3D model association in PCB Design - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a PCB design engineer working on a new electronic product.

📋 Request: Your manager wants you to associate 3D models with PCB components to visualize the final assembly and check for mechanical fit.

📊 Data: You have a list of PCB components with their reference designators and corresponding 3D model file names.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a report that links each PCB component to its 3D model and shows a summary of components with missing 3D models.

Sample Data

Reference Designator	Component Name	3D Model File
R1	Resistor 10k	resistor_10k.step
C1	Capacitor 1uF	capacitor_1uf.step
U1	Microcontroller	microcontroller.step
L1	Inductor 10uH
D1	Diode 1N4148	diode_1n4148.step
Q1	Transistor NPN	transistor_npn.step
J1	Connector 2-pin	connector_2pin.step
R2	Resistor 1k	resistor_1k.step
C2	Capacitor 10uF

1

Step 1: Create a table that lists all PCB components with their reference designators, component names, and associated 3D model file names.

Use the provided sample data as the base table.

Expected Result

A table showing all components and their 3D model files, including blanks where no model is assigned.

2

Step 2: Add a calculated column 'Has 3D Model' that shows 'Yes' if the 3D Model File is not empty, otherwise 'No'.

In Power BI DAX: Has 3D Model = IF(NOT(ISBLANK('Table'[3D Model File])), "Yes", "No")

Expected Result

The new column correctly marks components with and without 3D models.

3

Step 3: Create a summary card visual that counts how many components have missing 3D models.

Missing Models Count = COUNTROWS(FILTER('Table', 'Table'[Has 3D Model] = "No"))

Expected Result

The card shows the number 2, representing components L1 and C2 without 3D models.

4

Step 4: Create a table visual showing Reference Designator, Component Name, 3D Model File, and Has 3D Model columns.

Configure the table visual with these columns from the data model.

Expected Result

The table lists all components with clear indication of which have 3D models.

5

Step 5: Add a filter or slicer to show only components missing 3D models.

Add a slicer on 'Has 3D Model' column and select 'No'.

Expected Result

The table updates to show only L1 and C2 components.

Final Result

---------------------------------------------
| PCB Component 3D Model Association Report |
---------------------------------------------
| Ref | Component       | 3D Model File        | Has 3D Model |
|-----|-----------------|----------------------|-------------|
| R1  | Resistor 10k    | resistor_10k.step    | Yes         |
| C1  | Capacitor 1uF   | capacitor_1uf.step   | Yes         |
| U1  | Microcontroller | microcontroller.step | Yes         |
| L1  | Inductor 10uH   |                      | No          |
| D1  | Diode 1N4148    | diode_1n4148.step    | Yes         |
| Q1  | Transistor NPN  | transistor_npn.step  | Yes         |
| J1  | Connector 2-pin | connector_2pin.step  | Yes         |
| R2  | Resistor 1k     | resistor_1k.step     | Yes         |
| C2  | Capacitor 10uF  |                      | No          |
---------------------------------------------
| Missing 3D Models: 2                         |
---------------------------------------------

✓Two components (L1 and C2) do not have associated 3D models.

✓Most components have their 3D models linked correctly.

✓This report helps identify missing 3D models to improve mechanical verification.

Bonus Challenge

Create a visual that shows the percentage of components with 3D models versus those without.

Show Hint

Use a pie chart with 'Has 3D Model' as legend and count of components as values.