Translating out simplified models......... 1

[3dr]

Hi guys,
I'm trying to supply our QC dept. with iges files that can be swallowed more eaily by an older system. We do automotive tools and the parts always very complex. I normally "step" to MDT 2004 and decompose the solid to surfs. Then I run a command called "truncate" that effectivly takes the "untrimmed" surf sizes down to about 110% of the trimmed size. This lops off alot of complex geo. that can run far beyond the part causing increased file size and making it harder all around for the target system to handle.

What method can I use to accomplish something like this directly from UG.

NX3

TIA for any help!

Dave

 

[Xwheelguy]

What exactly is your QC dept. doing with the surfaces? When you export a solid model, IGES should retain the trims within the sheet body. It's the older system that may not accept the trims because the IGES standard is probably not up to date or recent as the IGES being used when you export from UG.

I'm using NX2, so the commands may have changed a bit in NX3. You can extract surfaces (used to be under Insert -> Form Feature -> Extract) & they should remain trimmed. Extracting all B-Surfaces might be the way to go. I believe you'll just have to experiment with different techniques to find out what the target system will accept.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[Azrael]

I would go with nkwheelguy´s approach with exract surface and add export to new parts with removed parameters.

Have experienced some times that iges export can untrim surfaces and even bring development surfaces

 

[3dr]

I'm sorry guys I don't think I made myself to clear. I do extract the surfaces first..... then export. Now having that Iges file I bring import it into MDT. It is a nice clean trimmed model. I almost never have a problem with this part. Now my MDT is pretty up to date but QC has older software on an old system. They will try to bring in the same iges file I did and they don't have any sucess. So if I examine that model in MDT and untrim the whole thing. Whoaaa! The surfaces are sometimes huge! Maybe 5x 10x 20x bigger than the trimmed part. I'll run "undo" to bring it back to a trimmed state, then run a command called "truncate". What this does is clip off all the "untrimmed" "run out" to within 10% of the trimmed size. You don't actually see it happen,
but if you run "untrim" again you see the results...... The untrimmed sizes are very close to the trimmed size. Now I run undo again yo bring it back to a trimmed state, save it, and then iges out of MDT. Now the iges file is much smaller than the original because all that run out no longer exists. Plus if there were any complex areas out there they to no longer exist. QC will then have no trouble importing this one.

Whenever you are looking at a trimmed surface model your not seeing the entire cad model your seeing the "neat and tidy" one. It's when you "untrim all" that you see what your "really" translating. I know this is a special need, after all most systems do these things pretty well.

I hope this explanation helps.

Again..... can something like this be done in UG?

Thanks for your responses guys, ..I'm going to need alot of help from this forum..... I have one class under my belt with 2 or 3 more to go!

Dave Y.
Designer
Metco Mfg. Co.

http://www.metcomfg.com

 

[Xwheelguy]

You can do all the untrimming in UG using Sheet Boundary then use Iso Trim/Divide to lengthen or shorten the surfaces as needed. In NX2, both of these are Edit Freeform Feature items.

You might be able to use Enlarge if you want Associativity back to the original surfaces and if you have a Shape Studio license, you can use Snip Surface which behaves like Trim Sheet except the resulting sheet body cannot be untrimmed.

I experimented with the different types of extract a couple of years ago & I thought that one of the methods created a copy of the surface but removed that untrimmed "history". I can't remember which, though.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[Azrael]

Have you tried exporting the extracted surfaces, using export remove parameters, to an other ug part before converting it to iges?

 

[3dr]

Thanks for the help I think I've got a good grip on how to export this stuff now. One more thing though..... I have been trying to find a command to just "untrim" a non parametric face. I extracted it as general B surf ..... removed parametrics....... now how do I untrim???

Thanks again for your help!
Dave

 

[Azrael]

There is something under edit->free form feature(I think)->remove trim

I´m not sure exactly beacause I´m not sitting on a UG station

 

[3dr]

Yes... Thanks!

Edit
Surface
Boundry


Dave