kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Wayne Stambaugh <stambaughw@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 2/25/2016 10:17 AM, easyw wrote:
>> Creating a footprint with no pads,
>> silkscreens, and/or text and only a 3D model seems a bit
>> counter-intuitive to me.
> I normally use anchor pad (which correspond to anchor of the enclosure)
> and I set it as Virtual module attribute
> Then in 3D-viewer you see your pad with Cu and Silk
> That pad has also a 3D model associated, which is i.e. the enclosure
> When I model the 3D enclosure, I load the pad footprint in FreeCAD with
> kicad StepUp and I align the 3D model to the pad, then I export the
> enclosure VRML model to be displayed in pcbnew 3d-viewer
> Enabling or not the Virtual 3D models you will see or not the enclosure
> just beside your pcb artwork
> the result is like this
> https://kicad-info.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/2X/0/0b70db5f2bd661b6417bd086cf45035a5fa263ff.gif
> 
> 
> Or you can build a model with just an alignment cross in i.e. F.Fab or
> F.Silks and Hide reference and value, and assign to it the 3D model with
> virtual attrib
> 
> 
> both procedure can co-exist with the actual kicad format and will give
> the tool a nice mechanical feature

Clever and useful.  Maybe something like this should be documented
somewhere for users.  I doubt most users would go through the trouble to
figure this out on their own.

> 
> Thank you
> Maurice
> 
> 
> On 25/02/2016 15.45, Wayne Stambaugh wrote:
>> On 2/25/2016 6:50 AM, easyw wrote:
>>>> .. back to discussion!
>>> here I am
>>>
>>>> I see, so that is a already implemented flag.
>>> yes, as in pcbnew manual
>>> http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/en/pcbnew.html
>>> 13.11. Attributes
>>> "Virtual indicates that a component is directly formed by the circuit
>>> board. Examples would be edge connectors or inductors created by a
>>> particular track shape (as sometimes seen in microwave footprints)."
>>> Virtual IMO is perfect also for mechanical objects as for example
>>> enclosures or mechanical parts
>>> typically there is no 3D model associated to a footprint with Virtual
>>> Attribute, so it is possible to add e.g. the enclosures or mechanical
>>> PCB stand-off spacers
>>
>> You could possibly use the virtual flag for 3D model only footprint but
>> I've never tried it so it may not work.  If it's possible, then I see no
>> reason not to allow it although it does seem like a bit of a convoluted
>> solution that may confuse users.  Creating a footprint with no pads,
>> silkscreens, and/or text and only a 3D model seems a bit
>> counter-intuitive to me.
>>
>>> Please note that if you use e.g. a mechanical TH pad, the pad footprint
>>> will be displayed in 3d-viewer also if Virtual, but the 3D model will or
>>> will not in function of the virtual flag
>>>
>>>> It is not missing, it is not yet implemented in my branch :) .. the
>>>> options is still there in same place.
>>> ok, I just will wait/hope for the resurrection :)
>>>
>>>>> it is a personal local branch...
>>>> Is it online? How do you get the "Virtual" attribute from the model?
>>> in April 2016 we already talked about :)
>>> https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg18083.html
>>> I just moved the sourced away, because the new 3d-viewer is now
>>> available, anyway here some code I added:
>>> info3d_visu.h
>>> enum DISPLAY3D_FLG {
>>>      FL_AXIS=0, FL_MODULE, /*maui*/ FL_VIRT, FL_ZONE,
>>>
>>> 3d_draw.cpp
>>> in void EDA_3D_CANVAS::buildFootprintShape3DList
>>> for( MODULE* module = pcb->m_Modules; module; module = module->Next() )
>>>      { //maui
>>>      if( !g_Parm_3D_Visu.GetFlag( FL_VIRT ) ) { //maui
>>>          if(module->GetAttributes() != MOD_VIRTUAL) {  //maui
>>>              render3DComponentShape( module,  loadOpaqueObjects,
>>>                                          !loadOpaqueObjects );
>>>          } //maui
>>> }
>>>      else {
>>>              render3DComponentShape( module,  loadOpaqueObjects,
>>>                                       !loadOpaqueObjects );
>>>          }  //maui
>>>      } //maui
>>> the same for TransparentObjects and in case of not used Materials
>>>
>>> and in
>>> 3d_frame.cpp
>>> you need to load/save your previous value if you want to start in the
>>> same condition (but can be saved with the other 3d-viewer flags e.g.
>>> FL_SHOW_BOARD_BODY)
>>>
>>> Please note that the 3D mechanical VRML models would be loaded (adding
>>> rendering/parsing time) only if the Virtual is selected
>>>
>>> It is very small piece of code for a quite useful improvement
>>> Moreover it is very easy visually align your enclosure to the footprint
>>> just using my StepUp tools
>>> Please let me know if you need more details
>>>
>>> Maurice
>>>
>>>
>>> On 25/02/2016 11.16, Mário Luzeiro wrote:
>>>> Hi Maurice,
>>>>
>>>> .. back to discussion!
>>>>
>>>>> as I suggested it is possible to associate the Virtual option to a
>>>>> model
>>>>> in pcb (Footprint Properties, Properties Tab, Attribute, Virtual)
>>>>> and this is done without changing anything in the pcb format
>>>>
>>>> I see, so that is a already implemented flag.
>>>> I checked the other threads, looks there was no much attention on that
>>>> and since nobody is reading us here :) I will open a new thread to
>>>> discuss that "Virtual" attribute and if that could be used
>>>>
>>>>> that was an already available option now missing
>>>> It is not missing, it is not yet implemented in my branch :) .. the
>>>> options is still there in same place.
>>>>
>>>>> it is a personal local branch...
>>>> Is it online? How do you get the "Virtual" attribute from the model?
>>>>
>>>> Mario Luzeiro
>>>> ________________________________________
>>>> From: easyw [easyw@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
>>>> Sent: 24 February 2016 20:45
>>>> To: Mário Luzeiro; Cirilo Bernardo; KiCad Developers
>>>> Subject: Re: [Kicad-developers] VRML export
>>>>
>>>>> In any case, I believe there is no elegant way to individual save
>>>>> that options locally.
>>>> as I suggested it is possible to associate the Virtual option to a
>>>> model
>>>> in pcb
>>>> (Footprint Properties, Properties Tab, Attribute, Virtual)
>>>> (e.g. a silk/Fab model text to which the enclosure would be associated
>>>> or better an anchor hole/pad)
>>>> then, as I mentioned many times, it is possible to display or not
>>>> footprints that have Virtual attribute ... and this is done without
>>>> changing anything in the pcb format, nor in the local/global options
>>>> https://lists.launchpad.net/kicad-developers/msg18069.html
>>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/kicad-developers%40lists.launchpad.net/msg15739.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> as you can see the info are available...
>>>>
>>>>> So it will take time.
>>>> if someone cares of
>>>>
>>>>> Related with Materials.
>>>>> Please do not mix the two things.
>>>>> You will get a proper way (I hope) to deal with virtual / mechanic /
>>>>> enclosures / ...
>>>> as already pointed out, it is a problem to display the board with pads,
>>>> flashing when moving the board, just to display 'nice' material
>>>> props...
>>>> I just said let the user choose what to display... that was an already
>>>> available option now missing
>>>>
>>>>> I know that you are using the material option to show/hide enclosures,
>>>> no, I'm not, I use virtual attribute, I only suggested that with this
>>>> option also any other user would have this opportunity
>>>>
>>>>> I remember you have an option in your branch, what is the link for
>>>>> the branch?
>>>> it is a personal local branch...
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>> M
>>>>
>>>
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