[kicad-users] 3D output of stacked PCB

[Lev [e-mail] [kicad-users]]

Hi all,


I did this just today afternoon:


Loading Image...


I created this by placing a footprint on the board, and specifying 3D model of an exported model of a PCB also designed by KiCad.

I think this looks, good, however, is there any better way to do this?


Thanks,
Levente

--
Levente Kovacs
Senior Electronic Engineer

W: http://levente.logonex.eu

[David Griffith [e-mail] [kicad-users]]

Post by Lev ***@gmail.com [kicad-users]
Hi all,
http://levente.logonex.eu/technical/img/controller_mini.png
I created this by placing a footprint on the board, and specifying 3D
model of an exported model of a PCB also designed by KiCad.
I think this looks, good, however, is there any better way to do this?

Clever! I can't think of an easier way to do that. Because you planted the idea, I thought of some related fun things I'd like to see in KiCad.

1) Have some sort of means to put multiple models on a footprint. That way you could show slots/headers and assorted cards that plug into them. The trick seems able to only have the daughterboard float over the main board.

2) Toggle visibility of individual 3D models. Coupled with the previous wish, the user can experiment with how cards fit in their slots.

[[e-mail] [kicad-users]]

@david your first wish is allready possible.
for each footprint you can specify multiple 3d-files ;-)
nr 2 would be really cool - best here if it would give some sort of 'tags' to group related things together for faster show/hide
--> similar to the currently available 'virtual' options..

[Levente [e-mail] [kicad-users]]

Yeah ... the question is that shall we stick to a footprint when including
daughter boards? The daughter board us not part of the main board, it is
part if the assembly.

I think it could be fairly easy to implement inclusion of other PCBs to a
board at certain location. That way one could import PCBs directly, even
without 3D export.

Is there any way of exporting traces and silkscreen to the 3D model?


BR,
Levente

Post by ***@s-light.eu [kicad-users]
@david your first wish is allready possible.
for each footprint you can specify multiple 3d-files ;-)
nr 2 would be really cool - best here if it would give some sort of 'tags'
to group related things together for faster show/hide
--> similar to the currently available 'virtual' options..

[[e-mail] [kicad-users]]

if i remember correctly currently there is no option to export traces and silkscreen in the step file.
but if you export the vrml file they get exported (traces and labels).
a more in depth explanaition can be find in this thread by maui:


https://forum.kicad.info/u/maui
maui https://forum.kicad.info/u/maui
Oct '17 https://forum.kicad.info/t/export-pcb-devices-with-textures-for-rendering-in-blender-etc/7490/11?u=s_light

Hi,
you can have both STEP and WRL models in FC

you need all your board with 3D step and wrl models convert your kicad_pcb file and 3d parts to STEP using StepUp export your board to wrl with pcbnew (check ‘Copy 3D model files to 3D model path’ and ‘mm’) delete or rename the folder shapes3D open the STEP converted board and parts in FC and open the WRL exported from kicad in FC align them and you’ll get a 3D model plus the rendering of tracks and silks

gtb-wrl.PNG1339x932 197 KB

But if you want the model for rendering purposes the best is to elaborate the WRL export from Kicad in i.e. Blender or similar packages.
M




https://forum.kicad.info/t/export-pcb-devices-with-textures-for-rendering-in-blender-etc/7490/11 https://forum.kicad.info/t/export-pcb-devices-with-textures-for-rendering-in-blender-etc/7490/11?u=s_light








sunny greetings
stefan

[[e-mail] [kicad-users]]

Only issue I see if we choose to stick to footprints and then use the 3D model for the daughter card is when you have a connector on the main board and the daughter-card inserts into that connector. In this case you would need to have two models for one footprint. Hopefully that makes since.