Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models
Printed From: PCB Libraries Forum
Category: PCB Footprint Expert
Forum Name: Questions & Answers
Forum Description: issues and technical support
URL: https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1758
Printed Date: 18 Nov 2024 at 8:32pm
Topic: Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models
Posted By: Todd Manning
Subject: Altium Embedded/Linked 3D models
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2015 at 7:10pm
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Altium has recently introduced the option to embed a footprint 3D model within the altium library. |
Replies:
Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2015 at 10:09am
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Library Expert exports an Altium Script and a 3D STEP. When you import the Script, Altium auto-imports -
Is there something that we're missing? ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Todd Manning
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2015 at 7:10pm
After running the auto-import script, when you open the property window of the 3D model you will see that there is 3 options to where the 3D model is located. "Vault", "File" and "Embedded". The auto import always selects the "File" option which means that the 3D model is linked to the library rather than stored with it. Is it possible to define this option in Library Expert before generating the script file?
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Posted By: Tom H
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2015 at 6:31am
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This should be possible. It's a matter of finding the right Script command. Can you help us with that? ------------- Stay connected - follow us! https://twitter.com/PCBLibraries" rel="nofollow - X - http://www.linkedin.com/company/pcb-libraries-inc-/" rel="nofollow - LinkedIn |
Posted By: Todd Manning
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2015 at 10:21pm
| Sorry, I don't know what the script command is but I can have a look and see what I can find. |
Posted By: gcary
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2015 at 7:18pm
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The ability to embed a 3D model in footprint has been around for quite a while, and it was working great with PCBLibraries. But it appears a recent update of Altium must have changed the default setting for the location of the 3D model. As you pointed out, you need to manually change it from "File" to "Embedded". If you look at the script created by PCBLibraries, the following lines of code are the ones of interest: STEPmodel := PcbServer.PCBObjectFactory(eComponentBodyObject, eNoDimension, eCreate_Default); Model := STEPmodel.ModelFactory_FromFilename('C:\Component.STEP', false); STEPModel.Layer := eMechanical13; STEPmodel.Model := Model; NewPCBLibComp.AddPCBObject(STEPmodel); You can observe all of the options for these objects by typing a period after the object name. For example, type a period after "STEPModel" and you will be presented with all the parameters and methods of the object. I played around with a few of them but wasn't successful in getting it to work. I'll submit a support case at Altium and see if they can help identify what is needed to set the 3D model location to "Embedded". Fortunately the workaround is simple. But if you are batch building a bunch of components, then it would be more tedious to have to modify each component before saving the library file. Greg |
Posted By: gcary
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2015 at 11:14am
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I just heard back from Altium support. They confirmed the problem and said that it probably happened due to enhancements to the 3D Body which allow vault components to have external 3D models. The good news is that the problem appears to be fixed in version 16.0 of the Altium software, which is due out later this year. In the meantime we'll have to remember to click the embedded option when making components. Greg |
Posted By: Nick B
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2015 at 12:14pm
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Posted By: gcary
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2015 at 12:57pm
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I just verified that this was fixed in version 16 of Altium. Works perfectly now! Greg |
Posted By: Nick B
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2015 at 12:58pm
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Posted By: gcary
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2015 at 1:09pm
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No problem Nick. Have a great weekend :-) Greg |