Re: gEDA-user: Gerbv with OpenGL

[Peter Clifton <pcjc2@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 2007-12-03 at 07:12 +0100, Bert Timmerman wrote:
> Hi Peter,
> 
> On Mon, 2007-12-03 at 02:39 +0000, Peter Clifton wrote:
> > I do have the urge (but not time) to find some 3D models for components.
> > 
> 
> I do happen to have made some 400+ 3D models of components with Autocad
> for the purpose of just being able to check on height dimensions, the
> models can be exported as SAT files (or maybe VRML) if you will have
> them, and if this is a usable format on *nix.

Cool.. Its good to hear that there might be some nice models available
in the community.

I've got very limited knowledge of 3D CAD formats, so don't really know
what would be easy to use. I'm tentatively guessing that a board export
as VRML with commands to place the component models appropriately would
be a more efficient use of time than trying to code a VRML parser and 3D
model viewer from scratch.

> I don't know if gerbv is the way to go 3D.
>
> IMHO, it's just a 2D derivative of a pcb file.

Its probably not the place for a full 3D preview, certainly. I was
looking at GL as a hardware accelerated path for scaling images, and the
perspective view was a nice eye-candy bonus.

> I think the *knowledge* should be implemented as early in the design
> process as economically possible, and where applicable.

This probably ties in to the idea of having a parts database, rather
than just using symbol + footprint matched combinations.

Can you import VRML into mechanical CAD?

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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