X-Authentication-Warning:	delorie.com: mail set sender to geda-user-bounces using -f
X-Recipient:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
X-Cam-AntiVirus:	no malware found
X-Cam-ScannerInfo:	http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/email/scanner/
Message-ID:	<1424000799.20046.1.camel@cam.ac.uk>
Subject:	Re: 3D data and support [WAS: Re: [geda-user] FOSDEM]
From:	Peter Clifton <pcjc2 AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
To:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Date:	Sun, 15 Feb 2015 11:46:39 +0000
In-Reply-To:	<20150215091033.C01CD81A5EB8@turkos.aspodata.se>
References:	<1420499386 DOT 3521 DOT 3 DOT camel AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
	<20150202152654 DOT GA13336 AT cuci DOT nl> <54CFD589 DOT 9040702 AT xs4all DOT nl>
	<CAHBYzfRkn-nJb4JfrDYyaD0WwPrpZvAgi0QdHCusgz185iNoHA AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<CAGde_xN-iNZUvHh-E47kx1EyoPRt1018wWiDwHhYQ9+od+cJwA AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<20150203112631 DOT 3507a0c1 AT Parasomnia DOT thuis DOT lan>
	<20150204054256 DOT Horde DOT Pm1JV8RJbICk9SHvIGwZ7A3 AT webmail DOT in-berlin DOT de>
	<CAOP4iL2stWVCy3WK0=SNu2zAbs8t6B0uyAgFuOnzG8v_MrYNfw AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<CAGde_xN5gs5r_on=HP2RN7cy6E=2EL9eK3cp+sd9BfBaWNLVew AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<20150204193720 DOT Horde DOT 42xUN-NzhCJRWZne-M5eCQ1 AT webmail DOT in-berlin DOT de>
	<90236728-E79D-47C7-BFB1-34140DB85ACB AT sbcglobal DOT net>
	<CAOFvGD4M48Ap=UQzL_T3yzas2rJrNFfxXRUOkOe8gA8J3bQCHg AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<1423323918 DOT 1592 DOT 10 DOT camel AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
	<CAOFvGD6rwqf79obnSRQ4gyM0h8_5PQ-C0G2guRp8YU80oOAkig AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<1423329222 DOT 1592 DOT 12 DOT camel AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
	<CAOFvGD6mP0GH0-KNsYffThqM8aiyxnHJfpMg7sLj1sXdhGou9g AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<54D67DAE DOT 5000805 AT neurotica DOT com> <20150214111652 DOT 1e9765c8 AT jive>
	<mbobai$74i$1 AT ger DOT gman! e.org> <1 423956972 DOT 16089 DOT 2 DOT camel AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
	<CAM2RGhT1tjdghX5EU0WL94CbjTHN_D3r9jrUVnSsn7pYW4bNrw AT mail DOT gmail DOT com>
	<1423966586 DOT 16089 DOT 8 DOT camel AT cam DOT ac DOT uk>
	<20150215091033 DOT C01CD81A5EB8 AT turkos DOT aspodata DOT se>
X-Mailer:	Evolution 3.12.7-0ubuntu1
Mime-Version:	1.0
Reply-To:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Errors-To:	nobody AT delorie DOT com
X-Mailing-List:	geda-user AT delorie DOT com
X-Unsubscribes-To:	listserv AT delorie DOT com

On Sun, 2015-02-15 at 10:10 +0100, karl AT aspodata DOT se wrote:
> Peter Clifton:

> > Having parts models in AP210 (and suitable code to handle them), I
> > should be able to directly export a full 3D board + parts model for
> > consumption by downstream tools. It will also be possible to embed
> > faceted geometry representations that are simple enough for us to parse
> > and render without heavy-weight CAD libraries. (Both faceted and BREP
> > models can co-exist in STEP files).
> 
>  ap210 seems complex and unfortunately the standard is buried within ISO:

You are correct on both counts, although "buried within ISO" is solvable
if you hand over 352CHF. Alternatively, your library or university might
have a subscription to view ISO standards. (In the library in Cambridge,
UK I can view BSI standards, which includes much of the original ISO
10303 (STEP) standard parts, which were adopted as British standards).

I agree, barriers to entry are not great, I don't think this is a reason
to bury our heads to the _extensive_ work it has already accomplished
and NIH some other solution.

Developers may need access to the standard to complete a compliant
implementation, but there is nothing stopping anyone from writing how-to
guides and tutorials that explain how to use the format. (Just don't
infringe copyright on the actual standard documents).

http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=64296

The price not shown on that page, but it is on the same collection CD as
this one:

http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=56238


I bought a copy (thanks to some generous donations), and I truly believe
this is the way to go with footprint and 3D data in the future, despite
its complexity.

Btw.. "seems complex" will seem like a grand understatement if you ever
start looking at the standard. I'm still only scratching the surface of
it myself, and I've been looking at this on and off for some time now.

The key is that we won't likely need to implement / use all of the
standard.. it is quite broadly scoped, and at the moment, I feel there
is quite a small sub-set we may find useful in the first instance.

Peter

-- 
Peter Clifton <peter DOT clifton AT clifton-electronics DOT co DOT uk>

Clifton Electronics

- Raw text -