendered geometry and machining definition |
Tool numbers are local identifiers within a file or process. Do not assume that T01 means the same diameter or operation in another export. Compare the actual tool definition and associated locations instead of matching the label alone.
Investigate count differences deliberately
- Compare total holes and groups with the source design.
- Locate omitted, duplicated, or unexpectedly merged features.
- Check export filters and plated/non-plated grouping options.
- Inspect representative holes against copper and outline.
- Regenerate the package after resolving the source discrepancy.
A count difference can be legitimate if a documented process representation changes, but it needs an explanation. Keep the explanation with the release so later CAM review does not reopen the same ambiguity.
Ask the fabricator to confirm any unusual grouping before manufacture. Preserve the approved hole inventory and drawing alongside the drill files. If the primary symptom is an offset or scaling problem, use the drill alignment guide first; correct alignment does not by itself settle plating or finished-hole requirements.
Move from reading to a build-ready project
Use the fabrication and assembly checklists to prepare drawings, production files and test requirements.
Open the DFM checklist