The free2ki FreeCAD workbench enables you to apply materials to 3D models in FreeCAD, as well as to easily export them to VRML (.wrl) files, with correctly applied rotation and scaling, for use in KiCad as well as Blender.

I created it as I wanted a fast to use, simple and less buggy/bloated alternative to the kicadStepUp workbench, which also better integrates into my KiCad to Blender workflow (pcb2blender).

Usage

1. Switch to the Free2Ki Workbench.
2. Select the models or parts of models you want to apply a material too.
3. Use the Set Materials tool, to setup the materials you want (this tool can be used multiple times to setup multiple materials, on a single object)
4. Export the selected objects (or the whole file if nothing is selected) via the Export tool. This will create a <project_name>.wrz file, in the same directory your FreeCAD project file is in.
5. (optional) Install the pcb2blender Blender addon and import your model via
   File -> Import -> X3D (.x3d/.wrl).
   (installing the pcb2blender addon is necessary, otherwise the mat4cad materials won't be recognized properly)

Materials

Missing anything from the selection of available materials? Feel free to create an issue on the mat4cad repository, explaining what materials you'd like to see (possibly also how they'd look like in Blender) and I might add them in the next update!

Installation

• (not available yet) via the builtin addon manager Tools -> Addon manager -> Workbenches -> free2ki

• (manual) Download the free2ki.zip from the latest release and unpack its contents into your FreeCAD Mod folder.

Other Projects

• All the 3D models of the protorack-kicad KiCad library, which contains all the custom symbols and footprints I use for eurorack module development, have been created using this workbench.

• The pcb2blender workflow makes use of the mat4cad materials that this workbench lets you apply to your models. These materials will be recognized by Blender, and depending on the material type, different procedural textures/features will be used in Blender, making your models look more realistic.

Credits

• The name of this project is inspired by the awesome svg2shenzhen Inkscape extension by badgeek.

License

• This project is licensed under GPLv3.