×
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

Scaling Imported IGES files....

Scaling Imported IGES files....

Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
I am trying to import an IGES file into SW 2008. I can import it as either importedcurves or a 3d sketch. (its the centerline of a complex curve, similar to a helix)

The problem is that the imported curve is 25.4 times bigger than I need.

The sketch tool scale is not available....

how do I scale the curve to get it from reading in as inches, its actually metric.

(I can't change the way the iges file is made, its just given to me.)

nick
 

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Have you tried importing it into a template with units set to millimeters?

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Also check the "Units" option in the Open menu.  Click he "Options" button after setting the file type to "IGES".

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

What application is the IGES coming from? There may also be a setting on their end also to help you. Or, they can send you a different file type SW can read.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Jul 13, 2008)

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
Example:

IGES file is in mm, object (curve really) is ~309mm end to end.

When imported using template setting under options menu, and the template is in mm, the evaluated Z height is measured at 7586.22mm.

When imported using the option to use file units the object ends up as ~309in end to end.

If I could just 3d scale the object by 1/25.4 I could get the size I need, just dont have any clue how to do this.

nick

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

You cannot use the scale feature in SolidWorks (not sketch, tool, but Scale Feature) after the geometry is imported?  (If not, why not?)

 

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people who value security over freedom will soon find they have neither.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
Where is scale feature in the menus? I've only previously used 2003/2005 and now I'm on 2008.

nick

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

I think scale is not available for 3D sketches.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Bummer--I just tried it (v2007) and it's neither available for the 3D Sketch or a Composite Curve.

What an odd problem.  Have you contacted your VAR about this--they ought to have encountered this problem before.

 

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people who value security over freedom will soon find they have neither.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

NickE,

Here's a possible workaround:

1) Generate a swept surface using the imported curve as your path.  The profile should be such that the resulting surface creates edges that coincide with your imported curve.

2) Scale the swept surface appropriately.

3) Create a 3D sketch, extracting the edges of interest.

I believe this will yield what you're looking for, albeit with a few extra steps.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

That should work great.  A bit of a kludge to get what you need, but having a work-around of that type might get you rolling right away.  Great idea, dgowans!

 

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people who value security over freedom will soon find they have neither.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
The curve I'm working with is a modified single helix, normally its swept with a circle of n diameter centered on the curve. (No edges!)I tried to sweep with a rectangle with one corner on the curve, doesnt work.

 

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Try sweeping with a single line as your profile.  Make sure one endpoint of the line pierces the path.  You may need to make your profile line VERY short to avoid any geometry errors.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

A SHORT line, too.  Should work if swept as a surface.

 

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people who value security over freedom will soon find they have neither.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Uhhh, I just said that, Beavis!!!!!!!

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Well, well, well.  Pros and cons of answering a phone call when amidst a reply...

NickE, did it work?

 

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
A people who value security over freedom will soon find they have neither.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
Didn't get a chance yet, will keep ya all posted.
nick
 

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

You cando a 3D sketch and use Convert Entity to extract the curves then do an extrude of the sketch in a direction. You should be able to scale that.

jester

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

============================================================
    IGES file header per DRAFT v6 1998-01-05 18.
    Global Section  (reference 2.2 pg 18 Table 1)
============================================================

1)  String Parameter delimiter character.

2)  String Record delimiter character.

3)  String Product identification from sending system

4)  String File name

5)  String Native System ID

6)  String Preprocessor version

7)  Integer Number of binary bits
    for integer representation

8)  Integer Maximum power of ten representable
    in a single-precision floating point number
    on the sending system

9)  Integer Number of significant digits in a
    single-precision floating point number on
    the sending system

10) Integer Maximum power of ten representable
    in a double-precision floating point
    number on the sending system

11) Integer Number of significant digits in a
    double-precision floating point number on
    the sending system

12) String Product identification for the
    receiving system

13) Real Model space scale

14) Integer Units flag (see pg 20; 1 = in, 2 = mm, etc.)

15) String Units Name ***** (Redundant unless [14] = 3) *****

16) Integer Maximum number of line weight
    gradations. Refer to the Directory Entry
    Parameter 12.

17) Real Width of maximum line weight in units.
    Refer to the Directory Entry Parameter 12
    (see Section 2.2.4.4.12) for use of this parameter.

18) String Date and time of exchange file generation
    15HYYYYMMDD.HHNNSS or 13HYYMMDD.HHNNSS
    where:
      YYYY or YY is 4 or 2 digit year HH is hour (00-23)
      MM is month (01-12) NN is minute (00-59)
      DD is day (01-31) SS is second (00-59)

19) Real Minimum user-intended resolution or ******************
    granularity of the model in units specified ***************
    by Parameter 14. ******************************************

20) Real Approximate maximum coordinate value
    occurring in the model in units specified
    by Parameter 14.

21) String Name of author

22) String Author's organization

23) Integer Flag value corresponding to the version
    of the Specification to which this file complies.

24) Integer Flag value corresponding to the drafting
    standard to which this file complies, if any.

25) String Date and time the model was created or
    last modified, in same format as field 18.

26) String Descriptor indicating application protocol,
    application subset, Mil-specification, or
    user-defined protocol or subset, if any.

================================================================================
================================================================================

I'm assuming you have a standard Fixed Format ASCII file.

You can change the units using a text editor.
Use fixed width font, i.e. Courier.
This message should be viewed using same.  

Global section fields are variable length (usually comma) delimited.  

All lines are 80 characters.

Strings are prefixed with character counts, i.e. 63H, 22H in fields
[3] and [4] below.
 

The above was taken from (never to be implemented?) IGES 6.  
The headers in IGES 5.x are the same.

Units are defined by field [14] or [15].

-----
Sample inch:
,,63HD:\MyData\Reference\Aircraft\Boeing\Boeing_3_Views\737-700w.dwg,   G      1
22HD:\MyData\737-700w.igs,53HAutoCAD-16.0 (Microsoft Windows NT Version G      2
5.0 (x86)),87HAutodesk IGES Translator Mechanical Desktop.R7.0.43.0 (MarG      3
 18 2003) from Autodesk, Inc.,32,38,6,99,15,63HD:\MyData\Reference\AircrG      4
aft\Boeing\Boeing_3_Views\737-700w.dwg,1.0D0,1,2HIN,211,                G      5
8.30708661417323D-2,15H20040414.223429,2.90688854527066D-6,             G      6
2906.88854527066D0,,,11,0,15H20020213.110902,;                          G      7  
-----

Line 5 extracted:

aft\Boeing\Boeing_3_Views\737-700w.dwg,1.0D0,1,2HIN,211,                G      5

indicates it's an IN(ch) file.  
("1.0D0,1,2HIN,211," are fields [13] thru [16])

Line 5 modified so it will be interpreted as mm:
aft\Boeing\Boeing_3_Views\737-700w.dwg,1.0D0,2,2HMM,211,                G      5

If your file has something like "4HINCH" in field [15],
change it to "2HMM" and <SPACE> the "G" back to #73.  

HTH
 

-Jeff Howard (wf2)
Sure it's true. I saw it on the internet.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
That works Jeff4136, I replaced 1.0 with 0.03937HMM in field 15, now my Iges imports at exactly the right scaling.

Thanks
 

Nick
I love materials science!

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Nick, check the imported geometry carefully to insure correctness.

Field 14 is an integer field and should be 2 for mm.
Field 15 is redundant unless [14] = 3, which tells postprocessor to use field 15.

Field 15 is a string field and should read (for inch or mm)
2HIN
4HINCH
2HMM

I see what you were trying to do with the 'scale factor'.  It's just not supposed to work that way.

Out of curiosity would you post the appropriate line from your original file and your modified file?  Or zip and post the .igs.   

-Jeff Howard (wf2)
Sure it's true. I saw it on the internet.

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

(OP)
I cant post the IGES but here's the first four lines of the file.....


CODE

                                                                        S      1
1H,,1H;,,10Hcase0.iges,                                                 G      1
5HANSYS,21H  8.1      UP20040329,,,,,,,1.0,,,,,13H000725.071414,        G      2
1.0000E-04,,,,9,,;                                                      G      3

in line G2 (the actual third line) the 1.0 when replaced with 0.03937HMM worked for me.....

nick
 

RE: Scaling Imported IGES files....

Thanks for getting back, Nick.  
I hate to leave things dangling without understanding,
at least in part, and I learned something from this.  

What you actually changed was Field 13, Model Space Scale.  
Fields 14, 15 are empty (defaulted to inch).  I guess the
postprocessor read the "0.03937" scale factor,ignored the
invalid "HMM" portion and went on about it's business
reading in a scaled inch model.

What line G(lobal section) 2 should look like for a millimeter
file, if you're curious:

5HANSYS,21H  8.1      UP20040329,,,,,,,1.0,2,2HMM,,,13H000725.071414,   G      2

The attachment is a breakdown of the line and some extracts from
the IGES spec.

IGES specifications can be found at ...
http://www.iges5x.org/archives/version5x/
... if there's an interest.

Have a good'n.

-Jeff Howard (wf2)
Sure it's true. I saw it on the internet.

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