View your PCB's in 3D - gerbers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:11:56 pm
content: Expensive PCB CAD software like Altium has 3D viewing options but for CAD software like Eagle or KiCad, only 2D view is available of our PCB's. I found this website:http://mayhewlabs.com/webGerber/that allows you to view bare PCB's in 3D. You just drag your gerber files to your webbrowser and hit "done". It's pretty cool.Note: I am not the owner of the website nor promoting anything, I'm just sharing the website because it's awesomeCheck the attachments for pictures:

author: ludzinc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:24:04 pm
content: I don't get the point of a 3D view of a flat board.Using the 3D view in Altium, and being able to import enclosures to check your board fit is very, very useful.However, it's only useful if you have decent models of all the parts on your board - thank God for 3d Content Central!

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:29:40 pm
content: Fly around your PCB or roller coast glide through the drill holes, freeware ->http://www.zofzpcb.com/or watch this -> autopilot test flight or PCB Rollercoaster 3D

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:47:15 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on January 01, 2014, 01:29:40 pmWow that's what I call 3D! I'll download it immediately...By the way, happy new year everyone!

author: SolarSunrise
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 01:52:26 pm
content: Quote from: ludzinc on January 01, 2014, 01:24:04 pmWell like I said, this website is for the users of KiCad or Eagle. Altium is impossible to get for hobbyists, except for a pirate copy, so this is an alternative for 3D viewing.Well for me, the point of 3D viewing of a flat board just gives you an idea how the board will look like when it's manufactured. Even though it's useless, it's free! And you don't have to install anything too

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 02:05:12 pm
content: Quote from: SolarSunrise on January 01, 2014, 01:52:26 pmJust Eagle, seeing as it incorrectly renders the front layers on most KiCad Gerbers I give it. Now, maybe (probably) the Gerbers are flawed, considering... well....KiCad... but it would the be only Gerber parser/renderer, including the ones used by the PCB fabs, that has a problem with them.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 02:34:33 pm
content: Quote from: ludzinc on January 01, 2014, 01:24:04 pmIt's good to check the solder mask which can be a bit difficult to see in 2D mode

author: sachleen
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 07:04:23 pm
content: KiCad actually has a built in 3D viewer. Or, I dont remember installing anything extra... Anyway, it populates the components on the board as well so it's more useful.

author: baoshi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 11:09:55 am
content: I use Eagle and EagleUp. With EagleUp I can export the complete model of the board with components to SketchUp. Then in SketchUp I design the chassis, front panel etc precisely.Sent from my iPhone usingTapatalk

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 12:39:54 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on January 01, 2014, 01:29:40 pmVideo reminds me of the demoscene... too bad it's not in 64K file!

author: toohec
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 09:53:14 pm
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on January 01, 2014, 02:34:33 pmThat is my primary use of Altium's 3D view. I just gives you a different perspective (with realistic colors) that just allows you to see potential problems that are easily obscured in 2D view. If you want your board to look professional, 3D view is a great way to spot cosmetic issues.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 10:07:39 pm
content: Quote from: toohec on January 02, 2014, 09:53:14 pmNot to mention power planes, without having to generate gerbers

author: LukeW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2014, 06:41:27 pm
content: I like to usehttp://gerblook.org/personally.The Mayhew Labs 3D viewer is relatively slow and doesn't work properly on some browsers on some computers. It's sort of like what you'd get if you asked John Carmack to write a Gerber viewer.Gerblook provides a fast, reliable, clean, simple, bullshit-free website for rendering and viewing Gerber files without the 3D view without needing to install any software on your PC.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2014, 09:16:05 pm
content: zofz works really well. i tortured that thing with some of my monster designs. the rendering is accurate.