kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

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HoWil
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by HoWil »

easyw-fc wrote:a completely New Gui has landed!
Looks nice,
hope I can test it soon.
You maybe update the videos on https://sourceforge.net/projects/kicadstepup/ showing the new functionality.
BR,
HoWil
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easyw-fc
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by easyw-fc »

HoWil wrote: Looks nice,
hope I can test it soon.
thx :D
HoWil wrote: You maybe update the videos on https://sourceforge.net/projects/kicadstepup/ showing the new functionality.
BR,
HoWil
I'm working on improving the 3D mechanical libraries for KiCAD ATM
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=20892
then I will update the videos...

Anyway each button has a tooltip and there is a mini self contained help ...
the two Union and Compound buttons are self explaining when tested on a Part... particularly if you try to open a hierarchical STEP model in FC 0.17 from release 6147 and over
i.e. this file
https://github.com/stepcode/stepcode/ra ... oc-214.stp
and try to select the main container (which is an App:Part TypeId) and alternatively one of these buttons...
You will get Boolean operations, group compound and simple copy of the model hierarchy :)

Maurice
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by aiprt »

Hi all,

Please pardon me if this is not the right place to post.
I'm a beginner in Kicad and a real newcomer to FreeCAD and StepUp. I hope I'll get accustomed to those powerful tools, but the learning curve is really steep.
Here is my problem :
I created some component footprints with Kicad
I downloaded some 3D step models of thoses components.
I would like to associate those footprints with the corresponding 3D models.

Hopefully StepUp should allow this, but for the life of me I'm unable to understand the instructions I found on this forum, or the videos on the Web.
I got the impression that they have been written for specialists.
Would it be possible to have some really basic step-by-step "StepUp for dummies" instruction to get started :
What do I do once StepUp is downloaded.
Where exactly do I extract the files.
What exactly do I do with the Macro ?

Etc.
Any help appreciated,
Thanks in advance, best regards
Gilles

OS: Windows 8.1
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.16.6706 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: releases/FreeCAD-0-16
Hash: f86a4e411ff7848dea98d7242f43b7774bee8fa0
Python version: 2.7.8
Qt version: 4.8.7
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OCC version: 6.8.0.oce-0.17
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easyw-fc
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by easyw-fc »

aiprt wrote: I'm a beginner in Kicad and a real newcomer to FreeCAD and StepUp. I hope I'll get accustomed to those powerful tools, but the learning curve is really steep.
Here is my problem :
I created some component footprints with Kicad
I downloaded some 3D step models of thoses components.
I would like to associate those footprints with the corresponding 3D models.

Hopefully StepUp should allow this, but for the life of me I'm unable to understand the instructions I found on this forum, or the videos on the Web.
I got the impression that they have been written for specialists.
Would it be possible to have some really basic step-by-step "StepUp for dummies" instruction to get started :
What do I do once StepUp is downloaded.
Where exactly do I extract the files.
What exactly do I do with the Macro ?

Etc.
Any help appreciated,
Thanks in advance, best regards
Gilles
Hi, @aiprt
kicad StepUp requires a minimum confidence in both kicad and FreeCAD... you can get quite a lot of info/support directly at kicad forum, where these tools are more used/requested.
https://forum.kicad.info/search?q=step
https://forum.kicad.info/t/how-to-inter ... style/1711
https://youtu.be/O6vr8QFnYGw
and a very exhaustive video from a user:
https://youtu.be/COUdDZAhbHc
please note you don't need to copy all demo folder files, just the kicad-StepUp-tools.FCMacro file

here a latest thread
https://forum.kicad.info/t/alignment-of ... print/6231
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easyw-fc
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by easyw-fc »

kicad StepUp reloaded!
Finally kicad Stepup has implemented Hierarchy on STEP import and export. (FC0.17 greater than 11707 required).
This is now possible thanks to
vejmarie wrote:@vejmarie STEP refactoring!
STEP interchange enhancements
and all FC developers, particularly to whom worked at App::Part and Part Design Next structure
:D

When the kicad board is loaded, StepUp will create a hierarchy of pcb, top and bottom parts and top and bottom virtual (mechanical) parts.
Also when the board and parts will be exported as STEP, the file will include hierarchy information.

StepUp Hierarchy on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/iKvWs8HrOp0
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easyw-fc
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by easyw-fc »

kicad StepUp with a new boost!

1) finally the WorkBench has full functionality as a standard WB instead of only add the ability to Open directly .kicad_pcb and .kicad_mod files
StepUp-WB-Menu.png
StepUp-WB-Menu.png (31.18 KiB) Viewed 7236 times
StepUp-WB-buttons.png
StepUp-WB-buttons.png (40.64 KiB) Viewed 7236 times

2) StepUp and "The Sketcher" ... Push and Pull PCB Edge using all FreeCAD Sketcher functionalities (BSplines and Ellipses allowed!)
the_sketcher.jpg
the_sketcher.jpg (68.07 KiB) Viewed 7236 times
kicad StepUp: the Sketcher for Getting to Blinky

3) in FC0.17 StepUp tools will use the multi-threading fuse code for a MUCH faster PCB with thousand of drills generation
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 30#p155098

4) in FC0.17 StepUp tools will check Interference and Collisions also for App::Part and Body objects, using a recursive Placement to get the final collsion
collisions.gif
collisions.gif (530.51 KiB) Viewed 7233 times

I opened a pull request here
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD-addons/issues
for merging StepUp WB to FreeCAD addons :D

Maurice
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easyw-fc
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by easyw-fc »

Just merged to FC addons repo!
:D
addons-installer.png
addons-installer.png (67.13 KiB) Viewed 7114 times
abdullah
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by abdullah »

easyw-fc wrote: Tue Sep 12, 2017 2:09 pm kicad StepUp with a new boost!
Really awesome Maurice!!

I think that the integration that a WB provides will help a lot people starting to use stepup. PCB edge with the sketcher is one example (it is so cool to shape the PCB as you like). It is only missing integrating "isolation milling" and path WB for manufacturing it with a CNC :)

I wished I had some free time to actually use this...
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easyw-fc
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by easyw-fc »

abdullah wrote: Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:11 am It is only missing integrating "isolation milling" and path WB for manufacturing it with a CNC
StepUp is aimed to have a MCAD clone of the board and parts for mechanical collaboration and enclosure design.
Moreover, I use very little two layers boards and also CNC is not suitable for high density boards...

CNC can be covered by this:
https://github.com/realthunder/fcad_pcb
with this approach also FEM could be covered to have tracks, zones and pads that are not needed for mechanical collaboration.
abdullah wrote: Sun Oct 01, 2017 9:11 am Really awesome Maurice!!

I think that the integration that a WB provides will help a lot people starting to use stepup. PCB edge with the sketcher is one example (it is so cool to shape the PCB as you like).
Thx :D
And thanks you very much for your Sketcher improvements (Ellipses and BSplines)...

I also added some commands to StepUp toolbar to simplify the process to convert a SVG, DXF or even a STEP to Sketcher and then to a Kicad board
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=25082
Image

Image
abdullah
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Re: kicad StepUp: ECAD MCAD bidirectional collaboration

Post by abdullah »

easyw-fc wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 8:42 pm StepUp is aimed to have a MCAD clone of the board and parts for mechanical collaboration and enclosure design.
Moreover, I use very little two layers boards and also CNC is not suitable for high density boards...

CNC can be covered by this:
https://github.com/realthunder/fcad_pcb
with this approach also FEM could be covered to have tracks, zones and pads that are not needed for mechanical collaboration.
Sure!! CNC is mostly for DIY. I have to buy time to go back to doing PCBs. It was a nice feeling...
easyw-fc wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 8:42 pm And thanks you very much for your Sketcher improvements (Ellipses and BSplines)...

I also added some commands to StepUp toolbar to simplify the process to convert a SVG, DXF or even a STEP to Sketcher and then to a Kicad board
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=25082
You are welcome. It is the great thing about opensource. Eventually I should have free time again for more coding... ;)
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