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
<mailto: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
<mailto:easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx> <easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto: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
<mailto:easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx> <robit@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto: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
<mailto: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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