I found out the basic steps by trial end error. If anyone has some tips - especially for getting proportions and scaling correct, then that would be good.
Obtain wings3d from http://www.wings3d.com/ Learn how to use it from http://www.wings3d.com/doghouse.php and see what else it can do by looking up wings3d in youtube. When you are ready to create a 3d component, then make one using wings and concentrate only on the relative proportions. This is because Kicad's module editor links the 3D in and scales and rotates according to your needs. Therefore, a basic axial R component could be scaled differently for different wattage. Hint: A toroid can by streached and cut in half to make leads, while a cylinder or cubes make the basis of the component itself. Save the wings file. Then export it into VRML 2.0 format. This is what Kicad can read. Create your footprint in Kicad, use it in your PCB layout. Double-click on the PCB footprint while in PCB layout and then click the tab to set up 3d. Browse to the VRML 3d exported file. Find the right scaling and orientation to make the leads fit into the pads in the footprint. Update the library and your board. Test the 3D view. Learning curve: About 4 hours or so. On Saturday 27 October 2007 18:17:22 jeremy wrote: > Thanks. > > I've muddled through that. How do I make a 3D model and link it > to the footprint? >
