kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo.bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Maurice,

 The IDF export will produce both board and components, but you need to
defined the
components and specify them using the "3D model" dialog; this is the same
dialog
used by VRML; you will need to select the "idf' file filter to select IDF
component
files. If you do not define and specify the component outlines then of
course the
board will be bare.

 Marco has added the IDF documentation to the new KiCad documentation
branch so
it should appear in future installations, but until then the documentation
is available
here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By_XTJN-s8aXbkM5UTE0Zm5SN28&authuser=0

There is also an example of the IDF export with component outlines here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0By_XTJN-s8aXbkM5UTE0Zm5SN28&authuser=0

- Cirilo


On Sat, May 16, 2015 at 8:54 PM, easyw <easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>  Hi Cirilo,
> thank you for your advices...
>
> I exported the file from my mobile were I don't have all the macros I
> normally use, so I lost the scaling factor...
> 7m -> 7mm sorry...
>
> please find attached the correct scaled version...
>
> Just going back to the problem of OC STEP exporting, I think the model is
> fully usable as interchanging format from kicad to mechanical engineers...
>
> opening the .STEP file one can see many different objects, but they can be
> just grouped in a single option in the 3D sw, so the engineers can manage
> the new object and manipulate in their projects.
>
> In FreeCAD for example it is possible to group it with -Part -Boolean
> -Union and obtain a single object to be manipulated inside the CAD
>
> Moreover, if you just want to send only one object to the 3D mechanical
> engineers, it is possible to export the converted file directly to IGES
> format with FreeCAD and obtain just a single object for all the board and
> components...
>
> For those reasons I would consider very interesting for kicad users to
> have a first version of exporting to STEP also if using OpenCascade format
> will produce multiple objects.
> At the moment the converting process is a bit tricky and loses color
> attributes (they have to be added to STEP model after conversion), so the
> integration in kicad would improve the result.
>
> An other very useful option would be to have the IDF export for bare pcb
> (already implemented) and for all modules...
> I see that IDF format is very light and is widely accepted in many 3D CAD
> sw....
> Also, as you pointed out, IDF respects arc and circles...
>
> then may be improving IDF export adding component models would be very
> appreciate by kicad users...
>
> thank you for your support ...
> Maurice
>
> attache zip file with:
> test-3-dae.png, test-3-igs.png, test-3-stp-fusion.png, test-3-stp.png
> test-3.dae, test-3.igs, test-3.stp, test-3.wrl
>
>
>
>
>
> On 16/05/2015 02.59, Cirilo Bernardo wrote:
>
> 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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>>>
>
>