find_overlapping_elements
Detect spatially overlapping symbols, wires, and labels in the schematic. Finds duplicate power symbols at the same position, collinear overlapping wires, and labels stacked on top of each other.
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What find_overlapping_elements does on KiCAD-MCP-Server
AI agents call find_overlapping_elements 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.
Why find_overlapping_elements is rated Low
This tool retrieves or queries the state of the schematic to identify spatial overlaps. It has no side effects, creates no modifications, and does not execute external operations or manipulate data. It is a read-only inspection tool suitable for validation and debugging of circuit designs.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'find_overlapping_elements' and description 'Detect spatially overlapping symbols, wires, and labels' — performs analysis and detection without modifying the schematic. Uses verbs like 'Detect' and 'Finds' indicating inspection/query operations.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs find_overlapping_elements 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 find_overlapping_elements, this is the rule to start with:
find_overlapping_elements is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect KiCAD-MCP-Server, apply this rule, and every find_overlapping_elements call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about find_overlapping_elements
Detect spatially overlapping symbols, wires, and labels in the schematic. Finds duplicate power symbols at the same position, collinear overlapping wires, and labels stacked on top of each other. It is categorised as a Read tool in the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the KiCAD-MCP-Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for find_overlapping_elements: 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.
find_overlapping_elements is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the find_overlapping_elements 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.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for find_overlapping_elements. 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.
find_overlapping_elements 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.
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