[kicad-users] IDF export and 3D question....

[Rob Frohne [e-mail] [kicad-users]]

Hi All,

I have a very nice looking 3D view of my PCB in kicad, but would like to
get it into FreeCAD or another 3D CAD tool to make the PCB fit into the
enclosure we are working on. I exported using IDFv3 and imported that
with FreeCAD, and the PCB with holes was there, but no parts. Is this
to be expected, and is there a way to achieve what I'm trying to do?

Thanks,

Rob

[Cirilo Bernardo [e-mail] [kicad-users]]

________________________________
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 7:36 AM
Subject: [kicad-users] IDF export and 3D question....
Hi All,
I have a very nice looking 3D view of my PCB in kicad, but would like to
get it into FreeCAD or another 3D CAD tool to make the PCB fit into the
enclosure we are working on. I exported using IDFv3 and imported that
with FreeCAD, and the PCB with holes was there, but no parts. Is this
to be expected, and is there a way to achieve what I'm trying to do?
Thanks,
Rob

Hi Rob,

The problem you're having with the IDFv3 export is that you haven't
included any actual IDF component outlines. If you wish to work with
IDF outlines there is some documentation here:

http://kicad-pcb.org/help/documentation/#_idf_exporter

The IDF outlines are easy to create; for the pic_programmer demo
which I had been reworking there's a 'mkparts.sh' script which
generates the outlines for the pic_programmer demo:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By_XTJN-s8aXaW1ZcUdrUTdzX1k/view?usp=sharing

If you have FreeCAD anyway and would rather use STEP models, you
can use Maurice's scripts to help you. In that case you want the
bare IDF board and you will need to download STEP models for
components:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/kicadstepup/

If you use the pure IDF, you can preview the work with a VRML
viewer by using the idf2vrml tool of kicad:

idf2vrml -f my_project.emn

Then view my_project.wrl using your favorite VRML viewer.

If your MCAD can't import IDF, I have an IGES converter:

https://github.com/cbernardo/libIGES

One day (I hope) we'll have direct IGES and later direct STEP
export from kicad. My IGES library is actually capable of
creating compliant IGES assemblies but before I put such an
export facility into kicad I need to make some big changes.

- Cirilo

[Rob Frohne [e-mail] [kicad-users]]

Thanks Cirilo!

It will take me a bit of time to digest all this, but the information is
just what I'm looking for.

Rob

Post by Cirilo Bernardo ***@yahoo.com [kicad-users]

________________________________
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 7:36 AM
Subject: [kicad-users] IDF export and 3D question....
Hi All,
I have a very nice looking 3D view of my PCB in kicad, but would like to
get it into FreeCAD or another 3D CAD tool to make the PCB fit into the
enclosure we are working on. I exported using IDFv3 and imported that
with FreeCAD, and the PCB with holes was there, but no parts. Is this
to be expected, and is there a way to achieve what I'm trying to do?
Thanks,
Rob

Hi Rob,
The problem you're having with the IDFv3 export is that you haven't
included any actual IDF component outlines. If you wish to work with
http://kicad-pcb.org/help/documentation/#_idf_exporter
The IDF outlines are easy to create; for the pic_programmer demo
which I had been reworking there's a 'mkparts.sh' script which
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By_XTJN-s8aXaW1ZcUdrUTdzX1k/view?usp=sharing
If you have FreeCAD anyway and would rather use STEP models, you
can use Maurice's scripts to help you. In that case you want the
bare IDF board and you will need to download STEP models for
http://sourceforge.net/projects/kicadstepup/
If you use the pure IDF, you can preview the work with a VRML
idf2vrml -f my_project.emn
Then view my_project.wrl using your favorite VRML viewer.
https://github.com/cbernardo/libIGES
One day (I hope) we'll have direct IGES and later direct STEP
export from kicad. My IGES library is actually capable of
creating compliant IGES assemblies but before I put such an
export facility into kicad I need to make some big changes.
- Cirilo