kicad-developers team mailing list archive

[Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo.bernardo@xxxxxxxxx>]

STEP simply has no provision for entities required for photo-realistic
rendering.
Even VRML is somewhat limited in that respect but it's leagues ahead of STEP.

- Cirilo


On Mon, Nov 6, 2017 at 9:27 PM, David Novak <david.novak@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Please enlighten me. I've always thought of STEP as the best end game, but
> haven't had much time to investigate advantages and disadvantages. What
> prevents STEP models from looking just as good as VRML models?
>
> Best Regards,
> David
>
>
> On 11/6/2017 4:17 PM, Cirilo Bernardo 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
>
>
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> --
>  -Kristoffer
>
>
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