What Pro/e commands save a solid model for SolidWorks? 1

[Keith66]

We are a sheetmetal job shop and we use SolidWorks 2003. One of our customers uses the new Pro/e and is asking me how to export/save his encrypted .prt files so we can take them in and unfold them. We would prefer .iges ourselves as they generally seem to be the most usable. Does anybody know what specific steps they should take to export and save an .iges solid file for me?

 

[DennisD]

Unless you use FeatureWorks everything you do will bring in the formed part as a dumb solid. This is usually just fine. Ask your Pro/E guy to export the file as a Parasolid (*.x_t or *.x_b), ACIS (*.sat), or Step (*.step or *.stp). Since you are dealing with sheet metal you shouldn't have too many problems with IGES, but I recommend these other formats first.

Once you bring the part into SWX you'll need to convert it to sheet metal. Just pick the dominant flat and Insert Bends. You'll need to specify the bend radius and method for determining the flat pattern calculation.

This is a piece of cake if their model of the formed part is good.

Let us know how it works out.

- - -DennisD

 

[MHendler]

Hi,

The best format is SAT (acis).

Regards,

MHendler

 

[jdsmi]

When you mention new Pro/E, I assume you mean Wildfire. With Wildfire, PTC added the options of ACIS and Parasolids export (as mentioned above).
With Pro/E pre-Wildfire you only had IGES and STEP to choose from. I have alot of experience with both and find IGES (for some reason) generally gives better results.

 

[jdsmi]

When you mention new Pro/E, I assume you mean Wildfire. With Wildfire, PTC added the options of ACIS and Parasolids export (as mentioned above).
With Pro/E pre-Wildfire you only had IGES and STEP to choose from. I have alot of experience with both and find IGES (for some reason) generally gives better results.

Good luck.