Sometimes you have to work with geometry created outside of Creo, so we’ve added import and export to Freestyle. Our expert explains how it works.
In Creo parametric 4.0, you can now share data with other sub-divisional modeling applications using an external Wavefront OBJ file.
When in Freestyle, you can easily import OBJ files that were created in another application.
Importing a mesh via the Shapes menu.
You can define the specific units for the import OBJ file during the import process, as well as control the normal direction for the import geometry.
Changing the units while importing a mesh.
Once imported, the resulting control mesh is fully editable. Let's take a look at editing the control mesh and see how easy it is to modify an imported OBJ file.
Selecting control mesh, we're going to mirror it about the center plane. At this point we could choose either the edge of the control mesh, a point, or surface patch.
Mirroring after selecting the left half of the mesh.
We’ll select a patch and then we can start dragging it down. You can see the geometry updated dynamically, in this case on both sides of the center plane.
Both sides of the center plane change as the patch is dragged.
We could continue this process and really evolve this design further, once again starting from the initial import OBJ file created in another application.
You can also share data with other applications. Instead of importing, you can export data as a Wavefront OBJ file from the Operations pull-down menu.
The exported OBJ file will contain the control mesh for the geometry on the screen.
This enhancement drastically improves the collaboration with other sub-divisional modeling applications and reduces the need to remodel your design every time a change happens in another application.
To see a demo of these features, check out the video: https://youtu.be/mPHurvvqV50
You can also learn more by reading the PTC Creo Help Center page, Importing from and Exporting to Object Files in Freestyle.
If you haven’t already, download the software here and try it yourself. And stay tuned to our “Did You Know” blog series, as we cover more enhancements in PTC Creo 4.0.
