kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[José Ignacio <jose.cyborg@xxxxxxxxx>]

STEPs don't need to look ugly, a "simple" extension of the step format
could be a mtl file that indexes vrml materials to STEP colors, it would be
ignored by MCAD, but kicad could pick that up to significantly prettify the
step files in the 3d viewer without having to generate a redundant WRL file
(it wouldnt support fancier stuff like mapped textures but if you're
autogenerating models from the STEP anyway, how much better are you gonna
get?). Even when exporting a board to WRL in kicad it would use the 3d
cache data, so WRL models don't need to exist for wrl output for blender,
etc.

my $0.02

On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 3:17 PM, Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo.bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> I wouldn't worry about the STEP file having numerous small parts;
> this happens all the time anyway unless the model can be fused.
> I don't see us abandoning VRML. I wrote the new parser but never
> use VRML except when testing the VRML parser. However, many
> people out there like to have VRML to make shiny models to show
> people.  I suspect there are more users who want VRML rather
> than STEP and that the STEP models are used mostly by
> professional users and hobbyists who happen to have an MCAD
> package. VRML is also used by some professionals for brochures
> or web page images; there is no disputing that STEP models look
> terribly ugly.
>
> On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 4:17 PM, José Ignacio <jose.cyborg@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> > The only thing i really have against this is that it would make a pretty
> > messy step file because the component would be broken up in tiny parts.
> > Wouldn't there be a space saving with just ditching wrl altogether? the
> next
> > stable won't need them
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 9:53 AM, Kristoffer Ödmark
> > <kristofferodmark90@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>
> >> To be fair, as it stands now, even if it is "only" for the pin headers,
> >> this is close to half of the 3d library size as of now.
> >>
> >> The pin headers can now be of an arbitrary size as well. Someone can now
> >> create a 4x6 pin header for example, and the current footprints can be
> >> converted to this array system, thus reducing the size.
> >>
> >> Arbitrary pin headers are a step up anyway.
> >>
> >> This being said, I have not tested the patch yet, but even if it is
> "only"
> >> for pin headers, the idea is sound to me.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 11/06/2017 04:22 PM, easyw wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Hi Oliver,
> >>>
> >>> I'm sorry not to be on your side for this option...
> >>>
> >>> 1) for which kind of modules this array is applicable?
> >>> I see only pin-headers straight and angled...
> >>> for example box headers are not easily done unless you consider to
> manage
> >>> by the code the box for each model
> >>> 2) the problem related to the big 3D library dimension will not be
> >>> covered unless for some little family that can be managed by this on
> the fly
> >>> generator
> >>>
> >>> As I already suggested, the issue with the huge 3D github library can
> be
> >>> managed in a different way:
> >>> 1) give the kicad users only a basic 3D library (i.e. most used smd and
> >>> th families)
> >>> 2) give an option to pcbnew to automatically create a list of the
> missing
> >>> models needed for a project and collecting only them through a wget
> >>> process...
> >>>
> >>> This will give a very low downloading band need and will not increase
> the
> >>> need of disk space for having all the 3D library locally, full of
> unwanted
> >>> models.
> >>>
> >>> Here a conversation of this issue:
> >>> https://github.com/KiCad/kicad-library/issues/1532#
> issuecomment-341707706
> >>>
> >>> my two-cents
> >>> Maurice
> >>>
> >>> On 11/06/2017 3:01 PM, Oliver Walters wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> To provide an option to reduce the size of the 3D model library, I
> have
> >>>> implemented an "array" feature for 3D models. A module (footprint) can
> >>>> reference a single model multiple times, with a dimensional offset
> between
> >>>> each copy.
> >>>>
> >>>> (Note - just the PinHeader models are currently over 1GB! This feature
> >>>> lets you use a single 3D model for all pin headers or similar
> repetitive
> >>>> footprints within a certain series).
> >>>>
> >>>> Features:
> >>>>
> >>>> 1. Specify repeat count and repeat step in x/y/z axes
> >>>> 2. Save / load implemented. (If no repeat option used, no extra output
> >>>> is generated - old files are not touched)
> >>>> 3. Render in 3D viewer
> >>>> 4. Render in raytracing viewer
> >>>> 5. Export to VRML (multiple references to single file)
> >>>> 6. Export to STEP
> >>>>
> >>>> Notes:
> >>>>
> >>>> a. An exported STEP file will now be (possibly) much smaller as it
> >>>> references a single small object multiple times
> >>>> b. There were a couple of bugs I found where model offset units were
> >>>> incorrectly translated between INCHES and MM
> >>>>
> >>>> A couple of screenshots:
> >>>>
> >>>> https://imgur.com/a/EOwPh
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Testing:
> >>>>
> >>>> Wayne verified that the file units for 3D model data are in mm - I
> >>>> *think* this means that there was previously a bug regarding 3D model
> >>>> offset, where the scaling factor in the file was interpreted as
> inches when
> >>>> exporting (e.g. to STEP)
> >>>>
> >>>> I believe I have fixed this bug - confirmation would be great.
> >>>>
> >>>> Cheers,
> >>>> Oliver
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> >>>> Post to     : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> >>>> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> >>> Post to     : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> >>> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >>  -Kristoffer
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> >> Post to     : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> >> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> > Post to     : kicad-developers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers
> > More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
> >
>