Generating STL file from KiCad
Making a projectbox with all the holes in the right place is quite a challenge.
Luckily for the makers that use
KiCad
as a PCB making tool there is a rescue!If not already done you first have to install the latest version of FreeCAD.
Then you have to install the
KiCadStepUp
tool with the Addon Manager
.
Start the
PCB Editor

From the
File
menu select Export -> STEP

In the popUp
[Browse]
to the map where you want to save the STEP file and click on [Export]
.

Click on the select box ..

.. and select the
KiCadStepUp
tool
Go to
File->Open
and select the STEP file from the KiCad Export
.. and click on
[Open]

After a while you see the result of this import

Now all you have to do is
Export
this file
Select "
STL Mesh
" as type ..
.. and click on
[Save]
The result is a nice STL file

Add the following code to the beginning of your
.scad
file:myPcb = "./STL/DSMRloggerESP32_PCB.stl";
if (true)
{
translate([42,43,4.6])
{
rotate([0,0,90]) color("darkgray") import(myPcb);
}
}
myPcb
has to point to the generated .stl
file
With translate()
and rotate()
you can place the .stl
file to the exact location of your projectbox. This is a bit fiddling in the beginning but once set it does not change anymore.
Last modified 4mo ago