Mail Archives: geda-user/2013/06/23/19:52:19
John Griessen wrote:
> >> >"We're looking to export 3D data
> >> >usable in commonly used CAD applications." Some arbitrary 3D
> >> >format doesn't help, if you can't get it into the mechanical
> >> >part of the design workflow.
> > +1 ---<)kaimartin(>---
>
> What is the best mech CAD interchange format today?
STEP, hands down.
It is reasonable feature complete. It is an oficiall published
standard (ISO 10303). And it is univerally accepted. Virtually every
reasonable 3D mechanics CAD package can do port/export in STEP. If a
vendor supplies 3D models of their product, chances are, it is in STEP
format.
Only downside is, that STEP is a behemoth of a format. About the
extreme opposite of the PCB format ;-) Some time back I hade a
cursory glance at how it does basic 3Dgeometry. Afterwards, I knew,
why kicad or eagle developers chose VRML for their 3D ambitions.
For this reason, I'd recommend to not do a STEP importer/exporter
locally. Instead, talk to a third party application whose programmers
have already mastered the task.
---<)kaimartin(>---
--
Kai-Martin Knaak
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