RS Components has added a free .idf-to-SketchUp converter to its library of mechanical component models.
SketchUp, owned by Google, is a basic tool for constructing virtual models of 3D objects, which has become popular amongst engineers.
RS' library includes models in the Google format
"SketchUp is free, so it found application in our industry. Within three months of launching our library, we found SketchUp was the fourth most popular format," RS technical marketing manager Mark Cundle told Electronics Weekly.
It is popular, but not compatible with .idf - the intermediate data format used to transfer PCB data.
"The one thing SketchUp doesn't have is the ability to import .idf files. It works on an architectural format called Collada," said Cundle.
And there was demand.
"It genuinely was organic. Customers asked for SketchUp, so we have created a converter for .idf to Collada," said Cundle.
Developed after consultation with Google, the tool works with version 3 .idf files and is available from the SketchUp website as well as RS' own DesignSpark site.
RS' library includes mechanical models for 30,000 component models, all of which can be downloaded in 25 formats including Autodesk, SolidWorks and TurboCAD. The latest format, added this week, is SpaceClaim
Also this week, the firm syndicated the libraries to 14 on-line communities including those at Autodesk, TraceParts, 3Dcontentcentral and Pro Engineer.