kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Nick Østergaard <oe.nick@xxxxxxxxx>]

FWIW the docs are also available here precompiled:
http://ci.kicad-pcb.org/job/any-kicad-doc-head/lastSuccessfulBuild/artifact/src/IDF_Exporter/

2015-05-17 1:25 GMT+02:00 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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>>>>
>>
>>
>
>
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