I’m trying to export a step model using the latest nightly build (5.99.0-1346-gf663f199b) and am getting an error trying to do step export on a simple board and am receiving an error I cannot interpret.
Kicad StepUp Ver. 9.5.3.7 in FreeCad also can’t import the board correctly. It imports a rectangle.
The board does show up correctly in the 3D viewer.
The board consists of a PCI edge connector from the KiCad library which has the Edge.Cuts as part of the footprint file. I continued the edge cuts from the existing. Not sure if this is a contributing factor. See the simplified part:
I have been able to sucessfully export other Step files with this build, and StepUp works consistently. I could probably redraw the edge.cuts and solve this but thought someone might know of a work around. Thanks!
It’s probable that KiCad can’t handle Edge.Cuts in footprints while exporting STEP. They aren’t officially supported even though they are allowed - there’s no way to create them inside KiCad. Therefore I don’t wonder at all there are bugs.
StepUp ATM doesn’t support to build a pcb edge with an Edge created with a non closed mixed paths coming from footprint and board edge.
A simple workaround is:
create a footprint will all the PCB edge designed inside the footprint itself
or
create the board edge entirely with the pcb tool and not inside the footprint
StepUp does support cuts inside footprints, but ATM only if they are closed paths.
This is depending on the new (since FC 0.17) method to load the sketch in StepUp.
Switching to the old method I can import your board correctly.
I may add a switch select the old method to load a board in FC. The new method is faster and more reliable, but it seems it doesn’t support open/mixed Edge paths in footprint and board.
From my perspective, not a big deal. Since Kicad doesn’t allow edge cuts in the footprint editor, I’ve never gone to the trouble to edit these in a text editor. I might go that route to change the edge.cuts layer back to a fab layer.
