Neutral file format
Neutral file format
(OP)
Not really a SW question more of a general CAD question.
What is the best neutral CAD format across all MCAD software? We are in the process of starting to upload our files to our website for customers to design with. We'd prefer to offer one format as it just makes things easier.
I have suggested parasolid which I know works best with SW. Does it play as nice with other CAD software inventor, unigraphics, pro-e etc.? Which type of parasolid .x_t, .x_b? Maybe .step is a better neutral format?
Thanks
What is the best neutral CAD format across all MCAD software? We are in the process of starting to upload our files to our website for customers to design with. We'd prefer to offer one format as it just makes things easier.
I have suggested parasolid which I know works best with SW. Does it play as nice with other CAD software inventor, unigraphics, pro-e etc.? Which type of parasolid .x_t, .x_b? Maybe .step is a better neutral format?
Thanks
Certified SolidWorks Associate
SW2009 X64 SP 1.0
Dell Precision T5400
Nvidia Quadro FX 5600
Xeon 2.5GHz Quad Core, 4GB RAM
XP Pro X64 SP2.0






RE: Neutral file format
RE: Neutral file format
TOP
CSWP, BSSE
www.engtran.com www.niswug.org
www.linkedin.com/in/engineeringtransport
"Node news is good news."
RE: Neutral file format
Certified SolidWorks Professional
RE: Neutral file format
It is not known whether the SolidWorks API has any PDM related hooks when it comes to reading or writing document control information in and out of STEP files.
Here is an in depth discussion of IGES. Note that the US DoD requires submissions in IGES format, not STEP. In SolidWorks IGES files are perhaps the most flexible in that they can carry sketch information in them which is extremely helpful when determining intent from free form customer data. SolidWorks will import IGES drawings as parts which means you can see the drawing, but it will not be to scale and will be extremely difficult to work with. IGES is frequently used in advance surfacing and in import repair to store temporary or scratch faces.
SolidWorks cannot read or write either STEP or IGES drawing files as drawings.
VDAFS is the unsung hero of SW file formats in the US. VDAF does extensive geometry correction and can be used effectively to help heal defective models or as a check of a current model. Because it does a lot of checking, it is slow.
One of the biggest issues that SW users run into when using neutral formats is that of the order of the polynomials used to represent complex curvy geometry. Many of the high end CAD packages use higher order polynomials for complex surfaces. SW on the other hand uses 3rd order AFAIK which means it has to approximate a higher order definition of a surface when importing. This is one reason why SW users historically have had trouble with fillets in Pro/E IGES files. SW users will find that imported sufaces from higher end packages and even from round trips through SW may see the number of surface faces change due to the approximation algorithm. (this is speculative)
TOP
CSWP, BSSE
www.engtran.com www.niswug.org
www.linkedin.com/in/engineeringtransport
"Node news is good news."
RE: Neutral file format
STEP is far from perfect too. If it tries to be such a complete format, why does it break it up into all those application protocols? Not good. Just not good. ISO at its finest people! breaking 'er all up!
You're right about the polynomial thing, it is an issue, but honestly you gotta pick. To me degree 3 nurbs geometry is the way to go, but some applications work best with bezier math and then you need higher degrees unless you want a dozen surfaces to define a model. By all accounts, degree 3 nurbs geometry is the more modern of the two. IMO
Certified SolidWorks Professional
RE: Neutral file format
Rob Stupplebeen
https://sites.google.com/site/robertkstupplebeen/
RE: Neutral file format
Was just wondering others opinions.
Certified SolidWorks Associate
SW2009 X64 SP 1.0
Dell Precision T5400
Nvidia Quadro FX 5600
Xeon 2.5GHz Quad Core, 4GB RAM
XP Pro X64 SP2.0
RE: Neutral file format
Unless you really don't care about the integrity of your design, don't make the mistake of loosening tolerances simply for the sake of reducing file size.
RE: Neutral file format
OMG - that is the worst idea I've read in a while
Certified SolidWorks Professional