Components in the Design and STEP Models
Manufacturers sometimes provide STEP models for their parts. These models can be downloaded, gathered into folders and associated with Pulsonix footprints. The models can be viewed using the Library Manager STEP Models page.
Adding Component Attributes for STEP Model usage
To use STEP models within the board, add the attribute STEP Filename to the footprint in the library, or directly to the component in the PCB design. It is normal to add this to the footprint but could be added to the part definition if you prefer.
The value of the attribute should be the filename of the STEP model. For example Attribute Name:
To override the STEP model name to use your own 3D Package, simply omit the STEP Filename attribute from the part or component. The normal 3D Package name to footprint name match rules then apply.
By adding the STEP Filename attribute but leaving it’s value blank, you can completely suppress the output of any graphical 3D model information; STEP model or 3D View package.
When positioning the STEP model in the Z-axis, the application will by default assume that the model is defined with Z=0 on the seating plane of the component. If this is not the case, you can apply an adjustment in the Z-direction by adding the STEP Offsets attribute to your component. Supply the distance in mm by which the model should be offset in the Z-direction to bring the seating plane in line with the board surface. The adjustment value is added to the current board Z-coordinate, so a negative adjustment will decrease the Z position and hence move the component downwards toward the board surface. You can also make adjustments in the X and Y axes. To make multiple offsets in different axes the attribute value takes the form of X=1.02;Y=5.3;Z=2.0. if you do not want an offset in an axis just omit it. The default units are millimetres. If you omit the axis letter then Z is assumed.
Similarly, if you want to apply a rotation in any axis use the STEP Rotation attribute. This uses
a similar notation as the offset attribute. X=90.0 will rotate the model in the X axis. If you
omit the axis letter then X is assumed. For example, it could look like this for the STEP Rotation
attribute field:
When defining the
The STEP Filename attribute can also be added to PCB Documentation Symbols so that they can use STEP models. The STEP Offsets and STEP Rotation attributes work in the same way for these symbols.
To make the process easier, the STEP Filename, Offsets and Rotation attributes can be added graphically to a Footprint or PCB Doc Symbol by using the Position STEP Model dialog which is available in their respective Symbol Editors.
Model Placement Areas
The orientation of the component STEP model and the footprint may be different. You can add a Model Placement area to the footprint to aid matching them up. The application will use the relative height/width of this area to compare with the height/width of the component to decide whether the model needs to be rotated or not. You can preview the model when adding the Placement Area to check the footprint alignment with the model. Use the View STEP option from the View menu. If the model filename attribute has not been defined, a warning message will be displayed.
No Transformation switch on the Design Settings dialog
From within the Design Settings, General dialog, there are switches to set the STEP Model Alignment.
Component Heights and Generating Heights from STEP Models
If no model is assigned to a component, or the model cannot be found, the Component Height attribute is used. If all else fails a simple extrusion of the body of the footprint is used along with and inbuilt height of 2mm.
Component Height attributes can be extracted automatically from STEP models used in the design using the Generate Heights From STEP option from the Utilities menu.
Suppressing Models
If the intention is to prevent any 3D image being rendered for a particular component or footprint,
this can be achieved by adding the
Related Topics
STEP Overview | STEP Models | STEP Model Folders | STEP Model Library | 3D Settings | Model Placement area | STEP Import Positional Changes | Import STEP Board | Generate Heights From STEP | Outputting STEP Files