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Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 23:32:04 +0100
From: Bert Timmerman <bert DOT timmerman AT xs4all DOT nl>
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To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: [geda-user] PCB and 3D Views
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Levente Kovacs wrote:
> On Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:27:53 +0100
> Kai-Martin Knaak<knaak AT iqo DOT uni-hannover DOT de>  wrote:
>
>    
>> Not at all.
>>      
> I think the approach to store 3D models externally is a good one.
>
> Forgive my ignorance... but then why would be _any_ 3D support inside PCB? To
> rotate a 2D image in 3D doesn't make any sense, does it?
>
> So this is my naive work flow:
>
> In PCB:
>
>   * This is my PCB with the components.
>   * I press the "export to 3D" button. (or run an external script)
>
> (an openscad file is generated)
>
> In openscad:
>
>   * Import (open) the openscad file.
>   * Import a STEP file of a box that will contain the board.
>   * Tada... my layout in the box. Rotate, and show it to your boss, wife, etc...
>   * Run various off line checking such as component and box overlapping.
>
> Did I get it right?
>
>
> Levente
>
>    
Hi Levente,

Almost, as AFAIK OpenSCAD does not support STEP file imports yet, I 
haven't looked at that site for some time, maybe they do now :)

What is possible in OpenSCAD is to "import" (or better "reference") a 
DXF with a board outline and extrude to some given height.

This one of those things not yet included in my version of an OpenSCAD 
exporter.

BTW: there happens to be an incomplete DXF exporter lingering around 
somewhere in Launchpad too :)

Kind regards,

Bert Timmerman.