URL of non-existing 3D model in Kicad libraries

[Andrea_Simeoni]

In some official libraries of KiCad (footprint) I see invalid URLs to 3D models. I wonder if this is “by design” (hoping someone in the future will put it there) or is a mistake.

Example
Connector_Molex.pretty / Molex_Mini-Fit_Jr_5566-04A_2x02_P4.20mm_Vertical.kicad_mod

(model ${KISYS3DMOD}/Connector_Molex.3dshapes/Molex_Mini-Fit_Jr_5566-04A_2x02_P4.20mm_Vertical.wrl
    (at (xyz 0 0 0))
    (scale (xyz 1 1 1))
    (rotate (xyz 0 0 0))
)

but in the Connector_Molex.3dshapes directory the file Molex_Mini-Fit_Jr_5566-04A_2x02_P4.20mm_Vertical.wrl does not exist.

[paulvdh]

This is by design, and has also been mentioned on this forum before.

The reason is to make it possible to add 3D models later without having to modify the libraries themselves.

A possible better solution might be to use the same name as the library symbol by default when the 3D model name is empty.

[eelik]

Why a footprint points to a 3D model but the model file doesn't exist?

3D Settings of a footprint can have a path to a 3D model set even though the corresponding model file doesn’t exist. In fact, it is a clear requirement by the kicad library convention rule F9.3 point 1 that every footprint must have a default model path set even if the 3D model does not exist in the library [image] KiCad accepts that and at least version 5.1 doesn’t warn about it or explain it in any way. The question is, why does some KiCad official footprints have those paths even if the m…

You can give your vote (thumb up) here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/3815