100 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
100 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
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---
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title: "Importing geometry from other CAD systems"
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excerpt: "Documentation of the KCL language for the Zoo Design Studio."
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layout: manual
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---
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`import` can also be used to import files from other CAD systems. The format of the statement is the
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same as for KCL files. You can only import the whole file, not items from it. E.g.,
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```norun
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import "tests/inputs/cube.obj"
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// Use `cube` just like a KCL object.
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```
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```kcl
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import "tests/inputs/cube.sldprt" as cube
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// Use `cube` just like a KCL object.
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```
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For formats lacking unit data (such as STL, OBJ, or PLY files), the default
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unit of measurement is millimeters. Alternatively you may specify the unit
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by using an attribute. Likewise, you can also specify a coordinate system. E.g.,
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```kcl
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@(lengthUnit = ft, coords = opengl)
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import "tests/inputs/cube.obj"
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```
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When importing a GLTF file, the bin file will be imported as well.
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Import paths are relative to the current project directory. Imports currently only work when
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using the native Design Studio, not in the browser.
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### Supported values
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File formats: `fbx`, `gltf`/`glb`, `obj`+, `ply`+, `sldprt`, `step`/`stp`, `stl`+. (Those marked with a
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'+' support customising the length unit and coordinate system).
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Length units: `mm` (the default), `cm`, `m`, `inch`, `ft`, `yd`.
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Coordinate systems:
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- `zoo` (the default), forward: -Y, up: +Z, handedness: right
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- `opengl`, forward: +Z, up: +Y, handedness: right
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- `vulkan`, forward: +Z, up: -Y, handedness: left
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---
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## Performance deep‑dive for foreign‑file imports
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Parallelized foreign‑file imports now let you overlap file reads, initialization,
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and rendering. To maximize throughput, you need to understand the three distinct
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stages—reading, initializing (background render start), and invocation (blocking)
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—and structure your code to defer blocking operations until the end.
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### Foreign import execution stages
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1. **Import (Read / Initialization) Stage**
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```kcl
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import "tests/inputs/cube.step" as cube
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```
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- Reads the file from disk and makes its API available.
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- Starts engine rendering but **does not block** your script.
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- This kick‑starts the render pipeline while you keep executing other code.
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2. **Invocation (Blocking) Stage**
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```kcl
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import "tests/inputs/cube.step" as cube
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cube
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|> translate(z=10) // ← blocks here only
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```
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- Any method call (e.g., `translate`, `scale`, `rotate`) waits for the background render to finish before applying transformations.
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### Best practices
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#### 1. Defer blocking calls
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```kcl
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import "tests/inputs/cube.step" as cube // 1) Read / Background render starts
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// --- perform other operations and calculations here ---
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cube
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|> translate(z=10) // 2) Blocks only here
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```
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#### 2. Split heavy work into separate modules
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Place computationally expensive or IO‑heavy work into its own module so it can render in parallel while `main.kcl` continues.
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#### Future improvements
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Upcoming releases will auto‑analyse dependencies and only block when truly necessary. Until then, explicit deferral will give you the best performance.
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