CAD Translation & Healing

[thom9446]

I feel like something on this subject was just posted but the eng-tips search feature isn't working so well at the moment. So my apologies if this is a repeat.

We are in desperate need of a process to clean up imported geomety. We are having assemblies bog down big time when geometry from certian vendors is used.

Has anyone had luck with any third party software solutions? Here's a few I've found online:

-3DTRANSVIDIA2011
-CADdoctorEX3.0
-3D Evolution
-TransMagic

Any feedback on these or other suggestions would be much appreciatted. Again, sorry if this has been discussed recently. Just link me the thread.

Mike Thompson
Mechanical Engineer

http://www.wagstaff.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

Have you tried using the tools for repairing models which are already included with NX?

To cleanup and repair a part file, first open the part file and then go to...

File -> Export -> Heal Geometry...

Note that this will export the current file, clean it up, and save it again as a new part file. Also note that this will remove any features or parameters from the model.

For more information about exactly what and how this tool works, when you have the 'Heal Geometry' dialog open, press the 'F1' key and you will have access to the NX Help documentation covering the Heal Geometry utility.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[Toost]

My experience is that there are both a few file formats that are problematic, and some other sending-systems that also render the import problems. On the first issue, working together with the exporter to have them change to Step or Parasolids ( from DXF/DWG/Iges) will help. On the second issue, the sending system, better methods when exporting will help. I have not tried other translators. ( because on the specific problem i was trying to fix on 3D DWG i found that no available translator can handle this. (?))

 

[thom9446]

Ok John. I finally got around to trying the Heal Geometry option built into NX. I took an assembly and healed 13 of it's parts. It found over 3000 errors on just those 13 parts. I replaced all of the components with the healed components and then ....... nothing. I could not see any improved video performance. I couldn't see any improvements in drawing update times. File sizes we reduced by less than 2%. So I guess my dumb question now is why should I heal geometry? I'm not seeing any benefit.

Mike Thompson
Mechanical Engineer

http://www.wagstaff.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

'Healing' the geometry generally has little ot no effect on things like performance or visual display (except in perhaps some extreme cases). What the 'heal' command does is remove small so-called 'sliver-faces', joins open seams thus removing small 'holes' or 'gashes' in the model. Also there might be redundant/fragmented edges and faces which also can be cleaned-up. However, none of these changes have much of an effect on display performance nor even part file size if the original model already was non-parametric. The basic intention of 'healing' the model is to allow you to make changes or add additional features without the 'poor' topology interfering with the creation of the new topology. For example, think about adding an 'Blend' to an 'edge' where there were actually TWO edges with a very narrow (sliver) face between them.

Anyway, I hope this helps clear up what it is that you should expect from the 'Heal Geometry' operation.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.