PCB Libraries Forum : 3D STEP to VRML

PCB Libraries Forum : 3D STEP to VRML https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:24:01 +0000 Sun, 14 Jul 2013 15:47:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.07 360 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=976 <![CDATA[PCB Libraries Forum]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_images/PCBLForumLogo.gif https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : dwaltoneng wrote:I still need...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3894.html#3894 Author: dwaltoneng
Subject: 976
Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 3:47pm

dwaltoneng wrote:

I still need to find a way to convert from 3D STEP to VRML.

CAD Exchanger http://www.cadexchanger.com/ works well converting STEP to VRML. DipTrace has problems with the output of CAD Exchanger, but passing the file through a utility called happy3D (by the user Keith Lee on the DipTrace forum) fixes that.

Another method that works but you lose colour information is, open the STEP file with HeeksCAD and save as a STL file, and then convert to vrml using happy3D. ]]> Sun, 14 Jul 2013 15:47:56 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3894.html#3894 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : jameshead wrote:To be honest...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3711.html#3711 Author: dwaltoneng
Subject: 976
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 5:07pm

jameshead wrote:

To be honest for something like a BGA or QFN I wouldn't bother with the balls or terminals - I'd just want a square cube. That's all the mechanical guys would be interested in. They are going to be checking the PCB has a single thing against the enclosure - they are not bothered about components under the BGA.

This would be adequate for me at the moment also. Perhaps I might have more luck getting the 3D model into DipTrace. Having the choice of building a high detail or simple model would be great.
]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:07:00 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3711.html#3711 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : Tom H wrote:I'm not selling...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3710.html#3710 Author: dwaltoneng
Subject: 976
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 5:01pm

Tom H wrote:

I'm not selling Altium here, I'm simply pointing out some features.

Altium is what I am used to. I started using it in the 80's when it was Protel PCB. It used to be a simple low cost program.
I have been setting myself up to do work from home, and I thought I would try DipTrace, but I am (not surprisingly) finding some limitations. One limitation is it uses VRML for 3D. Another really annoying problem is you can't do batch updates of footprints. You have to manually reattach the new footprint to every component that uses it.
]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:01:40 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3710.html#3710 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : chrisa_pcb wrote:And it sounds...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3709.html#3709 Author: dwaltoneng
Subject: 976
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 4:37pm

chrisa_pcb wrote:

And it sounds from your comments like DipTrace has problems when the VRML file gets fairly large(and the generated STEP 3D files can get fairly large, especially the ones with filleted corners and what not).

It looks like it is FreeCAD that is having problems converting the large STEP files. The two converted files that DipTrace won't open, also will not open with FreeWRL.
I had a look at the files produced by FreeCAD with a text editor. The two smaller working files are ok, but the files produced for the two larger BGA's are not in VRML format.
I still need to find a way to convert from 3D STEP to VRML.
]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:37:57 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3709.html#3709 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : Interesting. Pulsonix has a built...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3708.html#3708 Author: jameshead
Subject: 976
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 6:55am

Interesting. Pulsonix has a built in 3D viewer in addition to the STEP file preview and output and in Pulsonix I mainly use the built in 3D viewer for a quick check because the STEP file takes longer.

I'm not sure how you can visually validate the footprint to ensure solder joint accuracy here since the user is probably going to be outputting the 3D model and the footprint from FPX at the same time so if they've an error input values then it's probably going to be a wrong pitch which would be same on both model and footprint, or the wrong ball diameter. If it's a small error in ball diameter then it looks to me like it may not be noticable, and any large error would probably be seen by the user in FPX or the 2D view of the footprint in the CAD program first. I least that's what I would have thought?

I do have a 3Dconnexion space navigator mouse I use at home. It's nice but I need to get some justification first before I can purchase one for me here. The MCAD Engineers each have one of the higher-end 3Dconnexion mice.
]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:55:54 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3708.html#3708 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : In Altium Designer we like to...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3706.html#3706 Author: Tom H
Subject: 976
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 6:42am

In Altium Designer we like to see the BGA balls. With a 3D mouse ( http://www.3dconnexion.com/products/what-is-a-3d-mouse.html ) you can maneuver around to see all the 3D mode component features, solder pad, solder mask, silkscreen and trace routing features. You can visually validate the Footprint to ensure solder joint accuracy. I could easily zoom into the center of the BGA ball pattern and spin around 360 degrees.

And you can export the entire PCB and import to SolidWorks for the mechanical engineers. I'm not selling Altium here, I'm simply pointing out some features.

]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:42:42 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3706.html#3706 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : To be honest for something like...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3703.html#3703 Author: jameshead
Subject: 976
Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 12:27am

To be honest for something like a BGA or QFN I wouldn't bother with the balls or terminals - I'd just want a square cube. That's all the mechanical guys would be interested in. They are going to be checking the PCB has a single thing against the enclosure - they are not bothered about components under the BGA.

Components under the BGA would be my responsibility in the PCB editor and I'd handle this by setting up an area in the BGA footprint with some height restrictions on, so Pulsonix could do the online DRC checking to make sure the components I were fitting there could fit there okay.
]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:27:30 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3703.html#3703 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : I've played around with...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3702.html#3702 Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 976
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 12:28pm

I've played around with the BGA a bit and concerning the pins... balls(sphere) for the BGA are actually the most ideal way of doing this while keeping some definition. Changing them to squares is actually a lot more intensive and produces a file three times the size because it has to generate 6 faces for every pin, rather than 2 iirc.

Pretty much the next step lower would be to have a solid cube bound the extents of the pins, and at that point you wouldn't be able to tell if any pins were removed. But since you're simply using low quality for mechanical fit, this may or may not be ok as the area inside of a BGA that has no center pins could feasibly be used for part placement. I guess you could kick it up to high quality at that point if its an issue.

]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:28:59 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3702.html#3702 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : This is exactly why we have...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3700.html#3700 Author: Nick B
Subject: 976
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 10:13am

This is exactly why we have intro pricing now - won't last for long.

]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:13:05 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3700.html#3700 <![CDATA[3D STEP to VRML : I don't see any reason...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3699.html#3699 Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 976
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 9:44am

I don't see any reason that we can't also provide a 'lower detail' model option as part of the generation process. This will not come online immediately, as i'm simply focused on getting the full set of families to come online, but there is no reason it can't be done. For something like a BGA, would you also want all the balls to simply be cylinders?]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:44:22 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/3d-step-to-vrml_topic976_post3699.html#3699