ALIAS IGES Import

[vide]

Hello there,


I've got a question about import files. I've got an import IGES file which has alot of gaps and untrimmed surfaces. Is there an easy way to fill these holes or to delete double surfaces? Or is it only beeing done with the trim function? Some holes I'm filling with boundary blends etc. but this can take alot of time. I can also see many problems with transition between surfaces ( purple edges) which is a problem because I want to create a solid geometry. Is this the error of the export (iges/pro-e settings in Alias)or the Import settings in Pro-e. And here's the last question:


I know there's an option in Unigraphics to untrim an iges import surface to retreive the base surface. Like a surface with a fillet edge. Is this also possible in WF 3 or 4?

 

[jeff4136]

> Is this the error of the export
> (iges/pro-e settings in Alias)
> or the Import settings in Pro-e.


The problem: Autodesk bought Alias.
Seriously, how can anyone even venture a guess without
seeing the native Alias file and the Pro/E import?


Has anyone tried reading the export back into the source program?
Has the import been read into any other programs?



> untrim an iges import surface
> to retreive the base surface.


Import Feature -> Edit Definition,
Menu: Geometry -> Surface -> From Surface...


Works* for STEP import surfaces, too. ;^)


*That needs to be qualified because Pro/E 'shinks to trim boundaries'
on import so some of the surface as defined in neutral translation
description may be lost. If there's a way to prevent Pro/E from doing
that I'd LOVE to know about it.

 

[jeff4136]

... curiosity thing; I thought Alias could write(?) Granite neutrals.

 

[vide]

Hello Jeff,





Thanks for your info. I never worked with the edit definition of the import file. But it gave me a very good feeling. I could retreive (almost) original surfaces and delete the surfaces I didn't want. The comparison of the original and the import file in pro-e is a good tip. But I can solve alot of problems with your answers. I keep it mind for future projects. Thanks again.





PS man I thought I knew almost everything of Pro-e but sometimes it looks like I know not even 10 %.

 

[dacct]

True it is difficult to advise without seeing the
original Alias file.

That said 1st thing to set in Alias when building for
export are the Construction Options. The Proe presets
are a good start though I would recommend to lower Max
Gap Between Curves to ie 0.1 mm or even 0.005 mm.

Note that Construction Options only affect geometry to
be built. Therefore Construction Options should be
defined at the beginning of a project.

For limiting transfer problems I would suggest exporting
only the geometry that is needed to Proe by selecting it
and using File > Export > Active As. From my experience
PTC Granite format works best.

Alias has a tool for analyzing geometry before export
such as duplicates, gaps, etc. in Evaluate > Check
Model.

Sometimes some parts go through more easily if they are
stitched first.

To ease the data transfer and fixing in Proe I have come
to export some models by bits and reassemble them with
boolean operations in Proe. This work quite well for me.

A typical example would be an embedded or embossed logo
on a part. When the logo is exported with the model it
requires some to lots of fixing. When exported by itself
it would simply work as a solid with no extra fixing
work needed in Proe. So in this case I would export the
part with no logos first. Then I would extend and cap
the logos as required in Alias to make solids, then
export them, import them in Proe with an apply a boolean
operation to add or remove material as need.

Also I would rarely export rounds to Proe unless they
are esthetical rounds since small surfaces are one of
the main cause of trouble during data transfer.


Edited by: dacct

 

[vide]

Hello again,


I now have another issue. I was looking at WF4 and found out that the import data managar was different. The option in WF3 to create a surface from surface to regain the base surface is not here anymore. Is this hidden in a different feature?? I really couldn't find it. Does anyone know how toretreive the base surface in WF 4? Thanks in advance.

 

[jeff4136]

Below is a snippet from a loosely related post that indicates there
were changes. If it's a 'need' and an answer isn't forthcoming your
best bet is probably to get with product support.


/*
PTC/USER (ptcuser.org)
Thread: WF4 Manual Heal Geometry
Category: Public Discussions
Topic: Pro/Engineer CAD


Scott Johnson
Posted: Apr 02, 2008 11:21 AM


Is the option to manually heal geometry no longer available in WF4?
We don't have Data Doctor and I have always fixed iges imports
manually until now. Is the manual fix gone? I found some TPI's
describing the automatic option but nothing concerning the manual
option.


Scott Johnson
Posted: Apr 02, 2008 01:23 PM


After talking with PTC, they have acknowledged that the removal
of 'manual healing of geometry' was an oversight and they are
working on a fix. Import Data Doctor does still work but we do
not have the IDD license (it is not included with foundation).


As of this time, the only way to fix the imported geometry
(without IDD) is to load an older version of ProE (WF3 or
earlier) and fix the imported model.
*/

 

[vide]

Thanks Jeff,





But my worries where right. Damn, I just found out how to do it in WF3 and now I'm doing a project in WF4 where they've changed it all. And it worked really good in WF3. I already changed it in WF3 as it was suggested but still it's weird they make these kind of decisions when it worked just fine. We just wait then.





Thanks.

 

[jeff4136]

> still it's weird they make these kind of decisions


Must be corporate bean counters running things. ;^)

 

[design-engine]

The new WF4 options are odd for import redefine for sure. one of my favorite topics. There is a great deal of power inside there .. a lot un-documented.
Edited by: design-engine

 

[mgnt8]

Manually healing geometry can be done in the new IDD. You first define gaps





Then you close gaps








It is a little confusing at first if you're used to the old way, but after awhile I think it works a lot better. FWIW, automatic repair works much better also

 

[jeff4136]

Interesting. Thanks for posting that.
If you (or anyone) have the time and inclination;
have you run across an equivalent to the old
Geometry -> Surface -> From Surface... ?


(Help -> What's this? indicates it was a Pro/SCAN-TOOLS
function. IIRC, and I may not, SCAN-TOOLS wasn't in my
WF Advantage package, showed up in WF2. May have been
removed again?)

 

[mgnt8]

Geometry -> Surface -> From Surface... ?

I'm not sure what this feature does or how its different from Copy > Paste. I don't see an equivalent offhand in WF 5.0, but I may be missing the underlying functionality. There is a lot going on in the new IDD. I just found Surface Edit and it looks like there's another feature called Math Properties that changes the degree and UV interpolations:

 

[jeff4136]

Many thanks.


Surface -> From Surface ... creates an untrimmed copy
of the source surface. (When Pro/E gets really good ;^)
that will be a Standard mode command).


> another feature called Math Properties


I think that is very cool even if you can't change the
definition, can just get the definition info. If they
continue along those lines and expand to cover native
model mode geometry I'll be able to just about retire
my copy of Rhino. The stuff all exists in CADDS.
Just have to wait for it to trickle down?

 

[mgnt8]

Surface -> From Surface ... creates an untrimmed copy
of the source surface. (When Pro/E gets really good ;^)
that will be a Standard mode command).

According to PTC, they don't have this particular feature anymore, They bundled Boundary Blend into the Import Data Doctor, and they say that replaces 'From Surface". I guess since you can create suurfaces you don't need to copy anything anymore?

 

[jeff4136]

Many thanks for looking into it.


> They bundled Boundary Blend into the Import Data Doctor,
> and they say that replaces 'From Surface".


Rhino get's a new lease on life. ;^)


The Surface from Surface function creates a degree 3 copy (exact
or approximate depending on the referenced object) with all
(interior and exterior) trim boundaries removed. As of WF2 it is
the only way to remove an exterior trim boundary to expose the
surface's 'natural' edges. Maybe they added the option to the
Copy function (? a logical place) since WF2?

 

[jeff4136]

> As of WF2 it is the only way to remove
> an exterior trim boundary to expose the
> surface's 'natural' edges


Oops! Not true. I was forgetting ...
Menu: Geometry -> Heal Geometry -> Manual -> Edit Bndry -> Delete Contour.
So I guess something along those lines would be what Vide should be looking for.

 

[vide]

Hello hello,





I gave up and returned to WF3 to heal the surfaces. But when I checked the forum I got hope when I watched your answer jeff4136. But when I checked WF4 I couldn