3D-STEP Coloring App - Posted At GitHub (Released Prelim Version)

(FYI - I posted the App of previous discussion in this link )

It’s posted at GitHub - Here’s the link

You’ll read that it’s for Mac OS until I get around to packaging it for Window/Linux…

Feedback welcome, Thanks!

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Given how many vendor-provided STEP files lack any color whatsoever, I’m very much looking forward to this. (Once you package for other platforms, of course.)

UPDATE:

Posted the Windows version (prelim)

I revised the code to use Tkinter Widgets instead of wxWidgets. Seems to be working with some minor ‘Graphic’ differences from the Mac. Otherwise, it’s baked well enough for user testing/use.

The previously posted Mac version is working and I’m working on Linux version.

Note: I’ve added a Slider for setting Alpha Transparency but, have Not yet implemented the code to use it.

I will finalize all versions but I’ll be looking for comments before posting them…

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UPDATE:

Posted the Linux version. Thus, Mac, Windows and Linux prelim versions should be usable (I hope… ) :slightly_smiling_face:

Comments and complaints welcome and after the dust settles, I’ll publish Released versions…

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I’m reluctant to post this, I put the project and downloads on Hold.

After making changes so users can resize windows, responding to other user requests and, going through several App export configurations for Mac, Windows and Linux platforms, I realized a few things, as follows:

• No Problems for Mac system. Works perfect (both wxPython and Tkinter based GUI’s)

• Windows works but, I can see the wide variation of Hardware (graphic cards and monitors, DPI…etc) and ensuring a reasonable usefulness would keep me tethered to too much tweaking and/or responding to users.

• Linux, I discovered is like the Wild-West and the wide range of Linux versions would consume me beyond imagination.

The complexity grows when considering that (probably, too many) beginning PCB-making-users would cause me to regret I ever started this. Additionally, this Forum would Not be the place to respond to Non-Kicad specific posts.

Thus, I’m somewhere between completing the work and abandoning it. I haven’t fully decided but, having a good-working App on my Mac, along with good motorcycle-riding weather, pushes me to think ‘time to move on’… And, I’m 74 yrs old…

Yesterday, I started to pare it down to being only a Kicad Plugin but, the Sun came out and my Harley was calling me

Thank you for your interest in this - I may be back when Winter weather comes again (why? Because it’s become an excellent tool for my hobby needs so, I can easily envision others finding it useful… and, well, you know how we engineers/geeks are…

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Too many differences in Systems/Software/Hardware/Setup’s…etc, results in some Quirks on Linux and Windows.

However, The Mac version is Perfect and I was able to dial-in with a reasonable minimum of Quirks for Linux and Windows. In all cases, the Resulting Output STEP files are consistently Good!

I decided to Post the App’s and a Video showing it in MAC, LINUX, Windows and pointing out their Quirks and Work-Arounds. Here’s the Full YouTube video

Additional Video, Files and Info Posted at GitHub

I don’t feel too badly about it not being perfect when I consider Kicad v7 has problems and some are carried over from v6… and, having dedicated coders…
Example: The Python Console in v5 worked well but, not in v6 on my Mac.

Thanks to the participating testers!

Video Snippet from full video:

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A cheap-trick for viewing 3D-Step files - primarily for convenience without fussing with CAD

Create a Dumb Footprint and set the 3D-properties for viewing a selected STEP file.

• No need for Pads/other in the footprint…
• Can assign multiple STEP files and Enable/Disable on-the-fly as desired for viewing
• Can do this with any of Kicad’s STEP (and WRL) files

If using the Colorizing App, remember the saved STEP is saved to the location of the Colorizer App (otherwise, move the STEP file to desired location…)
Applies to using the App as Stand-Alone and/or in Kicad Plugin

Quick Example video (shows using App in Stand-Alone mode):