3D Body Conversion to Generic STEP Model

Altium Designer's PCB Editor supports both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional PCB design, with full component clearance checking in 3 dimensions. To accurately represent the loaded board in 3D, each component must be modeled in 3 dimensions. Components can be modeled either by importing a STEP format model, or the shape can be built up in Altium Designer, using 3D Body objects.

3 standard shapes of 3D Body objects are supported: extruded polygonal, cylindrical and spherical. Examples of sophisticated 3-dimensional components built using 3D Body objects are shown below.

Examples of sophisticated component shapes that have been built using 3D Body objects.

While these shapes permit a large variety of 3D components to be created, extruded polygonal 3D Body objects do not support being rotated. That means you might find situations where they do not allow you to accurately render the component shape. To help in this situation you can convert a 3D Body object to a STEP model. To convert a 3D Body object to a STEP model, edit the Body object and click the Convert to STEP button at the top right of the 3D Body dialog, as shown below.

An extruded polygonal 3D Body object being converted to STEP.

Once a 3D Body has been converted to a STEP model you will be able to set the X, Y and Z rotations, as can be done with any STEP model.

An angled mounting bracket, where the diagonal section has been converted to STEP so that it could be rotated.