3D footprint of user made components

[ncc]

Hello,
I need to generate a VRML file of my pcb. But as most of the component footprints used are not default kicad components but made by me, i am not able to get their 3D view.
Is there any way to get their 3D view except for making their mechanical design in other software?

[Rene_Poschl]

You can search the internet for your components.
For a start you can look in this threat.

3D new library for Mechanical CAD exporting and enclosure design

Hi, after having completed kicad StepUp, the new 3D exporter for MCAD, I’m going to create a 3D mechanical lib to be used both for kicad internal 3d-viewer and for 3D mechanical interchange / collaboration and enclosure design. I’m organizing the library to be usable as easier as possible, just copying the DIRECTORIES and configuring the environment VARIABLE for kicad. I have just completed the DIR structure. The 3D models will be: parametric models coming from technical datasheet FreeCA…

If you design them yourself i would suggest using freecad and @maui’s step up scripts.

Kicad StepUp New exporter for 3D MCAD (feedbacks are welcome)

Hi, I’ve done a script to easily export pcb board and modules to MCAD STEP format with colors using kicad StepUp the easiest way is done with minimal effort from user: just add STEP models to your standard 3D packages path and run the script (detailed instructions in README.txt) kicad StepUp is a new approach to export kicad board and modules in STEP AP214 (with colors) and create the wrl library. requirements: latest kicad FreeCAD 0.15 Please consider that the project is at beta st…

(This script will be usefull even if you find your components somewhere. Most likely you will find step files.)

[engineer]

For me it is the other way round: I am able to see the 3D version with components I added from third party but the original kiCAD 3d parts are mostly missing. How can this be?

I would like to send a photo if I could.

[Joan_Sparky]

For every OS/desktop there are screenshot programs… just save the file and load it up in your reply.

As for missing 3D parts… check the folders for the parts (.VRML?) and the paths for your KiCAD install for the 3D stuff…
You can load single 3D shapes via the footprint editor properties dialog, even if they’re not in the path that it’s looking for.

[davidsrsb]

Generally KiCad 3D model libraries have to be download from GitHub from a menu item in pcbnew

[Rene_Poschl]

Depends on the operating system i guess. The fedora package includes the symbol and 3d libraries. (Footprint libs come from github anyway. But the fp-lib-table is included in the package)
I think for some linux distributions it is a separate package so that an update of kicad does not destroy your libraries. (If the user changed kicad internal libs.)

[davidsrsb]

Pcbnew
Preferences
3D Shape Libraries Downloader
Add 3D Shape Library Wizard

[engineer]

Hello

1. I know how to make a screen shoot, but see no option to upload it HERE. (?)
   Anyway here is an image of what I achieved so far using C4D based on the VRML export:
   http://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/417380#new

2. I think I did that right with the lib wizard, since I was able to integrate a 2D lib + 3D lib from the internet.
   There was a path issue which I could solve. The first try of 3D model export directly worked using VRML, having the models in a subdirectory. The strange thing is that it is the the internal models wich do not work. And it is not an issue of the export since already the invernal 3D viewer does not show the parts in 2D. I cannot see anything what I might have overlooked: I have links for all my components between SCH and PCB, And in the PCB, I can find all 2D Models. I am also able to route the signals. Everything worls so far I can judge that.

But: The 3D Model viewer does not show most of the models. Although there are 3D-models present in the kiCAD folder. Is it possible that not all of the 2D Models are linked to a 3D Model?

The missing parts are mostly R and C, meaning common devices.

?

[davidsrsb]

@engineer

but see no option to upload it HERE. (?)

You have to be a bit more active in this forum, spend a bit of time reading several threads and you will soon be promoted to Basic level. Then you will be able to attach images to your posts.

[Rene_Poschl]

I think new users should be able to upload one image.
at least if this is relevant:

Understanding Discourse Trust Levels

@engineer: to upload an image simply drag and drop it into the input field.

[bobc]

I use www.flickr.com for hosting images, it’s free and simple. They even give you bbcode to embed like this:

screen1 by donotdespisethesnake, on Flickr

[davidsrsb]

@Rene_Poschl

I think new users should be able to upload one image.at least if this is relevant:

This would have to be moderated as the restrictions on new users is a barrier against the spam robots. The conditions for promotion to Basic trust are designed to detect human vs robots

[Joan_Sparky]

Can you check the footprints without 3D shapes in the footprint editor?

As I said, you can navigate to any file on your machine and see if they’re really missing or not working.

Windows 7 64bit the KiCAD 3D shapes are located here:

C:\Program Files\KiCad\share\kicad\modules\packages3d

[cbernardo]

Careful: the file selector windows with the 3D model might confuse people who are still using the ‘stable’ release since the stable UI looks very different.

[Joan_Sparky]

OK, you won’t have the preview, but you can add 3D shapes with complete paths right there and once you hit [OK] and then use the 3D viewer [Alt]+[F3] you can check if the file is working.