model comparison

[al204]

hello ProE users...

is there a tool that I can use to compare two models (.prt) which seem to be identical?

I know there are minor differences between them. It would be ideal if I could place them side by side and proe could somehow indicate where the differences are (color perhaps?)

thanks, regards

AL.

[dgschaefer]

There is a built in compare function that doesn't require an assembly:

Analysis -> Compare Part

The 'By Feature' comparison compares the feature tree of one to the
other, by geometry looks to see if the geometry is the same.

You can also assemble them on top of each other and set the colors as
different. Where the surfaces are identical, there will be a marbled
sort of appearance as the two colors fight with each other.

Doug Schaefer

[mpeterson]

There might be a specific tool for this now in a WF version, but if you make a dummy assembly and assemble the two together using some common surfaces or datums you can get a quick visual of the differences. Make sure the models are different colors and very contrasting. When you see "striping" of both colors the surfaces are coplanar. You can then take measurements between model entities to get dimensional differences. I use this technique often when I get a very poorly modeled part that needs to be recreated exactly the same or if the previous design sequence is much different than the new direction to model. Hope this helps.

Mark Peterson
Design Engineer
Ramteq

[BrentDrysdale]

Hi Alvaro,
one simple way is to create a temporary assembly and assemble both parts in at the default location. If you make one of the parts a different colour (in the part itself) then as you rotate the model around you will see overlapping colour faceting on the surfaces that are exactly the same. anything that appears as solid colour will be different between one model and the other. You can use your normal measure tools to see what those differences are and if these are significant to you.

It may also be possible to use the advanced features cut out facility in the temporary assembly to cut one part out of the other and look at what is left. You probably need to cut B from A and look then A from B then look to ghet a full idea.

There are other more formal tools but these methods above give a quick visual idea.

Regards, Brent Drysdale
Regards, Brent Drysdale
Mechanical Designer
Tait Electronics Ltd (www.taitworld.com)
New Zealand
Ph. +64 3 358 1093

Alvaro Barboza wrote:
hello ProE users...
is there a tool that I can use to compare two models (.prt) which seem to be identical?
I know there are minor differences between them. It would be ideal if I could place them side by side and proe could somehow indicate where the differences are (color perhaps?)

thanks, regards

AL.

[dgschaefer]

"There might be a specific tool for this now in a WF version ..."

Actually, the feature based compare part tool has been in Pro|E at least
back to 2000i, probably longer. The geometry based tool is new to WF, I
think.

Doug Schaefer

[Blue-FootedBoob]

The method of using a layout assembly in Pro/E which has already
mentioned by others, where the components that you want to compare are
superimposed using placement constraints that make sense and contrasting
colors are applied to each (e.g. one is red and one is green), can be
enhanced by setting the view display mode to wire-frame. Although not
necessary, a personal preference is to set the background color to solid
white or black. Orthographic view orientations such as front, left, top,
etc. can then be used to key in on where differences exist (panning
around and/or zooming in if necessary). Reference dimensions can be
created, either within the context of the layout assembly itself or a
layout drawing that it is plopped on, to determine what the numeric
deltas are.

ProductView also has functions for comparing 3D models and 2D drawings.


Regards,

Dustin Neifer
General Dynamics Land Systems