PCB-Blend

This is a couple of scripts to convert gEDA PCB (well, any system that produces Gerver and XY files) layouts into Blender objects.

The system consists of:

• gentex - a PHP script to convert Gerber files into PNG files in various colours for textures, and an SVG file for the board outline
• BuildPCB.py - a python script to run within Blender (2.79b) to create the board and import components from the component libraries, and
• A library of component models gleaned and adapted from numerous online resources.

Steps to use

1. Export your design as Gerber files with metric measurements
2. Export your design's BOM - make sure that the component attributes contain device matching the mesh names of objects in the libraries
3. In the Gerber export folder run gentex -n <Basename> where <Basename> is the prefix of your Gerber files
4. Load Blender and switch to the Cycles renderer.
5. Load the BuldPCB.py file into the text editor pane
6. Edit the settings and paths at the top of the file to suit your setup and desires
7. Run the sript (make sure you have a normal 3D View open), sit back, and watch as the board is created in front of your eyes

... or it fails with an error.