how does one add a 3D model to the library ?
I can do it only on the footprint
Mod Edit: A new question deserves a new topic 
Do you mean āadd a new 3D model to the existing Kicad 3D library?ā
If so, the answer is you canāt. All Kicad libraries are read only.
You must create one or more personal 3D libraries, then add new 3D models to these personal 3D libraries.
If you wish to permanently attach a 3D model to a footprint, you must first create personal footprint libraries, place the footprint in the personal library and then link the 3D image in your personal 3D library to the footprint in your personal footprint library.
no I meant MY library
as posted, THERE IS NO WAY to attach/add/summon/get/link any 3d related stuff in the menus
hence my post
As I asked:
What Library???
Do you want to place a 3D model in a 3D Library???
Do you want to associate a 3D model with a footprint in a personal footprint library???
Do you want to associate a 3D model with a footprint in a Kicad library???
Please explain to what ātheā or āMYā refer. My crystal ball is out of action at the moment.
KiCad does not have a library of 3D objects. KiCad only has links in footprints that link to 3D models.
ā¦Clarifyingā¦
All of the posted responses are good and it seems reasonable to make a Clarification that Summarizes with respect to Post#3 @phil12345678911 , particularly āTHERE IS NO WAY to attach/add/summon/get/link any 3d related stuffā See the last Paragraph belowā¦
Assuming a User wantās to:
ā¢ Use a Custom/Personal Library and itās Location
ā¢ Have Convenient āGlobalā Access to:
ā¢ 3D-Models (STEP and WRL)
ā¢ User Footprints
ā¢ User Symbols
ā¢ Personal/User-Made and/or Non-Official Plugins
ā¢ Other resource files (graphics, etcā¦)
Knowledge-Base:
ā¢ Kicad creates a Folder Structure for Users and itās best to use it. User can use different Locations but, the Links may āBreakā when updating Kicad
ā¢ On a Mac, for Kicad Version7, the Folders get created in: Documents>Kicad>7.0>(The Folders areā¦) (screenshot)
ā¢ Global (and Project) Settings to the āFoldersā is best done from Kicadās Main Panel via Preferences (screenshot).
TYP: Kicad comes with many Footprints/Symbols/3D-STEP/WRL and most Users wonāt need 90% of them so, User can Disable them from Loading Until needed), thus improving Speed/performance.
ā¢ The Footprint and Symbol folder names get listed Alphabetically and User can Name them with commonality for Easy Visual organization/grouping (screenshot)
ā¢ Configuring Build-Path to User Folder may be needed (it depends) Screenshot
ā¢ Kicadās Footprints/etc are READ-ONLY files and Userās tweaks/edits are Not saved without User involvement
Using and Linking the 3D-STEP and WRL:
ā¢ For Kicadās Footprints and Symbols, User needs to Copy the desired Footprint/Symbol and Save it to Userās Folder. This is done from the Footprint and Symbol Editorās. Then they are Editable/Savableā¦
ā¢ Always Best to Exit Kicad after setting the aboveā¦
ā¢ Linking the 3D-STEP/WRL is done from the File>Footprint_Properties and Selecting the ā3D Modelsā Tab (screenshot).
ā¢ Click ā+ā to Add the Link-Field and click the tiny Folder Icon on itās Right-Side - all of the 3D files will be Listed there (if placed in the linked folder). So, adding them to a Footprint is only a Click or two away
[Access to the Paths is available from here, too]
Itās worth knowing a User can create a āDumbā footprint to use for Viewing 3D-Models and can have as many models linked to it (just enable/disable visibility to unclutter the display) Example screenshot belowā¦
Example of a Dumb-Footprint with several linked modelsā¦
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I know where to put the files, and one can even use any folder, you dont need to use the user folder
linking a 3D model works perfectly fine, but thanks for the time explaining how it works -
as mentioned, there is no such feature in the library/footprint editor (or I cannot find it)
Unless I missed something, I am, of course, not going to assign a 3D model one by one for more than 100 footprints
Unfortunately this is the state of the art. Until some entity creates a āstandardā for default orientation we have to live with this.
Personally Iām more upset that the recording industry cannot make two similar songs the same volume.
You didnāt miss anything. And, linking to many (100 footprints) can be a pain but, it can also be easy if you (User) creates Code to do it. Iāve done it and have Demoād it with videos but, I donāt keep track of my posts and I have too many to review. I also donāt keep filesā¦
I will show this, however as it addresses @paulvdh comment (" KiCad does not have a library of 3D objects") - that is True in a sense but, Kicad does come with Thousands of STEP and WRL - they are in the Kicad systemās folders and are accessible.
Below screenshots show their Kicad Default Folder and an App I wrote to list contents (of any folder) - it lists 278 STEP items in one folder alone (the Connector Pin Socket 2.54).
As far as making it easy to Bulk-Change/Add files, re Coding something useful, I show below a screenshot of my App that contain a list of selections to Bulk Change
This shows a Kicad-Stock 3D-STEP linked to my Dumb Footprint
no matter the software or the editing feature (3d or not), protel, eagle, kicad, you name it, they are ALWAYS a pain in the a$$
like if it was a golden rule to make circuit designer life the most miserable possible
they should use these software as examples of what not to do in UX/UI trainings
@phil12345678911 Perhaps you havenāt realized this - the Footprint Editor (as-is) can use the 3D-Viewer to preview the Footprints (STEP and WRL that are linked to it).
Some Footprints donāt have models or link but many doā¦ Video belowā¦
Not only a default orientation standard, but a default naming standard also.
So that is what this thread is all about!
Why didnāt you title this thread āFunction to Automatically assign 3D Models to Footprintsā or something similar?
This would have saved a lot of people a lot of time and effort with their replies.
I suppose a function such as this would be possible; but first, each image would have to be opened individually and edited to set the orientation and name to something suitable for the automatic function to work correctly.
Just editing the name seems like more trouble than assigning the image. Maybe this is why none of the CAD programs have attempted to include an automatic 3D assignment function?
Most likely weāre done with this Post but I want to finish my posting by addressing aboveā¦
Changing FileNameās, Linked Files (assigning an image file) and, most any of a Footprintās contents is simple - all programming languages can do it.
And, changing/setting positionās/orientationāsā¦(geometry) is no different than changing ātextā. Python has Excellent Wildcard ability in combination with Search and Replaceā¦ Iāve done it
Python has āWalkingā through DIR/Folder/Files ability.
Quick demo showing example of Step-Extension Case change and changing the Name of the linked Step Fileā¦ (I just added to existing name for demo but I could have changed to anything).
I opened some files to Verify/Show they got changedā¦
The ātrickā isnāt knowing āhow to do itā, the ātrickā is knowing āwhat you want to doā and thatās where @phil12345678911 fell shortā¦
Thanks @BlackCoffee
My comments were really aimed at requiring to open and identify each 3D image, confirming that that particular image would match a footprint, and then matching the 3D image name somehow to enable an automatic programme to attach the images to the footprints.
IMHO you might just as well attach a 3D image to a footprint as you confirm it is the correct image for a footprint.
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Well thatās your only realistic option. The current way automate this task needs that you are making your 3D models yourself or at best only have one vendor for your 3D models. In this case you can standardize the models so that it is easy to automate. Another way is if you take in 3d models that already have footprints then you can probably relate them the same way they were form the import.
If your models come from random sources then thereās no guarantees since we can not even standardize on what axis is supposed to be up across 3D CAD applications.
Or you could train a AI for this.
An interesting exercise for someone.
Just teach AI to recognize and understand each 3D image and footprint, then simply match 'em up!
Maybe even teach AI to teach itself the process. 
The bigger PCB design offices (10+ people working on PCB design) tend to have people who only do āparts managementā. From creating (checking, verifying) symbols and footprints to 3D models and database stuff etc, but do not do any schematic or PCB design.
If you are interested in more automation. Look into the library part for KiCad on gitlab. There are scripts for creating footprints and other library management tools that are not part of a normal KiCad install.
I also had a short look at kicad-cli It can export or upgrade footprints and symbols, but it canāt do other things with it. A feature request to be able to add or modify fields seems reasonable.
Kicad has this Library Dept. also, and it takes approximately one hour per symbol/footprint/3D image to confirm everything is correct with an included data sheet.
The OP is complaining that there is no automatic function in any CAD program to match personal footprints to personal 3D images, and he has 100+ to sort.
As @joojala mentions: an exercise in training AI?
Yes that old ā volumeā war is ā¦wellā¦getting old 
