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> Proteus > Librairies
for Proteus (Isis / Ares / 3D)
Last update : 01/02/2009
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I'll try to put here some components created for use in Proteus
software : Isis for schematic drawing, Ares for PCB design. Oh, just a
few components I had to work with and that were not in initial
libraries. And for the fun, I started to make 3D models for use in Ares
3D viewer. Please, don't compare my work with work of known artists. My
only goal is to do 3D models that are more realistic than a red or
black square ;-).
Librairies 3D - Composed with RealWorld Icon Editor
I discovered a software dedicated to icons creation, called RealWorld
Icon
Editor (RWIE), that can be accessed on rw-designer web
site. In a
first approach, no link possible with Proteus and 3D models. But after
reading RWIE documentation, I saw this software was able to import 3DS
files. 3DS import, yes, but 3DS export, non. So, I wrote to the
software developper to ask him if 3DS export function was planned in
the developpement line.
Answer was "Yes, why not". Well, I tried the software, and started to
do some objects, after reading available tutorials. What I got ? My
first 3D components, a transistor TO18 package.

All that only with two hours of work ! My poor potentiometer 3D model
made with Blender took me some days... I continued to made one or two
components with RWIE, waiting for the 3DS export function. Function
that came very quickly. After some tests and software adjustements,
Export to 3DS from RWIE and import to Ares was perfect for me. I
decided to pay a license of RWIE, because it allow me to do some 3D
models that are compatible with Ares, and because these models are easy
to do and very easy to modify (the RWIE software had some mecanism to
avoid repetitive tasks, as do 14 pins with only one at the base, and if
I had to change pos, size or color of the 14 pins, I have to change
only the reference one).
Available components
Components available here are very simple and for the majority of them,
have not a large number of vertex. I don't try to do them highly
"visual", I just search them to be easyly recognised and quicly drawn
by Ares 3D engine.



This library will be completed day after day, according my needs.
Download of Isis / Ares libraries and 3D models
Proteus
librairies - Last update : 01/02/2009
In "Proteus Lib" zip archive, are included following files :
- Isis libraries, file format "rm_sch_*.lib".
- Ares libraries, file format "rm_pcb_*.lib".
- 3D models, file format *.3ds, made from *.u3d files in RealWorld Icon
Editor
- Source files, format *.u3d and used in RealWorld Icon
Editor
- Demo files 3D_Samples.SDN et 3D_Samples.LYT that allow view
components on a PCB.
- Readme.txt file, that talk about components and evolutions
You can use freely these libraries and 3D models, for the usage you
want (but please don't claim they are from you). You alo can improve
them and resend them me to allow everybody to benefit of the evolution
;-).
Others 3DS models
Others 3D models in 3DS format, made by others peoples that allowed me
to let them downloadable on this page. Thanks to them !
Panasonic
capacitors (Anatoli Panchenko) - 10/08/208
JC_Lib_Misc_001.rar
(Jean-Claude P.) - 13/04/2008
Smart-Card
reader
(M. Belgitaes) - 30/05/2007
Jumper
(M. Belgitaes) - 30/05/2007
Power-Jack
(M. Belgitaes) - 14/06/2007
Use in Ares
Before starting : remember that Proteus is sold
under 3 levels, Level 1 (starting level) to Level 3 (top level). The 3D
visualisation of the PCB is only possible in the Levels 2 and 3. Level
1 don't allow 3D vue.
Copy files in the good
place
3DS files have to be placed in the "Library" directory of Proteus, for
exemple :
C:\Program
Files\Labcenter
Electronics\Proteus 7 Professional\LIBRARY
How to specify an
external 3D model
file
By default, Ares use its internal 3D engine to do basic objects, or
sometime use external VML files. To use an external 3D component, you
must specify that component type is contained in an external file. This
can be done in the 3D visualization window of Ares by attributing MODEL
value to the TYPE parameter. For exemple, to use external TO18.3ds
component for a 2N2222 transistor, you have to place the component on
the PCB, right clic on the 2D footprint, and in the contextual menu,
choose the 3D Visualization command. In the 3D Visualization window
that come, write the following text.
TYPE=MODEL
File=TO18.3ds
NAME=Merged
ANGLE=-90
SCALE=0.25
X=0
Y=0
Notes
- NAME parameter must have MERGED value if the 3DS file is made with
RealWorld Icon
Editor software, that is the case for my components. If you use another
3D software as Blender or, you must specify the name corresponding to
the
bloc (group) that include all 3D primitives. Don't forget Ares wait for
a unique object in the 3DS file.
- ANGLE, SCALE, X et Y parameters have to be adjusted until 3D
component is correctly placed on the 2D footprint, with good dimensions
and good orientation.
About RealWorld Icon
Editor software...
Version V2006.2 of RWIE
don't allow natively 3DS export, but
you can add this 3DS export function by following procedure described
on the page RWIE
-
Adding 3DS export function. In
the V2008.1 version of RWIE, 3DS export is
integrated, and the specific procedure specified for V2006.2 version is
not necessary. Please, go to the RWIE forum for more
informations.
Tutorial
I wrote a tutorial to explain step by step, how to construct a seven
segment display with RWIE. This tutorial is not small because I wanted
to include enough screenshots to make it easy to read.
RWIE
- Tutorial 01 (french version)
RWIE
- Tutorial 01 (english version)
Using Google SketchUp Pro for Ares 3D models
Google SketchUp Pro is a
software dedicated to 3D modelling, and allow export in 3DS format of
created objets (limited free version don't allow it). So, it will be
fine if 3DS files made with SketchUp can be opened and used as 3D
objects for mechanical parts of Ares. Some peoples asked me how to
configure export options of SketchUp to allow exported objet to be
recognised in Ares, but as I never used this software, I can't say a
lot of things... But after searching and talking with peoples that
contacted me about this, it appear this can works ;-)
In "Create component" windows of SketchUp Pro :
- Specify a name for your whole component. For exemple : "merged",
"model" or
"jack".
In "3DS Export Options" windows of SketchUp Pro :
- Select "Single Object" item in the "Geometry / Export" list.
- Select "Inches" or "Millimeters" item in the "Scale / Units" list.
Exemple with a 3DS file made with SketchUp Pro and with "Model
unit" scale
If you select "Model unit" item in the "Scale / Units" list, then you
must apply a lower scale in Ares.
TYPE=MODEL
File=TO220_sk.3ds
NAME=Model
ANGLE=0
SCALE=0.02
X=-1.5
Y=-10
TO220_sk.3ds
file exported from SketchUp Pro - Thanks to "CKL" !