STEP file to SVG

[gorhas]

Many vendors of enclosure publish STEP files and often they include the PCB (max recomended size) as a part. I have tried to import them into FreeCAD and convert to SVG (KiCAD imports SVG) but with no luck. Does anyone have an idea how to go about this?

// GH

[greg_m]

Hi,
STEP is a 3D model format. SVG is a 2d vector format.
You can probably export a sketch created in FreeCAD to SVG, but can’t export a STEP file imported to FreeCAD (not natively created in FreeCAD).
So the solution would be to to set the view in FreeCAD as you want it in KiCAD, “copy” the STEP 2D view to your own sketch, then export that to SVG or DXF and import that to KiCAD.
Most enclosures are simple enough to copy it in FreeCAD pretty quickly.

[paulvdh]

PCB shape from enclosure STEP file

Hi, new to KiCad, trying to create a PCB edge to match an enclosure. I found this post talking about FreeCad and StepUp, but the details are lacking, or I’m to daft to get it. The post shows a STEP file with multiple parts, my STEP file when opened in FreeCAD shows only a single object in the tree: Is there are current or more complete youtube or tutorial that shows how to extract a PCB edge from a STEP/STL, and I mean really end to end, install extension, activate extension, open STEP…

[gorhas]

Hi!
I found a workaround.

1. Import the inclosure to FreeCAD (as STEP file),
2. Remove everyting but the PCB part.
3. Rotate (transform) the PCB part to XY-plane
4. Make the part transparent. And select to display only the wireframe of the
   part.
5. Export the part as SVG.
6. Then it is possible to import this SVG into FreeCAD…

// GH

[BlackCoffee]

You can follow segments of this, my Tutorial on using a Hammond Box Step file, in FreeCAD and using it, tweaking it, exporting it and using it in Kicad for a footprint. First five, or so minutes is all you need to see…