Opening foreign files in Solid Edge

Solid Edge opens data from other CAD systems. You can open both 2D and 3D data in the different Solid Edge environments.  

You can open the following types of files in Solid Edge:

File Format

Environment

Comments

Related User Interface

.dgn

Draft

.dgn format files can be opened in the Draft environment as 2D geometry.  The translation options available for these files vary based on the creation methods of the originating CAD system.  You can generate .dgn files in systems other than MicroStation. Different versions of MicroStation generate different solid formats.  Make sure you know what output formats your software generates, and select the translation options that best meet your needs. MicroStation has the capability to generate 3D solids, but Solid Edge does not support reading the 3D data into Draft or Part.

MicroStation Import Options dialog box

.dxf

.dwg

Draft

.dxf and .dwg format files can be opened in the Draft environment as 2D geometry.  The translation options available for these files vary based on the creation methods of the originating CAD system.  You can generate .dxf and .dwg files in systems other than AutoCAD. The Draft environment will open .dxf and .dwgfiles created in AutoCAD version 12 through AutoCAD 2011.  Solids created with Autodesk are output to .sat format as they are encountered in the AutoCAD file.

AutoCAD Import Translation Wizard

.stp, .step

Part

Sheet Metal

Assembly

STEP (.stp, .step) standards AP203 class II - class VI entities, AP214 class II - class VI entities, and STEP assemblies are supported by Solid Edge.

Import Options for STEP (.stp) dialog box

.igs, .iges

(2D or 3D)

Draft (2D)

Part (3D)

IGES (.igs, .iges) 2D and 3D files are supported by Solid Edge. IGES 2D files are opened in the Draft environment and IGES 3D files can be opened in the Part, Assembly, or Sheet Metal environments. IGES is an industry-standard neutral format. This data can be imported as construction wireframe, construction surfaces, or solids depending on the modeling techniques and formats supported by the originating CAD system.

IGES 3-D Import Translation Wizard

IGES 2-D Import Translation Wizard

.x_b

.x_t

Part

Sheet Metal

Assembly

The supported versions of Parasolid increase as subsequent versions of Solid Edge are built on the latest version of Parasolid. Parasolid files can be opened as a solid body feature in the Part, Assembly, and Sheet Metal environments.

Import Options for Parasolid (.x_t) dialog box

.prt (Unigraphics)

Part

Sheet Metal

Assembly

Unigraphics (.prt) files are also based on the Parasolid kernel and can be opened as solid feature bodies in the Part, Assembly, or Sheet Metal environments.

Import Options for UG (.prt) dialog box

.sat

(ACIS)

Part

Sheet Metal

Assembly

ACIS (.sat) files created in versions 3–19 are supported by Solid Edge.

Import Options for ACIS (.sat) dialog box

.prt

(Pro/E)

Part

Sheet Metal

Assembly

Pro/ENGINEER (.prt) files created in versions 17-Wildfire version 5 are supported by Solid Edge.

Import Options for Pro/ENGINEER (.prt) Dialog Box

.plmpxk

(I-DEAS)

Assembly

Import Options for I-DEAS (.plmxpk) dialog box

.plmxml

(XML)

Part

Sheet Metal

Assembly

.model

(Catia V4)

Part

Sheet Meal

Assembly

Import Options for Catia (.model) dialog box

.catpart, *.catproduct

(Catia V5)

Part

Sheet Meal

Assembly

Import Options for Catia V5 dialog box

.sldprt

.sldasm

Part

Assembly

SolidWorks

Import Options for SolidWorks (.sldprt and .sldasm) dialog box

.jt

Part

Sheet Meal

Assembly

JT (Visualization Format)

Import Options for JT Documents (.jt) dialog box

.stl

Standard Template Library

Import STL dialog box

.ipt, .iam

Part

Draft

Sheet Meal

Assembly

Inventor

Import Options for Inventor (.ipt and .iam) dialog box

Opening foreign documents that contain multiple bodies

When you open a foreign document, Solid Edge checks to determine if the file being opened contains multiple bodies. If the file contains multiple bodies and you are using a Solid Edge part (.par) template to open the file, a warning dialog box displays. You can continue the translation using the part template or return to the Open File dialog box and open the foreign file with a Solid Edge assembly (.asm) template.

Controlling how foreign bodies are imported

Solid Edge provides options to the translator import option dialog boxes that allow you to control how foreign bodies are translated during import.  You can stitch, group curves, or boolean multiple bodies together. You can also specify if you want to use the imported body as a base feature for your Solid Edge model. You should be careful when you select these options to ensure you get the desired results.

If you select the Stitch on Import option, Solid Edge unites the multiple surfaces or sheets together. It may be to your advantage not to stitch on import, but to evaluate what you need to stitch, and perform the stitch after you import the file to Solid Edge.

If you select the Group Curves in a Single Part Copy option, Solid Edge consolidates the curve data into a singe part copy. This is very similar to what the Stitch on Import option does to surfaces. You might want to identify the curves that you do not need and hide or delete them before you import the file.  This helps to control the amount on unused geometry in your imported file.

If you select the Boolean on Import option, Solid Edge unites the multiple bodies into a single part copy.

If you select the Create Base Feature option, Solid Edge uses the imported solid body as the base feature for the Solid Edge model. If there is more than one solid body in the file, no base feature is created. In this case you can use the Make Base Feature command to select a solid to use as the base feature or construct a new base feature for the model.

If you clear this option, all solid bodies contained in the file you are importing are placed in PathFinder as a part copy rather than a body feature. Inserting bodies as a part copy requires you to select or create a base feature.

Since a base feature is not always created automatically, you need to be able to distinguish between the different geometry types. Symbols in the left column of PathFinder tell you the different geometry types included as a part copy. The following table explains the symbols used in PathFinder:

Solid geometry

Curve data

Surface or sheet data

Opening foreign files in the Teamcenter or Insight XT managed environment

When you open and save a STEP, IGES, or X_T document in the Teamcenter or Insight XT managed environment, the file name is modified to correspond with the Item ID as a part of the translation process. The resulting Solid Edge file is added to the same Item ID as the original foreign file. The Dataset Name is set to the default based on the business rules in place for the Dataset Name, and is updated when other key fields such as the Item Name or Document Name change. Indirect documents that are part of an assembly are assigned new Item IDs in the Upload Document dialog box. The Dataset Description automatically updates with the original file name, and the folder and project information is automatically populated for you. A Link Fixup is performed on the newly created files automatically, and your cache only contains the new files.

Dragging a non-managed document into a managed document results in the same behavior. For example, when you select an unmanaged part from the Parts Library tab or the and drag it into a managed assembly, then save it, the Upload Document dialog displays with the values populated for you.

Note:

The data preparation tools, Add to Teamcenter, and Add to Insight XT remain the core of the process that validates unmanaged content and then imports it into the managed environment.

Retranslation occurs when the input file (STEP, IGES, or X_T) is updated and the translated file is reopened in Solid Edge. Any new files require you to assign the necessary attribute information and then save the new documents to the database. Retranslation is always an overwrite condition. All documents are marked for upload.

Note:

IGES does not support retranslation. If the IGES file is updated, the next time the file is opened in Solid Edge it is translated and craeted.

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