kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo_bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----

> From: Tomasz Wlostowski <tomasz.wlostowski@xxxxxxx>
> To: Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo_bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>; "kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: 
> Sent: Friday, June 6, 2014 9:15 AM
> Subject: Re: [Kicad-developers] CERN work package 4 (Extend number of layers)
> 
> On 06.06.2014 00:58, Cirilo Bernardo wrote:
>> 
>>  I remember your earlier work with importing STEP model data for the VRML
>>  viewer. My opinion on using STEP models + 3D view is that we should use
>>  a separate tool for that job. This avoids adding yet another monstrous
>>  dependency to KiCad (OpenCascade) and avoids the expensive operations to
>>  convert the model on-the-fly.
> 
> Hi Cirilo,
> 
> I can't agree here. One of the main reasons why we did the P&S router 
> was lack of quality interactive router *integrated* in Kicad. We'd like 
> to achieve the same with STEP support.
> 
> Including OCC as a dependency won't be a problem anymore once we have 
> DLL/DSO plugins.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Tom
> 

Hi Tom,

If people want to pull in OCC I won't object. What I want to know is if you
think it is sensible to convert STEP to VRML on the fly or if we should make
a separate tool for this. I prefer a separate tool so that we can continue
to use the current 3D model scheme without any confusion about which
tool or exporter will use each format of file. If STEP can be used both in
3DView and a mechanical assembly exporter there will be fringe cases where
the user is not able to work the way they want.

- Cirilo