PCB Libraries Forum : Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : No problem Nick. Have a great...

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 13:09:26 +0000

Author: gcary
Subject: 1758
Posted: 11 Dec 2015 at 1:09pm

No problem Nick. Have a great weekend :-)

Greg

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : Thanks!!

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:58:44 +0000

Author: Nick B
Subject: 1758
Posted: 11 Dec 2015 at 12:58pm

Thanks!!

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : I just verified that this was...

Fri, 11 Dec 2015 12:57:28 +0000

Author: gcary
Subject: 1758
Posted: 11 Dec 2015 at 12:57pm

I just verified that this was fixed in version 16 of Altium. Works perfectly now!

Greg

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : Thanks for the followup!!

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:14:53 +0000

Author: Nick B
Subject: 1758
Posted: 24 Sep 2015 at 12:14pm

Thanks for the followup!!

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : I just heard back from Altium...

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 11:14:33 +0000

Author: gcary
Subject: 1758
Posted: 24 Sep 2015 at 11:14am

I just heard back from Altium support. They confirmed the problem and said that it probably happened due to enhancements to the 3D Body which allow vault components to have external 3D models. The good news is that the problem appears to be fixed in version 16.0 of the Altium software, which is due out later this year. In the meantime we'll have to remember to click the embedded option when making components.

Greg

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : The ability to embed a 3D model...

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:18:24 +0000

Author: gcary
Subject: 1758
Posted: 18 Sep 2015 at 7:18pm

The ability to embed a 3D model in footprint has been around for quite a while, and it was working great with PCBLibraries. But it appears a recent update of Altium must have changed the default setting for the location of the 3D model. As you pointed out, you need to manually change it from "File" to "Embedded". If you look at the script created by PCBLibraries, the following lines of code are the ones of interest:

        STEPmodel := PcbServer.PCBObjectFactory(eComponentBodyObject, eNoDimension, eCreate_Default);
        Model := STEPmodel.ModelFactory_FromFilename('C:\Component.STEP', false);
        STEPModel.Layer := eMechanical13;
        STEPmodel.Model := Model;
        NewPCBLibComp.AddPCBObject(STEPmodel);

You can observe all of the options for these objects by typing a period after the object name. For example, type a period after "STEPModel" and you will be presented with all the parameters and methods of the object. I played around with a few of them but wasn't successful in getting it to work. I'll submit a support case at Altium and see if they can help identify what is needed to set the 3D model location to "Embedded".

Fortunately the workaround is simple. But if you are batch building a bunch of components, then it would be more tedious to have to modify each component before saving the library file.

Greg

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : Sorry, I don't know what...

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 22:21:59 +0000

Author: Todd Manning
Subject: 1758
Posted: 15 Sep 2015 at 10:21pm

Sorry, I don't know what the script command is but I can have a look and see what I can find.

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : This should be possible. It's...

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 06:31:22 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 1758
Posted: 15 Sep 2015 at 6:31am

This should be possible.

It's a matter of finding the right Script command.

Can you help us with that?

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : After running the auto-import...

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 19:10:19 +0000

Author: Todd Manning
Subject: 1758
Posted: 14 Sep 2015 at 7:10pm

After running the auto-import script, when you open the property window of the 3D model you will see that there is 3 options to where the 3D model is located. "Vault", "File" and "Embedded". The auto import always selects the "File" option which means that the 3D model is linked to the library rather than stored with it. Is it possible to define this option in Library Expert before generating the script file?

Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models : Library Expert exports an Altium...

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 10:09:27 +0000

Author: Tom H
Subject: 1758
Posted: 14 Sep 2015 at 10:09am

Library Expert exports an Altium Script and a 3D STEP.

When you import the Script, Altium auto-imports -

The user defined Footprint Name
The user defined Physical Description
The Package Height
The 3D STEP model
The component Terminal Lead rectangle on a user defined mechanical layer
The Silkscreen and Polarity
The Assembly Drawing Outline
The Placement Courtyard

Is there something that we're missing?