Mating a part with an imported STEP File

[Sheds141]

Hi all,

I am new the PTC and I am having some issues with assembling something with STEP Files. I have downloaded some parts from a supplier as STEP files and I want to bring them into an assembly and mate them to parts that I have modeled. When I import the STEP file into my assembly, I can't mate new components that I bring in to it. I also struggle to get it to behave like a normal part when adding multi constraints to the Step file when mating it to parts I have modeled. I don't understand what is happening, I don't remember having this issue with inventor. Any ideas? I have attached the files I am trying to assembly with. I want to assemble the box, put the plate in and then add the capacitor a few times inside it. Am I over looking something, does anyone have the same issue as me?

Thanks in advance!

[dbasile]

Normally when I need to interact with step files in an assembly, I will open the step files in Creo and then immediately save them as Creo parts or assemblies, usually with file names that indicate to me that these are external files. Then when I assemble them, for instance to check for fit-up or interference, they assemble just like any other part or assembly, provided they do not have any geometry issues.

[TomD.inPDX]

When a part imports, it also creates a coordinate system (Csys).

If you pull the "insert here" above the import, you can place the default datums (you can also manage this in which import template you use).

Bottom line, if the file is a true STEP file (not an converted polygon file), it knows circles, it knows flat planes... those you should be able to use.  if nothing else, you can add axes and datum planes to known feature of the imports.

Another good thing to use for these types of files, files difficult to mate, is to pre-define the mating features for when you put them in the next level assembly.  That will provide only the logical mating elements.  I wish I knew more about these but know I don't feel the need in my normal way of working.

[dschenken]

There are two camps in software development. One is to try to work with broken parts and give the impression that all is well and hide the defects and the other is to reject broken parts so they do not later cause unexpected failures. PTC is generally in the latter camp.

The most frequent failure for mating parts is that the features involved are not precise; for example mating the end of a nominal cylinder when the end is not actually perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder to a blind hole where the surfaces are perpendicular. You can use vertex on surface and pick a vertex on the edge of the cylinder for cases like that.