General Construction Notes

3D Models

To aid with construction of our kits we are introducing the use of 3D Models in to our build documentation. Each build document will have a link to one or more 3D PDF(*) file(s) that show the particular board indicated (**).

The first thing to note is that you must have a 3D ENABLED PDF viewer to get maximum interaction with our Build Notes.

Make sure you have the latest PDF Reader and that 3D Mode is ENABLED

If, when opening a 3D Model PDF you get a blank sheet then:-

  1. Check that you have a current version of Acrobat Reader
  2. Check that you have 3D Mode Enabled (click image)

Acrobat Reader Settings

Doh - Modern Web Browsers

Change in support for Acrobat and Reader plug-ins in modern web browsers

Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader run as a plug-in to display PDF files in a web browser.

For Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, the plug-in is based on the Netscape Plug-In API (NPAPI) technology.

For Microsoft Internet Explorer, the plug-in is an ActiveX based plug-in.

Support for such plug-ins is changing for some modern web browsers.

Linux Users

If not already installed, you will need to install Acrobat Reader 9.5 or later:-

sudo dpkg -i AdbeRdr9.5.5-1_i386linux_enu.deb

(manually installs the package AdbeRdr9.5.5-1_i386linux_enu.deb - which will have to be obtained by user)

sudo apt-get install gtk2-engines-murrine:i386 libcanberra-gtk-module:i386 libatk-adaptor:i386 libgail-common:i386

(obtains libraries that are somewhat deprecated and no longer necessarily included with current distribution)

sudo apt-get -f install

(collaborates the packages and dependencies which may have conflicted previously)

 

 

Click for larger image

For each model you can select a component and hide or show it using the tickbox list on the left. This will allow you to quickly identify any component and determine its location and orientation on the board as well as visually identify a components physical appearance (***).

The 3D model can be rotated in all axis by holding down the left-mouse button and moving the mouse, and zoomed in or out by holding the right-mouse button.

The use of these 3D models is felt to offer many advantages to the builder over the more common approach of showing images of boards at various build stages. The 3D model allows you to build in any order you desire - you simply hide all the 'other' components. You can save copies of these intermediate stages for future reference if desired.

  • (*) requires the use of a 3D capable PDF viewer (Acrobat Reader 9.5 or later). You may also need to activate the 3D viewer
  • (**) All 3D documents are stored in a separate folder from the build notes. You will need to have internet access to view these documents
  • (***) Markings, colour and, in some cases, size of components in these 3D models is purely indicative of the component and do not show the actual component specific details i.e. all 0.5W 1% Metal Film resistors are shown with the same body colour and markings
Email:  elby-designs@bigpond.com
© Copyright 2000. All rights reserved.     Revised: December 9, 2023