How to make PCB 3D Models

For Mechanical integration generating accurate models of PCBs is incredibly important, as it saves Mech time from CADing each board and reduces human error. Many components like resistors or capacitors are not important for CAD purposes, so in 3D models, they normally should be excluded as these just make the files larger and take more compute to load them in Solidworks.

Finding 3D Models of Parts:

Luckily to add 3D models to boards we don’t need to open a CAD program and start CADing the part since manufacturers have done all the hard work for us. You can almost always find the 3D models in the same place as you find the relevant symbols and footprints for that part.

In Mouser you’ll find it in the ECAD model section:

Digikey you’ll see it EDA/CAD models section

Mouser and Digikey are your main two examples but usually, you can ctrl+f CAD, 3D, EDA, or ECAD and you can find them in that menu.

Once you go through the process to get those models, they will almost always give you a .STEP file. This is the file you want to use for PCB models

Adding 3D Models to KiCAD:

In an ideal world we want to link a 3D model to a footprint, that way we only need to find the 3D model once and then whenever anyone uses the footprint the model will come linked to it.

Steps:

- Go to the Footprint Editor
- Go to the footprint you want to edit from the left-side menu
  - Select “Edit Footprint properties”
  - Go to the 3D model's tab
- From there add the link to your 3D model
  - You will likely need to use some of the sliders to adjust the rotation and position of your model.

VERY IMPORTANT:

- - Remember that if you have a directory linked to your computer then someone else may not be able to see it
  - All directories should be project relative, meaning every directory you have is linked to some variable that contains where this KiCAD project is on your computer
    - “${KIPRJMOD}” substitutes wherever the KiCAD project is in your computer
  - REMEMBER TO STORE 3D MODELS IN THE UTSVT-KiCADLibraries submodule in your repo
- Use this to align the model to the hole
Press save
In the PCB editor go to Tools -> Update Footprints from Library
- This will update the footprints on your PCB to the changes you made in the library
Push your changes

Viewing the 3D Model:

Steps:

To view the 3D model go to the PCB editor
View -> 3D viewer

This will show you all the components properly linked to the board

How to Export the Model:

Surprisingly this is the easiest part of the process and only takes a few clicks

Steps:

Go to the PCB editor
File -> Export -> STEP
Pick your output directory
Make sure you select “Board Centered Origin” as this makes mechanical lives easier to use the models

How to Make Cool Renders:

We mostly use 3D models for functional purposes and Mechanical integration, but sometimes we want to make awesome-looking renders!

Steps:

Go to the PCB editor
Enter the 3D model view
Go to the top bar and press “Render view using Raytracing”

Note that it may take some time to load the image
Press the same button to exit the raytracing mode

Press “Copy 3D Image to clipboard” to copy your current view

This button will also work to copy the not raytraced view

You can also change the background of the renders to have it color match the background for whatever you're putting the render onto

Steps:

Go to the 3D viewer
Preferences → Preferences
3D Viewer → Colors
- Background color gradient start and background gradient end decide the colors of the background gradient
- Change these to set the color of the background (if you want to make the background a solid color make both fields the same color).

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