Creating a FreeCAD CadWorker

jw_CS · ‎Feb 07, 2023

I follow FreeCAD, an Open Source CAD tool for some years now.

I also have a Virtual machine with Windchill that i use for local test purposes.

I thought would it be possible to (as nerd project) add FreeCAD as a CADworker.

The FreeCAD files are basically zipfiles with some(https://wiki.freecad.org/File_Format_FCStd 😞

xml files with properties
brep files with shapes
svg files for drawings
Custom objects (for example .pdf files)

Has anybody tried this / thought about this?

If yes what is required to get this done?

If no what are the hick ups that it is not possible?

Joe_Sun · ‎Feb 07, 2023

For something we regard as a Windchill "CADworker" , at least, should be able to convert the input CAD format (no matter which) into the output as a "Creo View" compatible format, which means, at least a .pvs data is a necessary to be generated by that cadworker.

However, FreeCAD probably is not able to do such converting --- without a published representation that could be opened by Creo View, what is purpose to implement it as worker then?

jw_CS · ‎Feb 13, 2023

@Joe_Sun wrote:
However, FreeCAD probably is not able to do such converting --- without a published representation that could be opened by Creo View, what is purpose to implement it as worker then?

To me it looks like a fun project to experiment with. But if it is not possible / difficult to implement. I don't try it for now. I checked only if i can find any information about Creo View published representations but as far as i can see there is no (open )standard for.

MK_1194306 · ‎Apr 21, 2023

well, with somewhat moderate effort we could at least get a pdf representation and a thumbnail 😉