Re: gEDA-user: )(

[andrew whyte <ajwhyte@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have used Altium for large projects, they have a kiCAD like 3D output system.

Although their demos look mouth watering and I see that it is
amazingly attractive to have a 'true' cad model of my board for a
customer.   I've simply never had time to go back and build or find 3D
models of every custom component on my board (nor do I have the 3D CAD
skills to build them).

>>> Well, if I think of a 3D representation of a design, the pcb is just
>>> one part of it. Components and the enclosing need to be added to make
>>> it a useful tool, rather than just a fancy picture. It would allow
>>> checking for mechanical constraints prior to manufacture.

  In my experience, if something gets too close to caseworks, we tend
to design away or move it so that manufacturing variation doesn't lead
to low yields.  With that in mind a 'true' 3D image isn't so important
to me.  But some 3D cad interaction would be great!

  I agree with the above folks that a blender/other-open-3D-format
interface makes more sense, but rather than going down the route of
needing schematics symbols, footprints and 3d models for each
component in a design, could we add a "height" attribute to the
schematics (this wouldn't be a big job for the designer using
gattrib).  Then if someone could script something that takes the board
outline, and adds block shapes based on the PCB footprint (outline)
and the height for each component,  the results would be a viable 3D
skyline that would be workable from a CAD perspective, low
maintenance, and would also give you an idea of the 3D system.

  If people would benefit from this I might try to cobble something
together in the next few months.

Andrew




-- 
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════╕
     Andrew Whyte MEng CEng
                  paramita ltd

╘═════════════════════════════════════════════╛
paramita ltd, is a limited company registered in England and Wales.
Registered number: 6631289. Registered office: 788-790 Finchley Road,
London, NW11 7TJ (please use trading address for normal correspondence)


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