kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo.bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry, I meant 7m not 7km. Still, the scale is wrong and the other comments
re VRML and OC/STEP still stand.

- Cirilo


On Fri, May 15, 2015 at 11:02 PM, easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx <easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Hi Cirilo and all,
>
> please find attached an exported vrml file from kicad, converted from vrml
> to STEP
> the result is a step file readable by 3D sw e.g. solid works...
> board and components are separated parts and can be manipulated in 3D sw
>
> I use to send these kind of files to 3D people to be inserted in a
> mechanical layout system.
>
> Do you think this result could it be reasonable at this time?
>
> thank you
> Maurice
>
>
>
> On 5/15/15 12:12 AM, Cirilo Bernardo wrote:
>
>> Hi Maurice,
>>
>>   The STEP export has been discussed many times and OpenCascade is
>> not suitable; I would never accept a STEP file produced by OpenCascade
>> because it does not maintain the assembly hierarchy and other product
>> data. Tom's demonstration code was very simple and we were hopeful at
>> the time that OpenCascade will make life easier for us, but when I
>> imported the model in SolidWorks I saw that I had many dozens of parts
>> when I should only have had 3 parts. Inspecting the STEP file showed
>> that the file generated is just not acceptable for mechanical engineers.
>> The OpenCascade people offer a paid-for add-on which is supposed to
>> provide the functionality required but this is obviously not suitable for
>> us.
>> We will have STEP export one day, but STEP is a much more complex
>> standard than IGES so it will be implemented later. As for displaying
>> such models (STEP and IGES) that is a non-trivial issue and I have no
>> plans to do that.
>>
>> - Cirilo
>>
>> On Fri, May 15, 2015 at 2:19 AM, easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx <robit@xxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Hi Cirilo and all,
>>>
>>> as a first step to integrate STEP in kicad, I think exporting STEP plain
>>> board (no copper, no silk) and modules would be a great improvement.
>>>
>>> I don't know if would be possible to integrate some libs from pythonOCC
>>> http://www.pythonocc.org/features_overview/data-exchange/
>>>
>>> I found in mail archive that Thomas did a sort of export to STEP
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/msg06620.html
>>> what happened? any integration in kicad code?
>>>
>>> I noticed that step models are typically heavier in bites then vrml, so
>>> rendering would be also heavier...
>>> For that reason, and for the big existing 3D library, I would consider to
>>> maintain vrml models for 3D rendering and add STEP export (and eventually
>>> STEP import) in kicad
>>>
>>> please let me know your opinion...
>>>
>>> Maurice
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/13/15 6:16 AM, Cirilo Bernardo wrote:
>>>
>>>  You might mention that for those who need to interact with mechanical
>>>> designers
>>>> KiCad can export IDF interchange files. For those who like to roll their
>>>> own,
>>>> FreeCAD will read the files; for those who send the files to another
>>>> shop,
>>>> they
>>>> can convert the IDF file to VRML and view it with a VRML viewer - no
>>>> need
>>>> to
>>>> install FreeCAD. Plus: coming up (maybe towards the end of this year),
>>>> KiCad
>>>> will be able to export to IGES to provide the mechanical designers with
>>>> a
>>>> much
>>>> more accurate 3D model of the project. IDF only represents components as
>>>> simple extrusions, but IGES can provide accurate 3D models. I made
>>>> component
>>>> models for the demo projects 'video' and 'pic_programmer' to show the
>>>> IDF
>>>> exporter at work. If you wish I can send you a tarball of the IDF files
>>>> and
>>>> the
>>>> resulting VRML files as produced by the idf2vrml tool.
>>>>
>>>> Making a few comparisons to Eagle:
>>>> 1. KiCad has a native IDF exporter, Eagle requires the user to install a
>>>> ULP.
>>>> 2. KiCad: 32 copper layers, 16 tech layers; Eagle: 16 copper (I don't
>>>> know
>>>> the
>>>> limit on tech layers).
>>>> 3. KiCad: free + no artificial limits placed on capabilities; Eagle:
>>>> artificial limits
>>>> placed depending on license fees.
>>>>
>>>> Although the feature is still in development, once KiCad can export IGES
>>>> models I expect this to become a free built-in capability. With Eagle
>>>> you
>>>> need to pay an *annual* license to a third party for IGES or STEP
>>>> export.
>>>> Note: I don't expect KiCad to have STEP export for at least another 2
>>>> years unless someone else with time on their hands is inspired to code
>>>> it;
>>>> I mean a meaningful STEP export which maintains product relationships
>>>> and a proper assembly heirarchy, not the flat file produced by FreeCAD/
>>>> OpenCascade which is absolutely useless to mechanical designers.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> - Cirilo
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, May 13, 2015 at 1:48 AM, Adam Wolf <
>>>> adamwolf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>   Hi folks,
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm preparing a presentation on KiCad for Maker Faire Bay Area this
>>>>> weekend.  (Fun fact: the presentation after me is someone designing a
>>>>> Raspberry Pi daughterboard *on KiCad on a Raspberry Pi*).
>>>>>
>>>>> The audience will be folks who may be interested in making PCBs, and
>>>>> may
>>>>> work with fancy pants PCB designers, but are probably closer to the
>>>>> beginner side.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm hoping to cover a little of KiCad history, newish features (openGL,
>>>>> Python, P&S routing, differential routing), upcoming features (eeschema
>>>>> revamp...), and the new release rhythm and nightlies.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know there's the longish videos by the CERN folks on the differential
>>>>> routing, but does anyone have fun videos of openGL mode being awesome,
>>>>> or
>>>>> the P&S routing?
>>>>>
>>>>> I can make my own, but if someone already has them and is willing to
>>>>> share, I'd love to include them.
>>>>>
>>>>> I hate to offer this, but if anyone else has suggestions on things I
>>>>> should mention, feel free to send them on.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks everyone!
>>>>>
>>>>> Adam Wolf
>>>>> Cofounder and Engineer
>>>>> W&L
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
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