Exporting .igs Solids

[Wittenborn]

Greetings,

I am having problems exporting solid parts in .igs format. Essentially, the structural guy needs a solid part to get into ANSYS. I export the solid part (and only the solid part) in .igs format, and when I reimport it into UGNX, all I get are the surfaces. Is there an option I need to turn on to get the solid part as a whole?



Regards,
Grant Wittenborn
Aerospace Engineer

http://www.darcorp.com

 

[looslib]

If you are just trying to get an assembly as a single solid, try a Parasolid export/import, then IGES or whatever to Ansys.



"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

 

[Wittenborn]

Well, it seems that I have answered my own question. So for anyone who is having the same problem, this is the response from EDS tech support:

It can't be done. The IGES export only exports surfaces and curves. Not solids. There is however a feature to stitch surfaces into solids from an IGES file. The tolerances need to be set very low, however.

The only way to export a true solid is through a Parasolid or a STEP file.



Regards,
Grant Wittenborn
Aerospace Engineer

http://www.darcorp.com

 

[cowski]

Why try to re-import it? Why not just go back to the original file that you exported?

 

[Wittenborn]

Cowski,
I imported the .igs file into UG to see if it would stitch the solid (from the surfaces imported with the igs file). With the tolerances tight enough, it will stitch the solid. ANSYS still isn't liking the .igs file though.



Regards,
Grant Wittenborn
Aerospace Engineer

http://www.darcorp.com

 

[cowski]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I don't have a solution for you, but at least I understand the problem now.

 

[edstrident]

IGS is exporting in surface method. But most softwares allow you to stich the surface automatically. Mostly the tolenrance is below 0.005. For example, in UG it has Unite command. However, I don't really suggest you use IGS for import/export. Try to use STEP. I can guarantee it would be so much better when you trying to UNITE the surfaces.