If you design PCBs in EasyEDA Pro and assemble with the PlaceStation using OpenPnP, there is one important thing to know: EasyEDA Pro and OpenPnP use different rotation conventions. This guide covers the full export and import workflow and how to handle rotation correctly.
Exporting the Pick and Place File from EasyEDA Pro
- Open your PCB design in EasyEDA Pro
- Go to Fabrication → Pick and Place File
- Export as CSV format
- The exported file contains: Reference designator, Value, Footprint, X coordinate, Y coordinate, Rotation, Layer (Top/Bottom)
Save the CSV — this is your centroid file for OpenPnP.
The Rotation Problem
EasyEDA Pro and OpenPnP measure component rotation differently. If you import the file directly without correction, components will be placed at the wrong angle — especially noticeable on polarised capacitors, diodes, and ICs.
The correction formula is:
- Top layer components: OpenPnP rotation = (90 - EasyEDA_rotation) % 360
- Bottom layer components: OpenPnP rotation = (90 + EasyEDA_rotation) % 360
Apply this formula to every rotation value in your centroid CSV before importing into OpenPnP, or correct it inside OpenPnP's part rotation offset settings per component.
Importing into OpenPnP
- Open OpenPnP and go to the Job tab
- Click Add Board and then Import
- Select your corrected centroid CSV file
- Map the CSV columns to OpenPnP fields: Reference → Part ID, X/Y → coordinates, Rotation → rotation, Side → board side
- Click Import — your components will appear in the placements list
Mapping Components to Feeders
After import, each component reference needs to be mapped to a feeder in OpenPnP. Go to the Placements tab, select each unique component value, and assign it to the corresponding feeder loaded in your PlaceStation. Save the job.
Fiducial Setup
If your board has fiducial marks (recommended — add at least two copper circles to your EasyEDA Pro design), add them as fiducials in the OpenPnP job. OpenPnP will use them to optically calibrate board position before each run, compensating for any placement offset.
Tips
- Always double-check rotation on polarised components (electrolytic caps, diodes, ICs) on the first run
- Export a fresh centroid file every time you modify the PCB — stale files cause placement errors
- Add fiducials to every new board design from the start — retrofitting them is painful
- Save your corrected centroid CSV alongside your PCB project files for reuse