Circuit Studio step file export fail

Looking into this...

e14 Software Team

Please email your CSPcbDoc file to software@element14.com for analysis.

Actually not only a step file export does not work but also all export ends with crash. A reinstall of a CS does not help.

All this come up when I have imported PCB edge from DXF file. I double check and before that export capabilities was worked correctly.

Yes, this is definitely the reason of crashes. After I have approximate exported from DXF file PCB edge by lines, exporters becomes alive.

Hi,

We have the same issue:

For info:

a) I have not imported the PCB edge from a dxf or any other file;

b) the circuit board displays perfectly in 3D view mode; and

c) other boards can be exported as step files without problem.

Please can you help resolve this?

I traced the failure of the step export to a faulty 3D component body model that looked like this:

Replacing the model with one whose legs were attached to the component body cured the export problem.

So, if step export fails, it's probably worth using the 3D view to zoom in close on all components and see that the 3D models are OK.

Another way to find the problem component is to use the filter to select component groups and temporarily delete individual components (using a binary search approach makes it quicker), and then try the export until you have narrowed down which component(s) that are causing the problem. This is a bit tedious as you have to restart circuit studio after each failed export.

It would be much better if Circuit Studio gave some meaningful error message: e.g. "Cannot export step - body of component U5 is incomplete"!

Anyway, I hope this will be helpful to others.     

Agreed, any error message would be helpful.

I am fortunate to have access to Altium Designer to compare the two. The CS STEP exporter seems to have a number of issues that Altium Designer STEP exporter does not.

The Circuit Studio STEP exporter simply crashes. Take the same file imported to Altium Designer and it will export STEP file that renders fines.

The CS STEP export also has issues with certain board outlines that contain arcs, sometimes they STEP file includes them, sometimes not, but again the same file exports correctly from Altium Designer.

It would be nice if the developers could get this squared away.

Hi all,

If you have any CSpcbDoc and Step files showing this, please send them and simple instructions to reproduce to software@element14.com for analysis and mention this thread and myself. They'll forward them onto me.

Best regards,

James Harriman

Altium

Hi john,

I had the same problem...But i exported the same board into step using altium. There wasnt any problem.