Solid import from Inventor

[JonathanHodgson]

Pro/Gurus,

Please help - I'm tearing hair out here!

We've got a client who's sending us gearbox casing files (which we will
be modifying) from Inventor.

We've tried IGES, STEP (214) and now ACIS/SAT, but the casings
consistently import with missing surfaces (some small, some large)
and/or free edges around small fillet surfaces. Either way, I haven't
yet got a version that I can solidify.

Does anyone know of a better route from Inventor?

Alternatively, can someone point me to a guide to the WF4 version of
Import Data Doctor? I'm sure there used to be a simple method where you
set a maximum gap size and then hit "Fix" - no more, it seems...
(another PTC "improvement" 😞 )

Thanks in advance!
Jonathan

WF4 M060 (+ Windchill PDMLink 9.1 M030, for this project)
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[JonathanHodgson]

All,

Several replies, so thank you to everyone who took the time.

- A couple of links (and some files) to IDD tutorials, and I've now made
some sense of it (but it's *really* not intuitive now, particularly with
gaps!). I didn't completely fix the import with IDD, but I used it to
edit out some bad surfaces.

- Several suggestions concerning accuracy, and that was the final step
in getting it to work.

- A suggestion to try Parasolid. I'll keep that one in mind, and maybe
suggest it to our client for any further models.


My working solution was to take imports from both IGS and ACIS (the IGS
had fewer missing or broken surfaces, but the ACIS had different ones);
delete surfaces around the gap I couldn't fix using IDD; then copy those
surfaces from the ACIS import using a copy geom. Finally, altering the
accuracy (already absolute) persuaded it to solidify. It's not tidy,
but for this job it will do.

Thanks!
Jonathan

[ptc-1932745]

On the pro-e side make sure your 'start part' or 'start assembly' is
using absolute accuracy, and has the accuracy cranked down. ( I use
.0001 (inches) for parts about 20"x20"x10" ). Also check with the
suppler to see what their output accuracy is.

After doing this, I have had the best results with STEP. AP214 for
assemblies, and AP203 for parts. (Pro-E usually decides this option
automatically)

If in doubt about the start part accuracy, create a blank part/assembly
manually, set the accuracy manually, and then import the geometry file
using Import | Shared Data | from file... ( in part or assembly mode )


Christopher F. Gosnell

FPD Company
124 Hidden Valley Road
McMurray, PA 15317