I got most of this information from the I-DEAS 11 documentation under Interoperability. In regards mainly to question 1 and 2, this is taken straight from the I-DEAS docs:
"Interoperability allows I-DEAS and Unigraphics NX to associatively share parts and assemblies. Part geometry is transferred between these software packages using a Parasolid file and is associatively updated when the "master" part is modified. The master part can be maintained in either system, and downstream applications in the other software package can use the geometry. The receiving system can add any information such as part features, finite element models, NC toolpaths, or 2D drawings. If the master part is changed in the sending system, the part in the receiving system can be associatively updated" (via a new .xpk file) "while preserving the added information. Assemblies can also be maintained as a "master" in one system and transferred for viewing or analysis in the other system."
With all of that said, I did have an instances where one solid model was exported from NX as a Parasolid then imported into I-DEAS using Unigraphics Open. The I-DEAS result was not a solid body for some reason. I didn't have time to follow up with GTAC on that one instance, but I suspect there were issues created in the data because some of the surfaces originated in different CAD softwares. The entire round trip the data took was completely ridiculous.
3. Yes. That was answered above as well.
4. No, not from I-DEAS to NX and not with .xpk files, only Parasolid from NX to I-DEAS. Based on what I read in the docs, I would suggest keeping the models as clean as possible or watching how you create areas that are very complex in nature (freeform, blends, etc.).
Hope this gives you a start.
Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
