kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[easyw <easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Ed,

now I understand the multi-part problem...

the script, to run smoothly, assumes that all the models refer to a 
single solid object.
So you need to make a union of the STEP part correspondent to the wrl in 
kicad (in freeCAD is 'fusion') and then export the fused part

Always check if the fused STEP model is really one single part, 
re-opening the exported one
(sometimes the fusion cannot work correctly when exporting because of 
some 3D model solid problem)

the STEP lib should have single part model each item

Please let me know if you have a FreeCAD library of electronic components...
I would like to create a repository for FreeCAD models, STEP and WRL 
exported models, similar to the one available for Wings3D...
that would make the use of the new approach very easy...

moreover I found that FreeCAD wrl models render better and without 
shades problems compared to the Wings3D exported ones...
(Wings3D having shading issues with VRML files exported)

thank you for your feedback,
Maurice

PS attached the zip file with the models converted to single part and 
the kicad_pcb adjusted to have relative paths

On 09/07/2015 16.12, Ed Johns wrote:
> Maurice,
>
> I totally understand your design goals. I've been trying to get this
> same idea going for about two years, but prior to the latest kicad WRL
> changes and before FreeCAD 15, it was a nonstarter. I even wrote a kicad
> workbench for FreeCAD for creating step and WRL models for common parts
> (chips, qfp, qfn, etc). Maybe when I finish my current design I will get
> back to it.  If I can remember where I archived it, that could be a cool
> interface for kicadstepup.
>
> I have attached the project files and models.  You will see when they
> import that some of the models are placed off board.  After manually
> adding the same offset as the rest of the part, everything is in the
> right place.
>
> The DIALIGHT and ESPRESSIF-SYSTEMS parts are the issue.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> -Ed