Application: KiCad PCB Editor x64 on x64
Version: 9.0.2, release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.2.6
FreeType 2.13.3
HarfBuzz 10.2.0
FontConfig 2.15.0
libcurl/8.11.1-DEV Schannel zlib/1.3.1
Platform: Windows 10 (build 19045), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
OpenGL: Intel, Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620, 4.6.0 - Build 31.0.101.2134
Build Info:
Date: May 7 2025 02:29:49
wxWidgets: 3.2.6 (wchar_t,wx containers)
Boost: 1.86.0
OCC: 7.8.1
Curl: 8.11.1-DEV
ngspice: 44
Compiler: Visual C++ 1942 without C++ ABI
KICAD_IPC_API=ON
Locale:
Lang: en_US
Enc: UTF-8
Num: 1,234.5
Encoded кΩ丈: D0BACEA9E4B888 (sys), D0BACEA9E4B888 (utf8)
Crash apparently happened when I mistakenly updated the 3DModels environment variable by inserting an object file. Now no components shown on 3D Viewer, only PCB, traces, and pads. Reinstalled 9.02, but no joy. And yes, rendering of components is turned on in the viewer. New to 9.02 and viewer, so uninitiated. Is it possible to reload the missing 3D files, and if so, how?
well did you fix the environment variable?
Thanks for the reply. Yep. Put “C:\Users\rrmrr\Documents\KiCad\9.0\3dmodels”, but no return to normal. Each formerly-fine step file, e.g. “${KICAD9_3DMODEL_DIR}/Capacitor_THT.3dshapes/CP_Radial_D7.5mm_P2.50mm.step” now has a red “X”. Updated the footprint library as well as the “Update PCB from Schematic” tool, but the problem persists. I’ve been chasing this for a couple of days without success. It seems like all the step files are gone. However the PCB layout is still fine: All component footprints, traces, pads, etc. are just the way they were. And yes, the viewer rendering was perfect before the crash. (could provide a pic, but doubt it would help).
So if you look in C:\Users\rrmrr\Documents\KiCad\9.0\3dmodels\Capacitor_THT.3dshapes
Does CP_Radial_D7.5mm_P2.50mm.step exist?
Show us a screenshot of the path assignments from Configure Paths, and in particular KICAD9_3DMODEL_DIR. Note that this does not have to be explicitly assigned as it’s preset to the normal installation directory of the 3D models for your platform. Thus you override it at your own responsibility.
Searched on all step files in C:/ and found the missing content in C:\Program Files\KiCad\9.0\share\kicad\3dmodels, NOT the 3dmodels directory in the Documents\KiCad\9.0\3dmodels which was empty. Thanks for the replies. The viewer is now displaying all of the parts on the PWB.
That would be the suggested location for personal 3D models. If you want to start you own library you should define a new path such as KICAD_USER_3DMODEL_DIR and not touch the predefined one which landed you here.