Has anyone on this group have an 3D model, step etc, for a Nixie IN-8 or IN-8-2 so that I can finish my 3D PCB?
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I never bothered with my nixie projects, too much work. Try a search of GitHub for nixie projects that used KiCad, maybe someone has made models. Or maybe you can modify a vacuum tube model. But then you’d have to add glowing cathodes of various digits to look realistic. I just finished my project and took a picture.
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I have had some nixie tubes in a drawer for 15+ years (Big ones, I thnik 5700Z) and then I gave them all away to an acquaintance, they are now occupying space in one of his drawers.
A quick search for 3D models for nixie tubes finds quite a lot of results It looks like Grabcad has some IN-8 models.
Thank you for your input. Unfortunately the 3D models are not a format that KiCad recognize. I am looking for a STEP format.
This is not the Nixie you want but you’ll see how to create it - basically, get the Spec/Geometry from relevent documentation or, measure the one on your desk.
The STEP file (or WRL) in Kicad is soley for graphic representation so, it does Not need to be more than that.
Sometime ago, I made a couple of them for Kicad user and posted This is my Video on making one…
There are a bunch of (online) converters that can read some (or many) of the proprietary file formats. If you can manage to import it into FreeCAD, then it’s quite easy to export it as a .STEP from there.
In general, the makers of those commercial programs want to keep their customers inside their own walled garden for as much as they can, and they put a minimal effort into compatibility with their competitors software.
But at least some of the 3D files on grabcad are already in the .STEP file format and can be used without a conversion.
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