×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Converting a Metric File to Standard

Converting a Metric File to Standard

Converting a Metric File to Standard

(OP)
One of my students created his semester project in metric units, but our CNC software requires models to be in standard units.                                                                                                                                                                        

I'm using NX2 on a PC.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!                                                                                                                                                                                              

RE: Converting a Metric File to Standard

Hi,

I live in Bulgaria (somewhere in Europe ) and I can tell you (for sure) the standard units are metric. So you're lucky- you've got your part the way you wanted.

Sorry if it's not appropriate joke.

But the converting of files inch<-->metric (that's what you're asking for, am I right?) is discussed in deep already. See this thread:

How to change units in a prt file

I hope this helped

_____________________________________
"...standards are great because they give nonconformists something to not conform to..."
_________________
Penkov, Peter I.
Non-standard Equipment Designer
 

RE: Converting a Metric File to Standard

Why worry about it. We put the metric engineering files into inch manufacturing files for machining. This way we keep the machining information separate from the design data and it also allows us to bring in the fixturing.
The post processor will output which ever units you want either way.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."
"Fixed in the next release" should replace "Product First" as the PTC slogan.

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

RE: Converting a Metric File to Standard

(OP)
Thanks for your input.  When teaching over 200 students how to use UG and CAM, it is easier troubleshooting errors if everything is in one unit system.  In addition, the CNC machines and software that we're using are old and finicky.

I figured out a much easier way to convert files then what was posted.  

On a PC, open the command window, change to the UGII directory, and type ug_convert_part -X Y.  Replace X with "in" if you want to convert to inches or "mm" if you want to convert to mm.  Replace Y with the path and file name that you want to convert.  For example, to convert a file named "metric.prt" located in a folder called UG_Files to inches, type:

ug_convert_part -in c:\UG_Files\metric.prt

Likewise, if you wanted to convert that file from inches back to mm, type:

ug_convert_part -mm c:\UG_Files\metric.prt

No programs to download and a quick conversion.  Thanks again for your help!

RE: Converting a Metric File to Standard

only complement

working with command window was discussed in the thread above. and ewh received a star for his detailed explanation.

_____________________________________
"...standards are great because they give nonconformists something to not conform to..."
_________________
Penkov, Peter I.
Non-standard Equipment Designer
 

RE: Converting a Metric File to Standard

Ben Loosli explained it best. You "should" be "viewing" the engineering model in a manufacturing part file (master model thing remember?). That way you can do what ever you want with your manufacturing file. You can reposition the part, create instances (keeping the file size small), and yes - set your units to standard. The design model remains intact.

I'm always amazed how few nc programmers use assy mode.  It's way easier and cleaner.

--
Bill

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources