Conceptually, this makes sense because traces on a PCB are essentially planar as they route from one connection to the next. However, we live in a 3-dimensional world, and being able to visualize circuits and corresponding components in this way can be helpful in the design process. This article will introduce the basic 3D viewing functions in KiCad and how to use NSDT 3DConvert to render 3D circuit boards online.
Recommended: Use NSDT editor to quickly build programmable 3D scenes
1. Basic 3D viewing in KiCad
To view the PCB in 3D, open Pcbnew and select View > 3D Viewer. You will see the PCB in 3D, with the components correctly set up. In this interface, use the middle mouse button to translate and the left button to rotate the model. Right-clicking will bring up a navigation window.
A variety of options and controls are available through this viewer. Some things you should explore include:
- Enable/disable orthographic projection - (icon toolbar, gray 3D cube) Change the view style. I usually prefer to turn off orthographic projection.
- Rendering – (icon toolbar, blue 3D cube) Use ray tracing to generate better images of your model. Pretty slow for normal use, but very good for screenshots.
- Preferences > Display Options – (Menu bar in macOS) There are a lot of interesting options here. Deselecting Show Board Body is particularly useful for visualizing vias and other on-board elements.
2. Edit and create 3D representations of components
When you lay out your board, many of the default components will include 3D representations. However, some are not. If you want to add a 3D model to an existing or new component, or modify an existing component, this can be done easily.
To edit a part on the board, select the component in Pcbnew's 2D layout mode and press e to edit. Select 3D Settings, where you can modify the model's scale, rotation, and offset. As you can see below, I was able to use it as a fairly rough way of representing the board underneath the main PCB by adjusting the Z offset.
If you want to add a different 3D model, you can delete any existing representation by selecting it in the edit screen and clicking on the trash can icon. Add a new .stl model by clicking on the folder icon and selecting it from its storage location. Technically, this location can be anywhere, but it's best to store your project's models in the 3d_models directory within its folder.
You can also modify the component's 3D model through the footprint editor and the footprint properties (IC with gear) icon. This is useful when you want to use a model over and over again. More information on how the KiCad file structure works and the different elements involved can be found here.
3. Export to external tools
Just as printed circuit boards exist in three dimensions, they rarely exist alone, fixed inside or on top of mechanical components. The good news is that KiCad 3D models can be exported for use in dedicated 3D CAD software packages or other 3D tools. Select File > Export > STEP, which will generate an .stp file that can be used in a variety of programs.
For example, NSDT 3DConvert supports online rendering of STEP files. There is no need to install any software locally. You only need to drag the exported STEP files to any format conversion panel of 3DConvert, such as STEP to GLB or STEP to STL :
https://3dconvert.nsdt.cloud/conv/to/stl
Wait a moment and click the [Preview] button to see the rendered 3D circuit board. It supports zooming with the mouse wheel or dragging the mouse to adjust the viewing angle:
https://3dconvert.nsdt.cloud/conv/to/stl
Original link: 3D circuit board online rendering—BimAnt