Placing points on imported file hole centerlines

[Incomudro]

I'm working with a customer that uses UGII software and to be sure that there's no data loss in the translation to SolidWorks (I'm receiving an .iges file from the customer), I'm placing points at all entity intersections, endpoints, and hole centers of the .iges files I import into SolidWorks 2003. Then, I convert the .sldprt file with points back into .iges for a point placement comparison with the customer's original UG file. The problem I'm having is sketching points at hole centers in parts that cannot be recognized as sheet metal parts (where 3D sketch is the only sketch option available). The cursor doesn't change to reflect that it's in the vicinity of a hole center after touching the circle. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

 

[TheTick]

If you're doing ANY solid data exchange with UG, do it via parasolid. UG and SW models are both based on parasolid kernel, and you will get immaculate data transfer. The downside is that I don't think you get point and curve data. However, the translation is just THAT MUCH BETTER.

Also, UG sheetmetal has a tendency to skew hole axes when parts are unfolded/refolded. You end up with hole axes that were normal to the sheet face and then aren't anymore. Your caution is well warranted.

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[Incomudro]

Thanks! We'll try using the parasolid file. Your input is very much appreciated!

 

[TheTick]

Anything for another Kansas fan.

 

[JNR]

I agree with TheTick on the Parasolid Kernels giving prefect results ( Let's face it, UG's parent company owns the Parasolid kernel standard). But why not just import the native UG files directly into SW? That's what we do with entire aircraft cockpit structures. SW will read the Parasolid data right out of the UG files with no intermediate file conversions required. We are getting machined, sheetmetal (including hydro/stretch/rubberpress type), cast parts, plus panels, knobs, cabling/tubing/waveguides, seats, avionic equipment etc, etc. Works great. We have many times done complete round trips through SW and back to UG and round again with complete fideity including modifying parts on the way. I think you have to turn on the add-in for UG first. Of course when you go the other direction, you have to save as Parasolid, because UG is not quite as smart a SW in importing. One of our (big) customers is still at the UG version equivalent to Parasolid version 10 and it still goes fine, since SW can save at any version.

BTW: I have even run FeatureWorks on some pretty complex parts from UG and made feature based models, then gone the rounds with this too and it works great.

 

[TheTick]

important note re: UG to SW via parasolid
The versions of parasolid in UG an SW are not always the same. Recently, I have been dealing with UG houses where our SW parasolid version was higher than UG's. If you have trouble, dial back the version of parasolid you are using in the "save as" options. Typically, parasolid v10.0 is sufficient.

We get UG files directly from GM and GM tier 1 suppliers. the results from parasolid are consistently better than those from direct UG. Assembly structure comes through better. Also, the UG import brings through a lot of disassociated construction geometry that has to be sorted.

Using the parasolid, we only get what we need, not all the extra junk.

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[JNR]

That's interesting input, TheTick, we have never had any problems once we establish the relevent versions all round. I would think that we might have similar problems if you are dealing with complex surface shapes.

Setting the UG import version and, as you correctly say, matching the Parasolid output version is working great for us.

I wonder why the difference?

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