Pick-and-Place File Guide
Remove uncertainty from X, Y, rotation and bottom-side placement.
One consistent file set, with a clear revision.
Include any questions for your project contact.
Specify positions—and the rules that interpret them
A coordinate without an origin and a rotation without a convention are incomplete instructions.
A pick-and-place file may also be called a CPL, centroid, XY or position file. It identifies component reference positions, rotation and board side. Column labels alone do not explain how those numbers map to the actual board.
| Field | Meaning | Illustrative entry | Review rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designator | One physical component position | R1 | Match the released population scope; explain exceptions. |
| X_mm / Y_mm | Numeric position in millimeters for this template | 10.000 / 8.500 | Declare origin, axis directions and single-board / panel frame. |
| Rotation_deg | Angle in degrees using the declared convention | 0.000 | Document zero pose, positive direction and bottom-side interpretation. |
| Side | Board side | Top / Bottom | Use a consistent vocabulary; map to the receiver’s labels. |
| Footprint | Source footprint identity | Project-specific library name | Review the coordinate reference point and actual component geometry. |
| MountType | Placement / assembly process category | SMT / THT / Hand fit / Other | State which processes this file covers. |
| Populate | FIT / DNP status in this proposed schema | FIT | Agree whether production output excludes DNP rows. |
| Notes | Exception or approval reference | Coordinate convention manifest | Do not hide a necessary transformation in an unexplained note. |
Document these six coordinate conventions
Add these definitions to the release manifest, not just an email subject.
01 · Units and numeric format
Declare millimeters or inches. This template uses numeric millimeters with a decimal point. Keep units out of individual coordinate values when using its _mm columns.
02 · Origin and axes
Identify the physical or CAD origin and positive X / Y directions. Keep the placement frame aligned with the released board geometry or document a reviewed transform.
03 · Position reference
State whether the coordinates represent the footprint origin, a calculated center or another agreed reference. Do not assume every exporter uses the body center.
04 · Rotation zero and direction
Document the footprint’s zero-degree pose and positive angle direction. The same numeric angle can describe different orientations under different conventions.
05 · Bottom-side interpretation
Identify whether XY and rotation are expressed in a common top view or a bottom-side view, including any mirroring. Resolve mapping with the assembler, not with a guessed global formula.
06 · Board or panel instance
State whether the file describes one board or a panel. For repeated references in panel instances, use an agreed instance identifier or a separate panel mapping.
Review orientation with evidence
- 01
Check several known positions
Overlay the data with the released board or assembly view. Compare a distinctive connector, a corner component and a component near the opposite edge.
- 02
Review polarized and asymmetric parts
Check pin 1, diode polarity, connector orientation and module alignment against the correct component information and released drawing.
- 03
Test both board sides
Verify bottom-side location and angle interpretation separately. A correct top-side preview does not establish that the bottom mapping is correct.
- 04
Reconcile the population scope
Compare fitted references with the BOM and document DNP, fiducial, test-feature, hand-fit and through-hole exceptions. Identify duplicate references and panel instances.
- 05
Approve the interpretation
Record the agreed conventions and any reviewed conversion. Retain the original export and the approved mapping with the release records.
KiCad provides configurable position-file origin and bottom-side X handling. Its position export also has exclusion options. Review those settings explicitly rather than assuming a template header determines the export convention.
Keep sample data out of production
Use the blank download for real released data.
Designator,X_mm,Y_mm,Rotation_deg,Side,Footprint,MountType,Populate
R1,10.000,8.500,0.000,Top,EXAMPLE_R_0603,SMT,FIT
R2,15.000,8.500,90.000,Top,EXAMPLE_R_0603,SMT,FIT
C1,22.500,12.000,180.000,Bottom,EXAMPLE_C_0603,SMT,FITAltium can export several coordinate definitions in its assembly report. Choose the coordinate pair that fits the agreed workflow, and label it accurately instead of renaming Pad 1 or reference coordinates as “center” without review.
Download the preparation files
Download the checklists and templates below without signing in or submitting a form.
Blank placement template
Numeric millimeter / degree fields. Complete the accompanying coordinate convention notes.
CSV · 0.1 KBPlacement example — not for production
Illustrative rows only. No footprint-library or machine mapping is approved.
CSV · 0.4 KBRelease & coordinate manifest
Identify the file revision, stackup and coordinate conventions, and list any details you need help confirming.
TXT · 2.8 KBPCB & PCBA workbook
Eight sheets: instructions, BOM and placement inputs/examples, RFQ review and batch arithmetic.
XLSX · 19.5 KBFrequently asked questions
Are centroid, CPL and pick-and-place files always identical?
The terms often describe related positional data, but the column schema, included objects and coordinate conventions can differ. Verify the actual contents rather than relying on the name.
Can I rotate every bottom-side component by 180 degrees?
No universal conversion is valid for every CAD export and machine mapping. First establish view direction, handedness, zero pose and rotation direction, then validate the agreed conversion using known components.
Are negative coordinates automatically wrong?
No. They can be valid relative to the selected origin or a documented export convention. Check geometry and interpretation rather than changing a sign merely to make coordinates positive.
Should fiducials appear in the BOM?
They are typically board features rather than purchased components. Agree whether the placement or process data should include them; their presence is not a reason to invent a purchasing BOM line.
Can I create the coordinates manually from an image?
Use the released CAD export where possible. An image does not reliably establish exact geometry, origin or angle conventions. Any engineered reconstruction requires separate validation.
Does this page validate a placement file?
No. It provides field guidance, templates and a review workflow. It does not parse your design or confirm machine readiness.
Technical references & scope
- [4] KiCad 10.0 — PCB Editor: manufacturing outputs
- [6] Altium Designer — Preparing assembly data
- [7] Altium Knowledge Base — Pick-and-place center definition
- [10] KiCad — PCB Editor: Manufacturing Outputs and Design Rules
Use the checklists and templates on this page to prepare your manufacturing files. Confirm the required formats and approved design revision with your project contact before ordering; export steps may vary by CAD software.
File preparation resources for PCB & PCBA projects.