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Export crash on Mac - Export IGES or STE crashes every time
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tmurphy  
#1 Posted : Tuesday, December 9, 2014 1:23:47 PM(UTC)
tmurphy

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 12/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 10

New to ViaCAD; was working with trial version and assumed failure to export was one of those "pay to play" issues, so bought the thing--but no change!

Using ViaCAD 2D/3D v. 9.0.0 (build 1103) on Macbook pro running OSX 10.8.5

Can export DWG, DXF, ACIS SAT, Illustrator, FACT, STL, VRML.

No variations (options) on STEP or IGES appear to work. Search of forum did not reveal problem.

Please tell me it's not a lemon!
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Tim Olson  
#2 Posted : Tuesday, December 9, 2014 1:39:38 PM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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Posts: 5,447
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Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)

Can you provide an example file with steps to repeat?

Where did you buy this product? (Build 1103)

Thanks
Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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tmurphy  
#3 Posted : Tuesday, December 9, 2014 6:24:08 PM(UTC)
tmurphy

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 12/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 10

I have tried this on a few files, all with the same result.

Attached (if I navigate forum options correctly--not a habitual poster) is a simple example part that fails STEP/IGES export.

I purchased release 1103 from the punchcad site, download option.

File Attachment(s):
discrim-riser.vc3 (96kb) downloaded 15 time(s).

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Tim Olson  
#4 Posted : Wednesday, December 10, 2014 11:33:52 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

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Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
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Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
Originally Posted by: tmurphy Go to Quoted Post

I have tried this on a few files, all with the same result.

Attached (if I navigate forum options correctly--not a habitual poster) is a simple example part that fails STEP/IGES export.

I purchased release 1103 from the punchcad site, download option.




Repeated found and fixed in 1146. The STEP translator we license from Spatial did not like the polylines within the DrawView. I also now explode draw views so that they are exported to STEP.

Note: Text /Dimensions are not supported in our STEP implementation at this time.

Also sending you a private email.


Tim
Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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tmurphy  
#5 Posted : Wednesday, December 10, 2014 9:26:11 PM(UTC)
tmurphy

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 12/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 10

Hi Tim,

Okay--I can now export IGES and STEP with build 1146 (thanks!).

When I re-import, as you cautioned, text/dimensions don't work.

More confusing is that the solid model (Layer 1 by default) is no longer evidently present (layer is turned on).

My goal is to submit drawings to a machine shop so they can turn the parts into metal. In most cases, they want a solid model so they can generate tool paths on NC machines. But they also need annotations and dimensioning to indicate tolerances, special notes on features, etc. I know that STEP and IGES are generally preferred at the shop I want to use.

Ideally, both solid model and 2D drawing would be present in one file--as the native ViaCAD provides (one of the key features for me). If I have to, I can send a PDF of the annotated Sheet View, and the solid model separately.

Do you have any recommendations on how to accomplish my goal using ViaCAD?

Thanks,
Tom
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Tim Olson  
#6 Posted : Thursday, December 11, 2014 1:22:00 AM(UTC)
Tim Olson

Rank: Senior Member

Joined: 2/2/2007(UTC)
Posts: 5,447
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Was thanked: 502 time(s) in 353 post(s)
Hi Tom

By far the best format for attributes (color, layers,groups), text, and dimensions is DWG.

DWG is also a good choice for curves, surfaces & solids if the receiving app supports ACIS. AutoCAD is based on a derivative of ACIS which is ViaCAD's native geometry engine.

If the receiving app does not support ACIS, the best format for sharing solids is STEP or SAT. IGES is a standard that was replaced by STEP long ago.

Much depend on the tools they are using in the machine shop. To cover the bases, I've seen some provide a "package" :

1) PDF
2) 2D drawing file exported as DWG
3) 3D Model exported as
(a) STEP,
(b) SAT,
( c ) IGES

The receiving guys will then tell you what worked best for the next time around.

If you know the tools the shop is using, some of the users may be able to tell what has worked for them as well.

Tim

Edited by user Thursday, December 11, 2014 1:24:59 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Tim Olson
IMSI Design/Encore
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thanks 1 user thanked Tim Olson for this useful post.
jlm on 12/20/2014(UTC)
tmurphy  
#7 Posted : Thursday, December 11, 2014 1:38:00 AM(UTC)
tmurphy

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 12/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 10

Great background. Thanks!
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tmurphy  
#8 Posted : Friday, December 12, 2014 10:51:04 PM(UTC)
tmurphy

Rank: Junior Member

Joined: 12/9/2014(UTC)
Posts: 10
As a follow-up:

I was able to get suitable files to the machine shop. Both STEP and IGES worked (IGES exported in AutoCAD style using PC line termination, but others not explored). STEP seemed to generate fewer warnings or dialog boxes, and became our preferred format.

One lesson, though. If the ViaCAD file has a 2D Sheet View layer in addition to the solid model (default on Layer 1), then turn on the solid model layer and turn off the sheet view layer. Otherwise you'll get a sheet view with unusable dimensioning and text.
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