Wednesday, 7 April 2021

Import External 3D Component Models (Inductor) Into KiCad: Tutorial 1.17



We would like to see how our printed circuit board (PCB) looks when we

have all the components mounted on the printed circuit board. 
This is not necessary to have the printed circuit board made. 
It is not part of the PCB maufacturig process.
It however does give us an idea of the dimensions once all the components are mounted. 
It is also helpful if we want to import the 3d model of the PCB into other CAD software.
The 3d model of a component is represented by a Step file. 
It has a .step or .stp file extension. 
If our component does not have a 3d model we can import the Step file representing 
the 3d model from the internet.
Open 3D Viewer

1.   Open Pcbnew. 
2.   On the top menu click View and then select 3D Viewer.
3.   The 3D Viewer window opens. 
4.   It shows a 3D view of the printed circuit board as show in figure 1.17A below.

Fig. 1.17A: 3D View Of Printed Circuit Board
                                   Fig. 1.17A: 3D View Of Printed Circuit Board


5.  As can be seen there is no 3d model for inductor L1.



Import External 3D model for an Inductor

1.   The inductor L1 we choose in tutorial 1.8 Create Footprint for Inductor.
2.    In the end we found a suitable inductor on the Digi-Key website with 
      Digi-Key part number 732-1208-2-ND – for tape & reel (TR) the and the 
      following particulars:

      Manufacturer                                  Würth Elektronik
      Manufacturer Product Numer       74477110
      Supplier                                           Würth Elektronik


3.   On the Digi-Key website we scroll down. 

4.   We see Step files are available at “Mfg CAD Models WE-PD-1260.stp” as in 
      figure 1.17B below.

 
Fig. 1.17B: Step Files Available At “Mfg CAD Models WE-PD-1260.stp”
                             Fig. 1.17B: Step Files Available At “Mfg CAD Models WE-PD-1260.stp”




5.      So to download the Step files for the 3d model of the inductor L1 manufactured 
         by Würth Elektronik with manufacturer number 74477110 click on “WE-PD-1260.stp”.
6.      The file “74477110_Download_WE-PD_1260_STP_rev1.stp” downloaded.
7.      I copied and stored it on my computer and renamed the L1 inductor 3d file to have 
         a shorter name “74477110_6A.stp”

8.     Other sites that may also contain 3d model component Step files are:
8.1.   The manufacturer of the components’ website,
8.2.    GrabCAD,
8.3.    SnapEDA,
8.4.    3DContentCentral, and
8.5.    Ultralibrarian.
9.      In Pcbnew select the L1 inductor footprint.
10.    Right-click on it and select Properties.
11.    The Footprint Properties window opens.
12.    Select the 3D Settings tab.
13.    The 3D Settings window opens and is as show in figure 1.17C below.


Figure 1.17C: Footprint Properties and 3D Settings Tab
                                                Figure 1.17C: Footprint Properties and 3D Settings Tab


14.    Click on the box with the folder.
15.    Navigate to where you stored your L1 inductor 3d model Step file.
16.    Select the Step file.
17.    L1 inductor 3d model image should appear as in figure 1.17D below.




Figure 1.17D: 3D Model of L1 Inductor.
                                        Figure 1.17D: 3D Model of L1 Inductor.


18.  Click OK.

19.   In Pcbnew in the top menu click View and then select 3D Viewer.
20.   The 3D Viewer window opens. 
21.   It shows a 3D view of the printed circuit board as show in figure 1.17E below.

Figure 1.17E: 3D View of PCB with 3D Model of Inductor L1.
                              Figure 1.17E: 3D View of PCB with 3D Model of Inductor L1.


22.   The PCB now contains a 3d model of the inductor L1.

23.   Close 3D viewer.
24.   Click Save.

Let me know if I have made a mistake.
Do not hesitate to leave any comment below.





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Tuesday, 23 March 2021

Generate Bill of Materials (BOM) for a Printed Circuit Board: KiCad Tutorial 1.16


Generate Bill of Materials (BOM)


Generate BOM From Pcbnew







1.     Open Pcbnew and click on File and Fabrication Outputs icon.


2.    It is the icon with the little factory picture and click on the bill of materials or


      BOM File … icon.


3.   It is the icon with the dollar sticking out of the top of a BOM box.


4.   This will generate a .csv BOM file with the name of the project.


5.    In my case it would be LTC 1624Video.csv


6.    Open a folder and name it something like "BOM".


7.     Place the BOM file (my case LTC 1624Video.csv) inside the BOM folder.


8.    The BOM file will look something like shown in figure 1.16A below.


Generated BOM File

                                 Figure 1.16A: Generated Bill of Materials (BOM) File


Generate a BOM or Bill of Materials via Eeschema and ”Command error. Return code 11”






  1.     Open Eeschema or the Schematic Layout Editor (icon with transistor and two resistors).

  2.     Click on Tools and select on Generate Bill of Materials … .

  3.     The Bill of Material window opens.

  4.     Under BOM plugins: select bom2grouped_csv.

  5.     Click Generate.

  6.     In my case, you get the following error message as shown in figure 1.16B below

  7.     That is” Command error. Return code 11”.



Bill of Material Window Indicating Command error. Return code 11.

                    Fig. 1.16B: Bill of Material Window Indicating Command error. Return code 11.


8.     The reason for the error is because there are spaces in my paths. 

9.     In my case I have a space in “LTC 1624Video” and “LTC 1624Video.xml” 

10.   Windows does not like spaces in paths. 

11.    So we must get rid of the spaces in the paths. 

12.     Click Close. 

How To Get Rid of the Spaces

1.    The trouble is KiCad does not have a “Save As”. 

2.    First create a copy of everything including the folder. 

3.     In my case it is the folder “LTC 1624Video” by right-clicking on the folder and select copy. 

4.     Paste the contents in a folder for instance named “Duplicate” 

5.     Now rename the folder “LTC 1624Video” to “LTC1624Video” to get rid of the space. 

6.     Now open folder “LTC1624Video”

7.      Open project file “LTC 1624Video.pro” in the right column by double-clicking on it. 

8.      With “LTC 1624Video.pro” open now starting for instance from the top remove the spaces 

        from the name of each file in the left column. 

9.      The spaces are removed by renaming the files. 

10.     To rename the file right click on the file and select Rename File.... 

11.    To begin right click on “LTC 1624Video.csv” and the rename it to “LTC1624Video.csv”. 

12.    Do the same for “LTC 1624Video.kicad_pcb”, “LTC 1624Video.net”, “LTC 1624Video.sch” 

          and “LTC 1624Video-cache.lib”.

Try Again To Generate a BOM or Bill of Materials via Eeschema

1.      Now in the left column double click on “LTC1624Video.sch”. 

2.      Eeschema or the Schematic Layout Editor opens. 

3.     Click on Tools and select on Generate Bill of Materials … . 

4.     The Bill of Material window opens. 

5.     Under BOM plugins: select bom2grouped_csv. Click Generate. 

6.     The result should be as in figure 1.16C below indicating “Success”.


Bill of Material Window Indicating "Success"
                                   Fig. 1.16C: Bill of Material Window Indicating "Success"

    1.    Close everything. 

    2.    Open your spreadsheet editor. 

    3.    In my case it is LibreOffice Calc. 

    4.     Open and navigate to your newly created folder. 

    5.     In my case it is “LTC1624Video” 

    6.     Click and open the “LTC1624Video” file. 

    7.    It should look as shown in figure 1.16D below.


Spreadsheet Showing BOM Generated Via Eeschema

                       Fig. 1.16D: Spreadsheet Showing BOM Generated Via Eeschema


8.   You can add further columns such as for price and links on where to buy the component.

Let me know if I have made any mistakes.

Do not hesitate to leave a comment below.







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