How do we stack PCB's in pcb2blender module

[alextrical]

Hi, all

I'm working on a project that consists of 3 PCB's that will mate together with pin headers, I'm hoping to achieve something similar to this.

Currently I believe I need to make use of the "Stack_boards" command, but I'm not sure how the KiCAD project has to be setup to make use of the command

If anyone can point me to some relevant reading materials or examples, it would be greatly appreciated

[set-soft]

Hi @alextrical !

This is defined by the pcb2blender tool. Here is the basic idea:

1. All the PCBs are in the same .kicad_pcb file
2. You need to create texts in your PCB that delimits its sub-pcb
3. The tool uses the coordinate for the text, so it doesn't matter its size or visibility
4. The top-left corner for a sub-board is marked using PCB3D_TL_name, where name is the name for the sub-PCB.
5. The bottom-right corner uses PCB3D_BR_name
6. Then you mark their relative coordinates with texts like this PCB3D_STACK_name1_ONTO_name2_distance to indicate name1 is stacked onto name2 separated by a distance in the Z axis

Aligning the boards is tricky. If I'm right the point you mark with the PCB3D_STACK_name1_ONTO_name2_distance mark is just the top left corner for name1 inside name2.

You can use the following config:

kiplot:
  version: 1

import:
  - file: 3DRender_top

Note: this is tests/yaml_samples/blender_export_template_1.kibot.yaml

And the following PCB

You'll get:

Which is what the file specifies:

[alextrical]

Sorry for the lack of reply, this was a really helpful answer :)