Importing File Extensions

How to Import STEP, Parasolid and Other File

Extensions

Be familiar with common file extensions used with importing into

SOLIDWORKS

Become familiar with which file extensions use which import options

You will be able to import using General, STL/VRML and IDF import

options

Objectives

Know a basic understanding of SOLIDWORKS Import file

extensions

SOLIDWORKS Import File Extensions

Getting Started:

All extensions fall into one of two categories

Other Software File Extensions Common File Extensions

Catia Graphics (.CRG) *(.DXF)

Catia *(.DWG)

ProE/Creo Parasolid

Unigraphics/NX IGES

Inventor STEP

Solid Edge ACIS (.SAT)

CADKEY STL

Rhino (.3dm)

Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator (.PSD) (.AI)

Other

Software Common

File Ext

Flow of these Extensions

Select File Extension

Common File Extensions

1 Step Import

2 Step Import

Other Software File Extensions

File Open

Extensions that are common among most software

More decisions must be made to determine your process

One Step Two Step

One Step Process Two Step Process

IDF Parasolid

IGES

STEP

STL

ACIS (.SAT)

*DWG

*DXF

.IDF file extension Using CircuitWorks Lite, you can import

Intermediate Data Format (IDF) circuit board files (.emn, .brd, .bdf, .ibd) and create solid models of the circuit boards and their components. The model is a single part with the board and each component as extruded features.

A look of how to will be shown later

One step (IDF)

Two Step Parasolid

Data exported to or imported from Parasolid format retains its color when displayed in Shaded mode.

Component names in assemblies are retained for both import and export.

The Parasolid translator does not support the import or export of point data.

The Parasolid translator supports import and export of curves and wireframes.

Import

The Parasolid translator imports Parasolid text files or binary files as SOLIDWORKS documents.

The Parasolid translator imports files with the extension .x_t, .x_b, .xmt_txt, or .xmt_bin.

Two Step

IGES The IGES translator can import and export IGES surfaces and BREP solids If there is wireframe geometry in an imported file, the software reads the IGES data and

forms curves for the IGES wireframe entities. The 2D geometry is imported into a sketch rather than imported as reference curves.

If you want the software to try to form a solid from imported IGES data, export the solid or surfaces from the source system as trimmed surfaces (Entity type 144) or as untrimmed surfaces (Entity types 128, 122, 120, 118, 114). Also, set the number of significant digits (precision) as high as possible to ensure accurate translation.

You can import 3D curves in an IGES file as 3D sketch entities. In the Import Options dialog box, select the Free point/curve entities check box and click Import as sketch(es).

The IGES translator supports colors when you import curves. You can select the levels to import for IGES files that contain multiple levels. Select the

Show IGES levels option in the Import Options dialog box to display the IGES-In Surfaces, Curves, and Levels dialog box.

When imported surface data is not smooth, SOLIDWORKS tries to repair the surfaces

Two Step

STEP The STEP translator supports import and export of body, face and

curve colors of STEP AP214 files. The STEP AP203 standard does not have any color implementation.

The STEP translator imports: STEP files as SOLIDWORKS part or assembly documents.

Body geometry, body, face, and curve colors, and topology information from an AP214 STEP file.

Wireframe geometry from STEP AP203 and AP214 files. STEP configuration data. You have the option to import this data

by selecting the Map configuration data check box under STEP in the Import Options dialog box

Two Step ACIS (.SAT)

The ACIS™ translator supports import and export of body and face colors, curves, and wireframe geometry.

You can export the entity attribute information of faces and edges to ACIS files, and this information is retained in the ACIS file. If you import that same ACIS file back into SOLIDWORKS, for entity attribute information of faces, you can select any import options and the faces retain the entity attribute information. However, if you import edges, you must select the B-Rep mapping check box in the Import Options dialog box to retain the entity attribute information for the edges.

The ACIS translator imports ACIS part or assembly files as SOLIDWORKS part or assembly documents. If the units of length are not explicitly specified in the ACIS file, a dialog box gives you the opportunity to specify the units. Files created with early versions of the ACIS modeler do not contain information about the units of length. The default import mode is knitting.

SOLIDWORKS supports import of generic named attributes (integer, position, real, string, and vector) associated with bodies and faces from ACIS (.sat) files. These attributes are displayed as features in the FeatureManager design tree. Their values are accessible only through the SOLIDWORKS Application Programming Interface (API).

Two Step STL

Stereolithography is a three-dimensional printing process that makes a solid object from a computer image. The process, also called rapid prototyping, creates parts using a faceted mesh representation in STL files.

You can import .STL files with up to 500,000 facets (~ 24 MB for binary format .STL files and ~ 138 MB for ASCII format .STL files).

For surface and solid .STL file imports, you are warned that conversion may take a long time and you are given an opportunity to cancel the import.

You can assign a unit of measure to a model for both import and export. The STL translator imports STL files as SOLIDWORKS part documents. You

have the option to import STL files as graphical data, solids, or surfaces. When you import STL files as graphical data, you can select the Import texture information check box to import texture information if this data exists.

SOLIDWORKS Import Options Dialog Box

File < Open < Select file extension desired from dropdown button

SOLIDWORKS Import Options Dialog Box Then click on the Options button

SOLIDWORKS Import Options Dialog Box Import Options Dialog Box; IDF

The IDF portion of the

Import dialog box deals strictly with IDF file

extensions which involve circuit board design and

electronics This File Extension uses

CircuitWorks Lite

For some file types you need “General” + “STL/VRML”

SOLIDWORKS Import Options Dialog Box Import Options Dialog Box; “General”

The General option in

the Options dialog box is the main portion that is utilized when importing file extensions

SOLIDWORKS Import Options Dialog Box Import Options Dialog Box; STL/VRML

The STL/VRML portion of the Option dialog box let's you decide the type of import action taken for a result and the unit of measure used when importing. It is always good practice to import with the same units of measure that the native file was created with to what the import will be

Common File Extensions I Would Recommend!

Parasolid and STEP

Common File Extensions How to Import

Parasolid

Click Open (Standard toolbar) or File >

Open.

In the dialog box, set Files of type to Parasolid, (Note: Use X_T Rather than X_B which is binarary. You will have much better results)

then click Options

Common File Extensions How to Import con’t Parasolid

Make every like this image except uncheck

the “STEP Map Configuration Data box”

Common File Extensions How to Import con’t

Parasolid

Then Ok

Then Open

Common File Extensions; How to Import

STEP Click Open (Standard toolbar) or File >

Open.

In the dialog box, set Files of type

to STEP, then click Options

Common File Extensions; How to Import Con’t

STEP

Then Ok

Then Open

After Import on either file type Run Import Diagnostics

With a model open, click Import Diagnostics (Tools toolbar) or Tools > Evaluate > Import Diagnostics.

Messages in the PropertyManager inform you of the model status and the results of actions.

Select a face or gap in the lists to see the fault highlighted in the graphics area. Tooltips explain the fault (Self-intersecting face, for example). You can add faces to the list of faces so that Attempt to Heal All will simplify them. To repair a model: Click Attempt to Heal All. If faults remain, repair faulty faces first. Right-click a face in the list and select from the

menu. Repair gaps last. Right-click a gap in the list and select from the menu. When all repairs are complete, click OK . If these fail the design that was sent to you was not either creates the best or had errors.

Know your three options for importing

Become familiar with popular file extensions used with importing into SOLIDWORKS

Become familiar with which file extensions use which import options

You will be able to import using General, STL/VRML import options

Objectives