Reduce File Size of Imported FIles

[nx05admin]

We have used numerous methods to reduce file sizes of components(assemblies) from supppliers and never had have had any repeatable results.
In this case, we open a step file from the supplier and save the NX file.

NX8.0.3mp4

From STEPdialog :
"Model Data" - solids
"Options" - all
The 124MB Step file results in a 41MB NX file

We have found that if these components are larger than 10MB in TC we will run into problems, especially when detailing assemblies later in drafting.
Many users are after the 'dumb-solid' or suggest "this works way easier in Software X"

I feel like I am missing something obvious.
We have not had any luck with Simplify and Linked Exterior results are too crude.
We have also tried uniting to create one body (rather than 475)

Where is 'the easy button' for this.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Toost]

Can you explain what goes wrong when you pass 10 Mb in TC ?

Can you explain the: "Many users are after the 'dumb-solid' or suggest "this works way easier in Software X" "
Anything imported via Step is "dumb-solid".

In my experience , it can be a big difference depending on the sending system, some step files will produce a high number of Nurbs faces where NX ( and other Parasolid based systems) would have used simpler forms. A Nurbs face is "heavier" both in performance and size [Mb]
I use Information -Object and set the selection filter to B-surface, then Select all and view if for example things i expect to be planar gets selected or not.
I have had some cases where i recreated/ deleted geometry because of this. ( I had a monster case many years ago where i deleted two surfaces and the part size decreased 6 Mb)
In these cases , the File - Export - Heal Geometry can do wonders, both with the geometry and file size.

Regards
Tomas

 

[nx05admin]

Thanks Tomas.

In many cases I will have a user say "i am updating views on a drawing and one view takes 2 hour to update. Every time, it is found that some component (many times a valve) is a part that is translated in and has a file says larger than 10MB. if this is under 10MB we can usually keep the refresh times manageable.

My experience with other modelers has gotten very antiquated, but new users say "in __ this was a lot easier". A couple of different ones come up. But it is not always an equal comparison, I believe.

i did find in this valve, the ebtire body assembly, is pretty clean, but it has physical pull handles on it, and this same handle is repeated 3 times. It is full of surfaces, and seems to be the culprit, so I am trying to use some of the methods you suggested on only this subassembly...

-steve