On Fri, 2009-10-02 at 16:38 +0000, Kai-Martin Knaak wrote: > On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:50:37 +0100, Peter Clifton wrote: > > > IMO, this is _not_ cheating, it is a standard technique. The surface of > > a board is flat - so you render it as one quad, and texture map the > > surface. > > > Any real structure you wanted to represent (board edges, vias etc..) > > would need more complex geometry. > > Well, if I think of a 3D representation of a design, the pcb is just one > part of it. Components and the enclosing need to be added to make it a > useful tool, rather than just a fancy picture. It would allow checking > for mechanical constraints prior to manufacture. > > Kicad seems to be (almost?) there: > http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Kicad_3dviewer.jpg
Actually, looking at the Kicad code briefly made me realise that it isn't "that" hard to do 3D view. Basically they are just parsing VRML models (possibly just a subset of the syntax emitted by wings3D), and emitting GL drawing calls. The bits I haven't got: 1. VRML parser 2. Any models! 3. 3D Matrix setup for the GL stuff. > But again, I am not advocating to go along this route. Export of 3D data > in some format that blender and decent mechanical CAD applications can > import, would be a better way. I'm not sure, but I heard VRML was actually a common interchange format. _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list geda-user@moria.seul.org http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user