KiCAD StepUp 3D models loose colors when manipulate in FreeCAD

AB007 · January 20, 2025, 4:16am

I upgrade to FreeCAD V1 and use your KiCAD StepUp to align the 3D model with the footprint symbol.
I use to have this problem in the past, now come back again: when I select the 3D model and rotate-it the model becomes gray and colors are lost (as you can see below).
Can you please advise what to do or fix the plugins if get out of synch with KiCAD?

Thanks,
-an

greg_m · January 20, 2025, 12:33pm

I have occasionally and randomly the same issue when drawing in FreeCAD v1.0 (and not using StepUp workbench at that time). That one is a bug in FreeCAD. I think yours looks like the same issue, but not 100% sure. If should be fixed on v1.1.

maui · January 20, 2025, 1:05pm

@AB007
FC 1.0 has improved a lot; particularly they added appearances for 3D models.
This unfortunately has broken some functionality.
Make Compound has lost the ability to keep face colors for complex structure.

and the FC regression issue:

github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD

Material: Part Compound and Part Booleans do not display colors of source objects

opened 12:10PM - 27 Jul 24 UTC

Roy-043

Mod: Part Type: Regression Topic: Color Mod: Materials

### Is there an existing issue for this? - [X] I have searched the existing iss…ues ### Problem description 1. Create a Part_Box. 2. Create a Part_Cylinder. 3. Change the DiffuseColor of one of the objects. 4. Select both and create a Part_Compound. 5. Result: The compound has a single color. ### Full version info ```shell OS: Windows 8 build 9600 Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit Version: 0.22.0dev.38314 (Git) Build type: Release Branch: main Hash: 3fa339e9eb71d34542e463b3f4581857a9e696fb Python 3.11.9, Qt 5.15.13, Coin 4.0.2, Vtk 9.2.6, OCC 7.7.2 Locale: C/Default (C) [ OS: Dutch/Netherlands (nl_NL) ] ``` ### Subproject(s) affected? Core ### Anything else? _No response_ ### Code of Conduct - [X] I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

If you upload the model I would have a look at to suggest a workaround.
ATST I would suggest to use Aligner and Mover from Manipulator WB to align the model to its footprint.
They are much more handy than the kSU basic tool.

@greg_m I’m hoping they will patch this, but ATM it seems a low priority task.

AB007 · January 20, 2025, 3:44pm

@maui

temporary I “upgraded” FreeCAD back to 0.21 and now all fine…

Below model is already align with the PCB layout using freeCAD 0.21.2…
STHS34PF80.step (211.4 KB)

Thanks maui, most appreciate your support
//a

m852 · January 20, 2025, 8:01pm

maui
I use freecad 1.0 and noticed that the size of the 3D step model is not quite correct after processing by the plugin. At the moment I can not figure out where the size goes when exporting freecad or from kiсad. Have you noticed similar problems with requests? kicad 8.0.8

maui · January 20, 2025, 10:04pm

@AB007
you can make an union selecting all the internal objects, then make a simple copy and the result will keep the colors.
Fusion_sc.stpZ (10.1 KB)
union.FCStd (47.8 KB)

maui · January 20, 2025, 10:06pm

@m852
what do you mean with size?
dimensions of the object or size of the step file?
What do you mean with

Are you meaning the file path?

m852 · January 21, 2025, 4:43am

The geometric size of the model after export via the freecad 1 plugin does not match the model from kikad. I’m trying to understand at what stage this happens or whether freecad itself exports like this or kicad when saving or when importing in the opposite direction. In version 21 everything works fine, but then I used a different version of kicad.

maui · January 21, 2025, 6:21am

To be able to understand your comment, please add a sample kicad and freecad file, as well step exported models.