// MCP TOOL REFERENCE

generate_pcb_thumbnail

ServerKiCad MCP Server
CategoryExecute

WHAT IT DOES

What generate_pcb_thumbnail does on KiCad MCP Server

AI agents invoke generate_pcb_thumbnail to trigger actions in KiCad MCP Server. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

THE RISK

High Risk

Why generate_pcb_thumbnail needs a policy

This tool invokes an external CLI tool (kicad-cli) to render and generate a thumbnail image file. It triggers an external process execution whose side effects (file creation, resource usage) depend on the arguments provided. While the primary output is a read-like artifact (an image), it executes an external binary and writes output files, placing it in the Execute category.

From the tool's definition Generate a thumbnail image of a KiCad PCB layout using kicad-cli

Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access generate_pcb_thumbnail gives an agent:

POLICY

How to control generate_pcb_thumbnail

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and KiCad MCP Server, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for generate_pcb_thumbnail:

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "generate_pcb_thumbnail": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "generate_pcb_thumbnail_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

generate_pcb_thumbnail stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

Create a free account and register KiCad MCP Server — nothing to install.
Add this policy — paste it, or build it visually.
Point your MCP client (Claude, Cursor, anything) at your gateway URL.

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Free to start. No card required.

EXPLORE

Related tools and policies

More KiCad MCP Server tools

Execute run_drc_check Run a Design Rule Check on a KiCad PCB file. Args: project_pa Execute generate_project_thumbnail Generate a thumbnail of a KiCad project's PCB layout (Alias for generate_pcb_thumbnail). Execute open_project Open a KiCad project in KiCad. Write export_bom_csv Export a Bill of Materials for a KiCad project. This tool attempts to gen Read analyze_bom Analyze a KiCad project's Bill of Materials. This tool will look for BOM Read analyze_project_circuit_patterns Identify circuit patterns in a KiCad project's schematic. Args: Read analyze_schematic_connections Analyze connections in a KiCad schematic. This tool provides detailed ana Read extract_project_netlist Extract netlist from a KiCad project's schematic. This tool finds the sch

All 16 KiCad MCP Server tools →

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Go deeper

High-risk tools in KiCad MCP Server → Every high-risk tool this server exposes, in one view.
All high-risk MCP tools → Every high-risk tool across the catalogue, and the policy pattern that contains them.
The MCP Attack Database → Documented attack patterns against MCP deployments — and the policies that stop them.
Agent sandbox → Bounding what an agent can execute and where the boundary should sit.
Least privilege for MCP → Granting agents the minimum tool surface the task needs.
Rate Limiting MCP Tool Calls: A Practical Guide →
MCP Security: Why Prompt Guardrails Aren't Enough →

FAQ

Questions about generate_pcb_thumbnail

What does the generate_pcb_thumbnail tool do? +

Generate a thumbnail image of a KiCad PCB layout using kicad-cli. Args: project_path: Path to the KiCad project file (.kicad_pro) ctx: Context for MCP communication Returns: Thumbnail image of the PCB or None if generation failed. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the KiCad MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on generate_pcb_thumbnail? +

Register the KiCad MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for generate_pcb_thumbnail: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches KiCad MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is generate_pcb_thumbnail? +

generate_pcb_thumbnail is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit generate_pcb_thumbnail? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the generate_pcb_thumbnail rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block generate_pcb_thumbnail completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for generate_pcb_thumbnail. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides generate_pcb_thumbnail? +

generate_pcb_thumbnail is provided by the KiCad MCP Server MCP server (lamaalrajih/kicad-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

Enforce policy on every KiCad MCP Server tool call.

Start from KiCad MCP Server, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.

CHECK YOUR STACK →

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16 KiCad MCP Server tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.