Author Topic: Altium: Multiple PCBs in one 3D view  (Read 9748 times)

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Offline PsiTopic starter

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Altium: Multiple PCBs in one 3D view
« on: March 07, 2012, 01:49:21 am »
Does anyone know a way to get multiple PCBs into one 3D view.

I have a few boards that fit together and then the whole unit fits inside a case.

I can import the 3D step model that the case manufacture provides into the Altium 3D view and position it with my main PCB which is awesome but i want to add in the other PCBs and position them as well and i cant figure out how.

I can export the other boards as STEP models and re-import but they lose all color

Any ideas?

EDIT: The coloring seems to have started working correctly when export/import step files, but i'm still interested to know if there's a way to have two full pcbs in the 3D view complete with tracks and everything
« Last Edit: March 07, 2012, 04:02:19 am by Psi »
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Offline Randall W. Lott

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Re: Altium: Multiple PCBs in one 3D view
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2012, 04:43:31 am »
You would be much better off using a program such as SolidWorks.

If I remember correctly, there are two formats of .STEP files.  One embeds the color information and the other doesn't.

I'm not sure if the panelization feature supports multiple files.

If all else fails, you can place both PCBs into a single board and use board cut-outs to remove the connective material between them.
- Randy
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: Altium: Multiple PCBs in one 3D view
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2012, 05:29:08 am »
Last I checked you couldn't actually do multiple PCB's, as Altium doesn't natively support multipel PCB's per project, unless you actually exported those boards to STEP model and included them on the main PCB as component like you did with the enclosure.

Dave.
 

Offline PsiTopic starter

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Re: Altium: Multiple PCBs in one 3D view
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2012, 06:22:30 am »
Thanks guys

Now that the step export/import is working with colors it's not too bad and gives me the clearance info i need.
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Offline Randall W. Lott

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Re: Altium: Multiple PCBs in one 3D view
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2012, 07:34:44 am »
Thanks guys

Now that the step export/import is working with colors it's not too bad and gives me the clearance info i need.

I'm glad to hear it.  That's the easiest method.
- Randy
 


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