Automatic generation of images of the 3D model

Layout
1

I would like to automate the generation of images of the 3D model of a PCB. Currently I do that manually in this way:

  1. Open a KiCad PCB.
  2. Click “View→3D Viewer”.
  3. Click and drag with the mouse to rotate the PCB into the desired angle.
  4. Click on “File→Export Current View as PNG”.

Is it possible to do this using kicad-cli? Is there any other tool that can do this? Like exporting the 3D model using kicad-cli export and then using something else like FreeCAD?

2

It’s possible in the nightly builds: see Post-V8 New Features and Development News - #12 by dsa-t

2 Likes
3

It works, but

  1. the --rotate option always fails in this way:
$ kicad-cli-nightly --version
8.99.0

$ kicad-cli-nightly pcb render --floor -o render2.png my_pcb.kicad_pcb --rotate '-45,0,45'
Unknown argument: -45,0,45

  1. Another issue I see is that the “user comments” and some other non-physical layers are visible in the render, when using --side bottom.

  2. Text variables in the silkscreen work partially. My own variables, e.g. ${MY_VARIABLE} is displayed fine, however ${PROJECTNAME} is not shown, it prints an empty string there "".

Let me know if there is a better way of reporting this, like somewhere in GitHub or GitLab or wherever.

4

Depending on your shell you may need to use --rotate "'-45,0,45'" or --rotate \'-45,0,45\'

1 Like
5

Layers in 3D depend on which layers you have selected in Plot options by default, but you should be able to create your own presets as well.

6

This is worth reporting on GitLab (Help → Report Bug)

7

Where are the plot options defined? In the KiCad GUI or somewhere else? I only see them when going to the “plot” dialog, but don’t see how to save them.

8

Yes, in the UI. They should be saving when you run Plot.

9

Ok, will try. Would be nice to have the possibility to decide that when generating the render from CLI.