What is the easiest way to publish a STEP from a Pro/E part?

[MikeFoster]

When we release a drawing of a Pro/E part our document control group must open the part in Pro/E and run a mapkey to create a STEP file that we can then give to suppliers such as machine shops for NC programming. This is time consuming, requires training, and an appropriate workstation for people in that group.

Much better would be if there existed a tool like the ProductView Adapter that could open the part in a Background Pro/E session on a separate Worker machine and create a STEP file upon request. Does PTC have any such tool? Is it part of any Windchill module? Is Pro/Batch our best bet?

Thanks,

Mike Foster
ATK

(Sorry for the double post)

[RonZabilski]

Mike,



Please consider the Plot Service (PSW) application from Etrage to meet you
requirements for automatically creating STEP files from you Pro/ENGINEER
models managed by PDMLink or INTRALINK.



Plot Service has been developed to plot or create viewable files such as
STEP, PDF, IGES or ProductView files in three modes of operation. The first
is to automatically monitor Windchill and process objects when there has
been a Lifecycle or Revision change or at Check-in. The second is a batch
mode where PSW will process all models identified in a text file list. The
third is through an On-Demand mode where a user can search for models and
execute requests in Windchill for required drawings, parts or assemblies.



PSW can be configured to automatically create the following viewables: STEP,
PDF, ProductView, JT, VRML, HPGL, IGES, ACIS, STL, Shrink-Wrap, DXF, TIFF,
BMP, JPG and EPS for as well as native Pro/ENGINEER drawing, part and
assembly formats and archive format for downstream applications or
communication with customers or suppliers. Windchill and Pro/ENGINEER
attributes and parameters can also be written to a configurable template
file for use supply chain, MRP and ERP applications.



PSW can operate on Pro/ENGINEER, CATIA V5 NX, Inventor, AutoCAD and
SolidWorks models managed by Windchill.



We also recently integrated the Theorem Solutions CADverter and TransMagic
Expert interoperability applications to PSW and can output CATIA V4, CATIA
V5, SolidWorks, UGS and other 3D format files from the Pro/ENGINEER models
stored in Windchill.



PSW is available for evaluation in your environment or I can arrange a Web
demonstration for you.



I can also send you a brochure if you are interested.



If you have any questions, please contact me.



Best Regards,



Ron Zabilski

Director of Sales & Marketing

Etrage LLC