Author Topic: Importing new 3d Models (Read 22060 times)

harnon · « **on:** February 10, 2012, 12:00:23 pm »

Hi guys,
I just found an interesting tutorial on youtube...

It basically shows how you can find components on http://3dcontentcentral.com (requires registration, buts its from the makers of Solidworks so a "reputable" resource), download the STL and use Wings3D to convert to VRML for diptrace. The whole process took me about a minute and with some scaling/rotation in diptrace works quite well!

shebu18 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2012, 12:29:17 pm »

All this 3d is still useless if you can not export it to a cad file. It is a nice feature to show your design, but the real win will be a export to stl ad use it in a cad software.

harnon · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2012, 01:04:16 pm »

Well its not perfect but the video below (from the same youtube user) is a start. Of course if you were really worried about clearances/fit etc you could just extrude your pads to the height of the components and it would be perfect if not exactly pretty. Come to think of it I'll probably do this for my next design so the the display is in the middle of the front panel this time

robrenz · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:10:26 am »

Quote from: shebu18 on February 10, 2012, 12:29:17 pm

All this 3d is still useless if you can not export it to a cad file. It is a nice feature to show your design, but the real win will be a export to stl ad use it in a cad software.

Solidworks is bi-directional in VRML(*.wrl) and STL(*.stl) so I can model in solidworks and export in .wrl for Diptrace

shebu18 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2012, 01:07:25 pm »

I know, i've done it to some parts. it mill be interesting when we can export from DipTrace. it should pbe implemented in the next release.

robrenz · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:26:49 pm »

Quote from: shebu18 on February 22, 2012, 01:07:25 pm

I know, i've done it to some parts. it mill be interesting when we can export from DipTrace. it should pbe implemented in the next release.

Why do you need to export? I can load the *.wrl files directly into solidworks. Do you mean the export will be in a editable format instead of the featureless VRML graphic that comes into SW now?

shebu18 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:47:02 pm »

I want to export the 3d board that is generated in diptrace. If it is exported in step file format it will be ok.

robrenz · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:53:08 pm »

That would be helpfull to be able to import the complete 3D electronic "part" into a mechanical assembly. I was stuck thinking only in the realm of 3D part creation and editing using Solidworks.

shebu18 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:59:50 pm »

Exporting from SW the part in step format is easier than vrml. Exporting/Saving the whole PCB assembly from Diptrace as step file would be great if it is contained in a project where space is critical.

mclemens1969 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 16, 2012, 08:30:21 pm »

I had trouble getting my models into DipTrace until I found "AccuTrans 3D" which seems to convert just about everything under the Sun. I was then able to make some complex shapes like my bluetooth modem and my switching power supply board here, which is a bit crude but fine for my porpoises, (they love crude drawings.)

harnon · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2012, 09:55:31 pm »

Interesting ... do you mean this commercial product? I've had an ok time with Wings3d, what does this one do differently?

Mechatrommer · « **Reply #11 on:** April 07, 2012, 09:08:04 am »

if you have uhmm.... "AutoCAD", you can build your own part (i used ver14 year 1998). export it to 3ds and thats it, you are done. do as necessary to import it to pattern or pcb in diptrace. this is what i currently do (attached picture, with some quick lame PP). just diy my parts no need internet downloading (it makes me dizzy with all those 1000+ of parts and names). i'm thinking of doing a service for custom/special parts not available in the public net. for maybe $3-5 per part? but i'm not sure how practical is this $:-\$

Armin_Balija · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2012, 09:37:18 am »

I'm actually going to be making my own IC's and discrete components soon. I figured since the physical characteristics of the components are listed in the datasheets I can simply multiply their dimensions by 10 or so and get a good size 3d model for whatever I need. Just started this up today and so far I've done a resistor and different size caps and some IC's. First IC I did as a test was the 555. Going to start working on other size IC's and after that's done I'm going be moving onto normal mapping the IC's which will allow me to only change fonts and create every IC under the sun just by changing the name of it all the while keeping the same textures. I'll keep people updated if they are interested. I will be doing all IC packages as well as SMD and Through Hole components. Hopefully by the end of this year I'll have a sizeable and generic library of 3d models that I'll have made myself.

SoundBound · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2012, 12:59:16 am »

Quote from: mclemens1969 on March 16, 2012, 08:30:21 pm

I had trouble getting my models into DipTrace until I found "AccuTrans 3D" which seems to convert just about everything under the Sun. I was then able to make some complex shapes like my bluetooth modem and my switching power supply board here, which is a bit crude but fine for my porpoises, (they love crude drawings.)

That is a great suggestion mclemens. I was looking for something like this to convert my Sketchup created models into vrml with all color/texture info and AccuTrans does a great job. Package is not expensive either. Awesome. Thanks.

SoundBound · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2012, 01:09:41 am »

Oh, by the way, here is a 3D model of my current project (a turntable motor speed controller) done in DipTrace with some components from the library and some of my own making in sketchup and converted.

reagle · « **Reply #15 on:** August 18, 2012, 05:41:44 pm »

re Wings3D. Has anybody found a way to convert more than one file without closing and opening the program? I can't seem to find "close file" option once I exported the first one

Vasi · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2012, 08:12:14 pm »

Don't know if someone said it before... a friend of mine pointed me to KiCAD 3D components which can be copied into DipTrace folder. Some of the 3D objects can be used directly, and others after some adjustments, as scaling, translating (operations made inside DipTrace when you assign a 3D object to a component), etc...
Some of the KiCAD objects are prettier than those on DipTrace.

Maybe the guys from DipTrace can rework some components starting from KiCAD ones...

Here is a 3D board with3D objects borrowed from KiCAD (that board contains also some footprints imported from Eagle).

dino · « **Reply #17 on:** November 10, 2012, 08:42:08 pm »

Hi guys, please help a fellow 3d modeling noob

How do you import models and keep their color? What formats do you use? If I use .stl like in the video from the first post, model turns grey.

Mechatrommer · « **Reply #18 on:** November 10, 2012, 10:01:36 pm »

Quote from: dino on November 10, 2012, 08:42:08 pm

How do you import models and keep their color?

that depends on how you export it and from what application and from what file format and to what file format.

dino · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2012, 12:21:39 am »

Forgot to mention, I would like to use models from www.3dcontentcentral.com, just like the video from the first post on this topic.
Has anyone succesfully imported their models into Diptrace? with wings3d, with a converter, doesn't matter, I just don't want to muck around with texturing, coloring etc., since this is way over my head


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Author Topic: Importing new 3d Models (Read 22060 times)

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