3-D Interfaces

To save drawing files in the file formats listed below, click the ISD Button

and select

Save as... >

3-D formats (Step...)

. Some other options are available via

Save as... > Further ....

For each of these formats you can specify, via the Parts to be exported field on the top right of the export dialogue window, whether you want to save the complete drawing (All), or only selected parts (Selection list).

To load the file formats, select

Open >

Step, Iges ...

Open >

Step, Iges ... ., then select the required file format.

In connection with 3-D interfaces, please note the following:

An overview of all interfaces with additional information (e.g. supported versions etc.) can be found online in our PDF file isd-cad-interfaces.pdf

Parts in 3-D CAD formats (STEP, Iges, ...) to be inserted in HiCAD will be opened in a new drawing that will be automatically created especially for this purpose.

When you save via the function

3-D formats (STEP...), HiCAD remembers the last saved file format (if it is a CADfix format) and offers it as the new default setting for the next export.

The import and export default options for 3-D interfaces (STEP, Iges etc.) can be specified in the Configuration Editor (ISDConfigEditor.exe), at ... > Active configuration (Base configuration) > Interfaces > General 3-D interfaces by activating or deactivating the corresponding checkboxes. If any settings had been changed in the meantime, you can also use the

Apply parameters from ConfigEditor option to load the settings from the Configuration Editor.

Only 3-D elements will be read, i.e. no feature, no product data and no 2-D data.

The following conditions need to be fulfilled, as HiCAD has high accuracy standards:

All parts should have the same tolerance. Field tolerances will not be supported.

The 3-D models you want to import should have a tolerance of 1/1000. Deviations by factor 10 can be tolerated if the test (see below) has been successful.

Part names should have a maximum length of 32 characters.

Freeform surfaces must not include self-intersections within the surface.

If there are problems after reading the file, we recommend to perform a data structure check.

You can accelerate data conversion by using appropriate Macros. For this you will need the Design Automation module.

Use InterfaceLists to convert a number of files.

When writing CATIA V5 files, a file with the extension CAT.PRODUCT will be created for the drawing and a file with the extension CAT.PARTwill be created for each part of the drawing. If you want to transfer the export file, you need to make sure that you actually transfer all relevant files. It is therefore recommended to create a separate folder for the export. CATIA import is supported from V4 to 4.2x, and from V5 to R23.

When writing PRO/E files, files with the extension.g will be created for the drawing as well as for the individual parts of the drawing. If you want to transfer the export file, you need to make sure that you actually transfer all relevant .g files. It is therefore recommended to create a special folder for the export. PRO/E import is supported up to Wildfire 5 (contained in PTC Wildfire/CREO Version 2)