Creating STL (rapid prototype) files

[careyc]

I need to rapid prototype parts I created in Solid Edge (V15) but the ASM parts that I created won't work. The rapid prototyping software separates the pieces of the assembly even though I need them to stay merged together. I tried saving them as IGS or STP files, but it doesn't help. I see that PAR files can be saved as STL files. Is there a way I can convert the ASM files to PAR or merge the individual pieces together? Any suggestions?

 

[donyoung]

careyc,

at least for STEP I know of a solution to keep the parts together:
open the .ini file:

C:\Program Files\Solid Edge Vxx\Program\STEP3D.ini

and set the following switch:

[Export Options]
...
Mapped Item Assembly=On < -- set this switch
...

This switch is available after the 'Options' have been
opened once.

HTH

dy

 

[donyoung]

/Edit

another solution might work too:

- save the assembly as Parasolid
- open the saved parasolid and use the normal.par as template

now you should have one part which can be saved as .stl

dy

 

[careyc]

That's exactly what I was looking for. Great advice!

Thanks so much for your help donyoung!

 

[KENAT]

Under certain circumstances you can turn an assembly into a part within Solid Edge.

For fairly simple parts you can create a new (blank) part and do an insert part copy of the assembly. This creates an equivalent part.

Simplified assemblies give similar functionality.

Note this doesn't work with complex geometry that has Bspline edges etc.