Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago

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How do you pull in multiple 3D models to create a board stack in KiCad? This video shows you how to use schematic symbols, placeholder footprints and either generated or found 3D models in your final board rendering. This method will help you to create nicely rendered photos for promotion, or more importantly, to detect problems before you send a board out to be manufactured.

Introduction to the ABC board: youtube.com/watch?v=JHWO7DRjVIs&t=6s
You can see how the entire ABC board was made with a free week on Contextual Electronics: contextualelectronics.com/one-week-free
Keystone 4881: digikey.com/en/products/detail/keystone-electronics/4881/6234710

0:00 Introduction
1:27 Looking at the ABCDCBA
2:37 How to generate step files of your KiCad project
5:29 Inspecting spacing between the ABC and the ABCDCBA
7:26 Creating a symbol/footprint/3D model for the RPi4
9:30 Assiging a 3D model to a logo
11:20 Alternate method of moving modeling outside of KiCad
12:40 Starting rotation of RPi4 3D model to match the ABC board
15:07 Discovering a mistake in rotation
18:48 Looking at the full board stackup
19:53 Turning on the realistic / raytracing rendering
20:40 Wrap up