----- Original Message ----- > From: jp charras <jp.char...@wanadoo.fr> > To: Cirilo Bernardo <cirilo_berna...@yahoo.com> > Cc: Kicad Developers <kicad-developers@lists.launchpad.net> > Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2013 11:06 PM > Subject: Re: VRML export issues > > Le 20/01/2013 10:50, Cirilo Bernardo a écrit : >> Hi Jean-Pierre, >> >> I was looking at the VRML exports again and I noticed some inconsistency > on what side a feature is visible from. For example, I wrote in a previous > email > that only the first pad of each DIL package seemed to be rendered even though > all pads of resistors, diodes, and a few other components seemed to be > rendered > correctly. >> >> The other pads of the DIL packages were in fact rendered but they are > visible from the bottom side; these pads are oval while all the circular and > rectangular pads are visible from the top side. I had a closer look at the > code > and the features seem to be rendered visible from the same side (but which > side > they are visible from is a matter of chance) regardless of the layer which > the > feature appears on. >> >> One way to solve this of course is for features to have a thickness and > be rendered so that they are visible from both sides. Would this be an > acceptable solution? >> >> At the moment the board substrate itself is not rendered; if it is > rendered then should we only render feature on the top and bottom copper > layers > and on the silkscreens? After all, once the board is rendered we cannot see > inside it. >> >> Should the board substrate be rendered or not - or should this be > configurable? If the board is rendered, should we place holes in the board ( > I > suspect we will need to, which makes the board rendering fairly complex and > also > requires a lot more data points in the VRML file). >> >> I also noticed that the pads do not seem to have holes in them - is this > a bug in the code or are all pads solid but thru-hole pads have a drill > coordinate specified in addition? >> >> I will ask on the users list how people use the exported VRML file to > find out if people want the board rendered like the final product or if they > want it see-through for inspecting things. >> >> Regards, >> Cirilo >> >> > I am *not* a VRML specialist. > However I am thinking the VRML export has a main issue: > - board items (pads, tracks, vias ) are exported as 2D objects. A 3D > object is more complex. > I explain: when exporting a rectangular pad, currently, the exported > item is just a quad ( a rectangular area). > I am thinking a pad should a 3D shape with a thickness ( the copper > thickness: usually 15 to 70 micrometers), > with a front side, a back side, an 4 sides, each having its orientation > to reflect light. > Therefore when a 3D object is exported as a 2D object, what you see > depends on the VRML viewer internal code, > and the orientation of the shape. > > Pads with holes are exported as a 2D shape with no hole + a cylinder > (the hole): could be a bug inside the code. > > Perhaps Lorenzo Mercantonio ( who wrote the code ) could explain better > than me what should be enhanced. > > -- > Jean-Pierre CHARRAS >
Thanks Jean-Pierre, I'll work on all that in my spare time. I'll see if Lorenzo has any comments. - Cirilo _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers Post to : kicad-developers@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kicad-developers More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
