Is there performance or compatibility issues with the new STEP export in KiCad 8?

Layout 3D Models
1

Ever since upgrading to KiCad 8, I’ve had a few crashes when exporting a board as a STEP file. I’ve tried a few different settings (including the Optimize Step File setting) with no apparent differences. The output file size seems to be much larger than with previous versions of KiCad as well.

I have also seen crashes when trying to load the resulting file in Solidworks.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

2

I recommend posting your project on the bug tracker. If the project is not for public, you can make the issue confidential.

image

3

Thanks for the reply. I have noted this issue on multiple projects, so it does not seem to be related to the content of the project that causes the issue.

4

I have not seen many crashes with 8.0 STEP export on random projects.

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5

Probably that p-curves setting whistles

@jacob.cayetano

Try turning off this setting
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Optimize is a misnomer for what it does. Heh

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6

Thanks for your reply. I’ve tried changing that setting and I’ve still seen issues, but it is good to know that others have noticed issues with it so I will leave it off for now.

Interestingly, when loading the STEP file into Solidworks, it loads as an assembly that includes every individual part down to the smallest resistor. Prior to KiCad 8, it just created a “dumb” STEP file that was purely a 3D model that loaded into Solidworks as a whole part with no awareness of individual components. This may be causing the lag/crash in Solidworks as it has to load a lot of parts for complex boards.

It would be nice is there was an option to keep the STEP file simple like it was previously since most of the time the mechanical engineers do not need information for individual electronic components.

7

I don’t think we’ve seen any actual cases of “Optimize STEP file” option being problematic.

8

It could be implemented, but the parts are very likely to lose color information, because it’s very difficult to convert it correctly.

9

This was introduced in kicad 7…

10

Some parts I have already lose colour information . . .

I assumed this was already a known issue and I was just being to picky in my expectations.

KiCad 3D view . . .

image
image724×656 46.2 KB

STEP loaded into SolidWorks . . .

image
image681×611 53.5 KB

11

KiCad 8.99+ copies the model label directly using OCCT, so the color information should be preserved, and there should be even more assembly structure added.

STEP export: Use TDocStd_XLinkTool to copy model with colors instead of our DIY routine. (f735c9bd) · Commits · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab

STEP export: Use TDocStd_XLinkTool to copy model with colors instead of our DIY routine. (2179685d) · Commits · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab

Please share your model.

12

OK . . . by the way, KiCad 8.0.4 (Windows 10)

PCBA-24007-test.STEP (736.9 KB)

13

But can you share the original connector model?

14

Yup, see below . . .

SJ1-2515-SMT-TR.STEP (849.8 KB)

and

20021112-00006T4LF–3DModel-STEP-56544.STEP (304.5 KB)

1 Like
15

Ok, the nightly version doesn’t transfer the colors correctly either…

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16

@dsa-t sorry not had chance to test a recent nightly, has there been any progress on this issue ?

17

Not that I know of. I’ve created and issue to track this: Colors are not transferred correctly in STEP export (#19065) · Issues · KiCad / KiCad Source Code / kicad · GitLab

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