3D Body
Modified by Jason Howie on 8-Oct-2016
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3D Body (Object)
Parent page: PCB Dialogs
The 3D Body Dialog.
Summary
The 3D Body dialog allows you to modify the attributes of an extruded, cylindrical or spherical 3D Body
object in the PCB editor, or to link to or embed a generic STEP model. A 3D body is a primitive polygonal
design object that is used to represent the 3 dimensional shape of the physical component that is
mounted on the assembled PCB. Any number of 3D body objects can be used together to create
complex shapes.
Access
The dialog can be accessed during placement in the PCB Library Editor, click on Home | Place |
to commence the placement process and open this dialog.
After placement, the dialog can be accessed in the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor in the following ways (in
2D display mode):
Double-click on the 3D Body object.
Place the cursor over the object, right-click and choose Properties from the context menu.
Options/Controls
3D Model Type
Select a model type for the 3D body object. The editing and control options vary for each type,
providing controls necessary for sizing and positioning in the 3D workspace. Available options are:
Extruded - Interactively define the plan view of a 2D shape, which is then extruded by the
amount defined in the Extruded section of the dialog.
Generic STEP Model - In this mode the 3D Body is simply a container for a linked or
embedded 3D STEP model. The placed 3D Body is automatically shaped to be the smallest
rectangle prism that just encloses the STEP model.
Cylinder - A 3D cylinder, which has its radius and height defined in the Cylinder section of the
dialog. In the default orientation the cylinder stands vertically, use the Rotation settings to
change the orientation.
Sphere - A 3D sphere, which has its radius defined in the Sphere section of the dialog.
Convert To STEP - Click to convert an Extruded/Cylindrical/Spherical 3D Body object to a STEP
model. Use this feature when the design includes an Extruded 3D Body object that needs to be
rotated. The STEP model is automatically embedded in the design file.
Properties
Identifier - A human-readable name used to identify the 3D Body object. Identifiers are useful
for selecting a 3D body in the PCB panel.
Body Side - The side of the board the 3D Body will project from. This will be either Top Side
or Bottom Side (project up, or project down). This setting is automatically changed if the 3D
Body object is flipped to the other side of the board as part of a component flip.
Layer - The Mechanical Layer that the 3D Body exists on. Only mechanical layers that are
currently enabled are available. If the chosen mechanical layer is paired, then the when the
body is flipped to the other side of the board as part of its component, it will also be moved to
the paired mechanical layer.
Locked - Check this option to prevent the 3D Body from being inadvertently edited or moved.
Display
3D Color - Click the 3D Color swatch to specify the 3D Body's color using the Choose
Color dialog.
3D Color Opacity - Specify the transparency of the 3D body from invisible (left-most) to
completely opaque (right-most). This setting is a permanent setting for this object, it is also
possible to adjust the object opacity temporarily in the PCB panel, when it is set to 3D Models
mode.
The next four sections (Extruded, Generic STEP Model, Cylinder & Sphere) will be optionally displayed
according to the chosen 3D Model Type.
Extruded
Overall Height - The distance from the board surface to the topside of the Extruded Body.
Standoff Height - The distance from the board surface to the underside of the Extruded Body.
Use a negative value for Extruded Bodies that must pass down through the PCB.
Texture File - Defines an image to by displayed on the top surface of the Extruded Body.
Accepted file formats are *.bmp;*.dds;*.dib;*.hdr;*.jpg;*.pfm;*.png;*.ppm;*.tga
Center - The X and Y offsets that the center of the texture image will have with respect to the center of
the top surface of the Extruded Body. For example, a value of 100mil, 0mil will shift the center point of
the image 100mils in the X direction from the center point of the top surface of the Extruded Body.
Size - The width (X-direction) and height (Y-direction) of the texture image. By default, the
texture image will be uniformly scaled to fit the bounds of the top surface of the Extruded Body.
Rotation - The counter-clockwise rotation angle of the texture image.
Generic STEP Model
Filename - the name of the file containing the STEP model. The text below this entry will reflect
whether the model is currently embedded, or linked. In the latter case, the path to the file will
be presented.
Rotation X - the angular rotation (in degrees) of the STEP model around the X-axis.
Rotation Y - the angular rotation (in degrees) of the STEP model around the Y-axis.
Rotation Z - the angular rotation (in degrees) of the STEP model around the Z-axis.
Standoff Height - the distance from the board surface to the underside of the STEP
model. Use a negative value for a model that must pass down through the PCB.
Embed STEP Model - Click to open the Choose Model dialog, from which the designer can
browse their hard drive / network and select a STEP model to embed.
Link To STEP Model - Click to open the Choose Model dialog, from which the designer can
browse the defined model paths and select a STEP model to link to.
If no model paths have been specified, click the Add Directories button to access the
PCB Editor — General page of the Preferences dialog. In the Models region of the
page, click the Model Search Paths button to open the Model Search Path dialog.
Click the
button to browse and locate the folder containing your STEP files, then
finally click the Add button to include that folder in the Model Search Path list. After
clicking OK to close the Preferences dialog, all STEP models found along the paths will
be listed in the Choose Model dialog.
Note when the Generic STEP Model option is chosen, the 3D Body object simply acts
as a container for it, and it is automatically re-sized to enclose the chosen model.
Update from Disk - this button becomes available when the STEP model is linked, and the
linked file has been detected to have been modified. Click to update the 3D body with the latest
model information in the linked file.
Remove - click this button to remove the STEP model (irrespective of whether it is embedded
or linked) from the 3D body.
Change to Embedded - click this button to switch from using a currently linked STEP model, to
using an embedded instance of that model.
Cylinder
Radius - the radius of the Cylindrical Body.
Height - the height of the Cylindrical Body.
Rotation X - the angular rotation (in degrees) of the Cylindrical Body around the X-axis.
Rotation Y - the angular rotation (in degrees) of the Cylindrical Body around the Y-axis.
Rotation Z - the angular rotation (in degrees) of the Cylindrical Body around the Z-axis.
Standoff Height - the distance from the board surface to the underside of the Cylindrical Body. Use a
negative value for a Cylindrical Body that must pass down through the PCB.
Sphere
Radius - the radius of the Spherical Body.
Standoff Height - the distance from the board surface to the lowest edge of
the Spherical Body. Use a negative value for Spherical Body that must pass down through the
PCB.
Snap Points
Snap points are reference points that can be useful when moving or aligning 3D Bodies to other PCB objects.
Each Snap Point is represented by 3 thin, white lines that mark the Snap Point location. When you
click and hold on a 3D body, the cursor will automatically snap to the nearest Snap Point or vertex.
Note that 0, 0, 0 is located on the base of the object, at the geometric center of the 3D body when
looking down at it in 2D display mode.
Add - attach a new Snap Point
Delete - remove the currently selected Snap Point
Average - replace two selected Snap Points with a new Snap Point at the midpoint between
them.
X, Y & Z - the Snap Point's position on the X-, Y- and Z- axes respectively, click to edit.
Axes
Axes can be used as a reference when aligning a 3D Body to other PCB objects. An axis is essentially
a dashed line drawn between the points defined by the Origin and Direction X, Y, Z locations. Note
that Origin 0, 0, 0 is located on the base of the object, at the geometric center of the 3D body when
looking down at it in 2D display mode.
Add - attach a new Axis.
Delete - remove the currently selected Axis.
Origin X, Y & Z - the co-ordinates of the starting point for the axis, click to edit the values.
Direction X, Y & Z - the location in space that defines the end point of the axis, click to edit
the values.
To toggle the units of measurement used in the open dialog between metric (mm) and
imperial (mil), press the Ctrl+Q shortcut. This affects the dialog only and does not change
the actual measurement unit currently employed for the board, as determined by the Home
| Grids and Units | Metric or Imperial setting chosen on the Ribbon.
Source URL: http://documentation.circuitstudio.com/display/CSTU/PCB_Dlg-3DBody((3D+Body))_CS