check_clearance

Check the actual clearance between two PCB items (track, via, pad, zone or component) and report whether it meets the design rules.

SERVERKiCAD-MCP-Server SOURCEmixelpixx/kicad-mcp-server

Low RISK CLASS

Category Read

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Allowedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade F, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/mixelpixx-kicad-mcp-server/check-clearance.md

WHAT IT DOES

What check_clearance does on KiCAD-MCP-Server

AI agents call check_clearance to retrieve information from KiCAD-MCP-Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

RISK

Why check_clearance is rated Low

This tool queries and validates existing PCB design data against rules. It retrieves clearance information and produces a report, matching the Read category pattern of data retrieval with no side effects. No data is created, modified, deleted, or executed. The context (PCB design validation) and sibling tools (which add components, layers, etc.) confirm this is a diagnostic/verification function.

From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Check[s] the actual clearance' and 'report[s] whether it meets the design rules' — purely informational operations with no modifications or side effects.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs check_clearance safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and KiCAD-MCP-Server, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For check_clearance, this is the rule to start with:

check_clearance Allowed

check_clearance is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "check_clearance": {}
  }
}

ALLOW ONLY THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect KiCAD-MCP-Server, apply this rule, and every check_clearance call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about check_clearance

What does the check_clearance tool do? +

Check the actual clearance between two PCB items (track, via, pad, zone or component) and report whether it meets the design rules. It is categorised as a Read tool in the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on check_clearance? +

Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for check_clearance: 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 check_clearance? +

check_clearance is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit check_clearance? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the check_clearance 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 check_clearance completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for check_clearance. 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 check_clearance? +

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

KEEP EXPLORING

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