Peter, this is true and has been true for more than a decade. If you like
the blocks that IDF produces, there is no problem.
If more detailed components are required, the options are limited:
1. Spend a lot of time and labor to create a custom library of 3D
models/ecad_hint.map file.
or
2. Utilize the Simplified Solutions, IDF-to-3D tool where the user
imports IDF files and connects the existing Simplified Solutions library of
3D Electrical Components to components within those IDF files.
On the first pass with IDF-to-3D, you should be able to create a 3D PCB with
real 3D component geometry models in a few hours. On future boards, this
time gets reduced significantly as the "mappings" are saved. It definitely
beats the 40+ hours it would take to build 3D components and populate the
imported IDF file manually. I used to use the manual method.there is a
better way.
Regards,
Keith