A month or so ago (2 Mar 2012) Bob Cousins wrote about using FreeCAD to create 3D STEP models. I've been looking into this issue for a few months now and here are some of my (still early) thoughts on the matter:
1. Due to the complexity of any software implementing the STEP AP203/AP214 specifications or any mechanical CAD for that matter, I'm convinced that any tool should be a separate project from KiCad. Keeping such tools separate allows folks to develop their own tools to suit whatever mechanical CAD environment they work with. 2. The support required by a 3D MCAD tool can be as simple as adding another parameter to the KiCad BRD $SHAPE3D section. For example, I was thinking of putting in a "Mn filename" parameter in my prototyping and I was imagining that the parameter would name either a STEP file or a FreeCAD file representing a component. I'm slowly hacking away at my prototype tool but who knows when I'll have it in working condition. My big plan is to simply render a board with drill holes and the component STEP models and export one STEP AP203 assembly - that should be sufficient for most people's mechanical packaging needs. Then I'd like to go on and add tracks, vias, zones, solder blobs, and build up a collection of FreeCAD models and work towards the (somewhat unimportant but nice to have) photorealistic product rendering. I have a question regarding directory structures in KiCad - is there any merit in developing a directory hierarchy (similar to the TeX directory structure or the UNIX structure) so we can develop separate tools for managing the directory listings and for locating libraries, 3D models, etc? - Cirilo
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