kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo_bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>]

>________________________________
> From: Tuomas <tuomasvaherkoski@xxxxxxxxx>
>To: kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
>Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 4:25 AM
>Subject: [Kicad-developers] [PATCH] Implementing X3D model support to 3d-viewer
> 
>
>Hello everyone,
>
>
>I've been writing some code to implement X3D support to 3d-viewer/pcbnew so that it would be easier to use other software than just Wings3D to export 3d-models. The basic functionality is implemented and it seems to work fine. There is still some things to be done, like supporting Transform rotation property. 
>I just wanted to post this patch to get some feedback.
>
>
>The parser is implemented in its own class which fills the required fields of S3D_MASTER class.
>I was thinking that I could also move the current wrl parser into its own class.
>
>
>
>I also made changes to dialog_edit_module_for_Modedit.cpp so that it now supports loading of *.x3d files.
>
>
>Please let me know what you think. The source is branched from r4017.
>Thanks.
>- Tuomas Vaherkoski​
>
>


On the practical side I really don't think we need yet another format for 3D views. Wings3D is so awful that I created my own tools for developing 3D VRML models, but although I can understand the frustration I think effort is better directed to supporting the existing 3D viewer functionality and in the future supporting tools to create solid models and STEP output.

On the other hand, if there are good vrml->X3D converters and we can make use of the existing VRML models, I see nothing wrong with replacing the 3D viewer and 3D exporter with new ones. Better still if the 3D viewer can take both X3D and VRML models - the only thing to keep in mind is that people currently use the VRML export as part of their process to create STEP files, so if the exporter is replaced there needs to be a tested method for creating STEP files.

- Cirilo