NX Data Exchange Tools Best Practices
Keith Powell
GTAC Product Support
(800) 955-0000, Option 2-1-5
[email protected]
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Introduction
fData Exchange Overview
fTools
fBest Practices
fHelpful Resources
fQ&A
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Data Exchange Definition
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Data Exchange
The process of transmitting data from one CAx
application to another
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Data Exchange Process
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Assess Your Needs
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Downstream Usage
Data Types (Solids, Assemblies, Drafting, etc.)
Common Formats (Parasolid, IGES, STEP, Other?)
Determine Translator Options
Evaluate the Results
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
NX Data Exchange Tools
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IGES
STEP AP203/AP214
DXF/DWG
2D Exchange
CatiaV4 Interface
CatiaV5 Interface
Theorem Catia V4 CADverter
Parasolid X_T
STL
JT
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
X
X
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Part Attributes
Colors/Layers
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PMI
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Drawings
(1)
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X
(2)
Assemblies
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X
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Faceted Body
Solids
IGES
STEP AP203
STEP AP214
DXF/DWG
2D Exchange
CatiaV4 Interface (3)
CatiaV5 Interface (3)
Theorem CADverter
JT
Parasolid X_T
STL
Surfaces
Wireframe
Entity Support Matrix
X
X
(1) IGES exports the faces of solid bodies as trimmed surfaces and imports IGES solids as surfaces into NX.
(2) DXF/DWG exports the faces of solid bodies as trimmed surfaces.
(3) Windows Only.
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
NX Data Translator Interfaces
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File Open/Save As
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File Import/Export (GUI)
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Modified Settings Options
External (xlatorui)
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Easy to Use
Multiple File Processing Capability
Command Line (CLI)
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Best Practices
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Settings Files
Assemblies
Entity Filtering and Mapping
Drawings
2D Exchange
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Settings
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Settings Files
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Text file containing Keyword/Value combinations
which control translator functionality
Save customized settings for re-use
Customer Preferences
Project Requirements
Naming Considerations
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Settings
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Translator Default
Directories
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New in NX3
Define Default Locations
for IGES, STEP and
DXF/DWG Output
Very useful on Windows
File Utiltities
Customer Defaults
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Customer Default Preferences and
Imported Data
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Applies to IGES, DXF/DWG, STEP AP203 & STEP
AP214
Import ignores Customer Defaults in Some Cases
File Open
File Import to a New Part
Preferences Come from Translator Base Parts
BASE_PART_IN = igesnullnx40_in.prt
BASE_PART_MM = igesnullnx40_mm.prt
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Customer Default Preferences and
Imported Data
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Workarounds
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Use File New to create Inch and Metric part files
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P:\Parts\nx40_in.prt, nx40_mm.prt
2 Approaches
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Substitute the existing Base Parts with the New Parts
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ingesnullnx40_in.prt ingesnullnx40_in.prt-orig
P:\Parts\nx40_in.prt ingesnullnx40_in.prt
Callout New Parts in the Settings File
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BASE_PART_IN = P:\Parts\nx40_in.prt
BASE_PART_MM = P:\Parts\nx40_mm.prt
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Assemblies
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Export Assemblies with Mixed Unit Components
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IGES, STEP, DXF/DWG
Mixed Units Unsupported in NX Class Selection
Export from Existing Part or via xlatorui
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Assemblies
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Assembly Loading on Export
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Default Behavior
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Assembly Directory
Modify Settings
Assembly Load Options
Save New Values
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Naming Considerations
UGII_LOAD_OPTIONS
variable
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System Variable
Settings File
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Entity Filtering
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STEP
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Remember: Surfaces and Wireframe are turned off by
default
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IGES Color Mapping
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8 Standard Colors in IGES Specification vs. 256
Colors in NX
Settings File Option: COLOR_FONT_MAP
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IGES Color Number
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Color Definition
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Maps NX RGB to closest IGES color
Uses RGB from current NX color table
GTAC Quarterly, Q1, 2004
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
DXF/DWG Import Metric Units
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Units Default to Inch
Modify Settings
Metric Settings File
File Open Considerations
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DXF/DWG Font Mappings
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DXF/DWG Font Mappings
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Bi-Directional Control of Character, Color & Line Font
Mappings
Set-up
dxfdwg.def
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LINEFONT_MAPPING_FILENAME=lf.def
COLOR_MAPPING_FILENAME=clr.def
CHARACTERFONT_MAPPING_FILENAME=cf.def
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
DXF/DWG Font Mappings
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Character Font Mapping cf.def
! cf.def -- The following format is used to map fonts on import and export.
! import: DXF font = UG Font, Aspect Ratio
! export: UG font = DXF Font, Aspect Ratio
import : italic.shx = futura, 3.33
import : isocp.shx = cyrillic, 3.33
import : arial.ttf = lubalin, 3.33
export : blockvar = isocp.shx , 0.8
export : blockfont = italic.shx , 0.8
import : times.ttf = raster, 1.00
! The following is used to replace a set of characters with
! user defined characters.
! replace : for font check = checking for font
replace : "abc" = "def"
UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
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DXF/DWG Font Mappings
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Color Font Mapping clr.def
clr.def -- The following is used to map colors from DXF to UG (import)
and UG TO DXF (export).
! Color numbers and names can be specified on import.
import:2 = 5 ! This has been added to convert from yellow to
magenta(ug)
import : " 4 " = " 11 "
import : "7" = orange
export:11=2 ! Check for export comment too !!
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
DXF/DWG Font Mapping
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Line Font Mapping lf.def
! lf.def -- Line font mapping is used to map different fonts on import
and
! export. The format is as follows:
! import: DXF_FONT = UG_FONT
! export: UG_FONT = DXF_FONT
import:CONTINUOUS = UF_OBJ_FONT_PHANTOM
export:UF_OBJ_FONT_PHANTOM = CONTINUOUS
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Export Drawings to DXF/DWG
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Export from Existing Part (GUI)
Turn Off Surfaces and Solids
Choose Drawings Option
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Export Large Assembly With 2D
Exchange
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Extract Edges in Drawing Views
File Options Load Options set Load Components
to No Components
Save the settings file, example:
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Modify the %UGTO2D_DIR%\usto2d.def
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P:\Settings\load_options_multi.def
ASSEM_OPTIONS = P:\Settings\load_options_multi.def
Export from GUI
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
2D Exchange Multi File Conversion
ugto2d_multi.def Settings File Options:
INPUT_PARTS_DIR =
OUTPUT_PARTS_DIR = P:\Results\
INPUT_PARTS_LIST = &
P:\Parts\project1\block1.prt,
P:\Parts\project2\block2.prt,
P:\Parts\project3\block3.prt
OUTPUT_PARTS_LIST = &
block1_2d.prt,
block2_2d.prt,
block3_2d.prt
DEFAULT_DRAWING_CNV = _ALL_
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
2D Exchange Multi File Conversion
NX Command Line:
> %UGTO2D_DIR%\ugto2d.exe d=ugto2d_multi.def
Use xlatorui to convert 2D results to DXF,DWG or IGES
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Prepare NX Data for Export
Isolate Objects to Export
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Layers
Extract to a New Part
Heal Geometry
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Removes Tiny Objects
Removes and Heals Sliver Faces, Spikes and Cuts.
Examine Geometry
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Repair Data As Needed
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Data Validation After Import
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Review the Log File
Visual Inspection
Examine Geometry
Heal Geometry
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When Problems Occur
Note any error messages
Check the Translator Log File
Check the NX Log File (GUI)
Note the steps taken leading to the error
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Data Exchange Best Practices
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Helpful Resources
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NX Documentation
UGSolutions Symptom/Solution Search
GTAC Quarterly
NX Translator Newsgroup
GTAC Translator Support
(800) 955-0000, Option 2-1-5
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Data Exchange Best Practices
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Summary
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Determine Your Data Exchange Needs
Check Your Data
Choose Your Tool
Choose Your Interface Option
Check Your Results
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Data Exchange Best Practices
Questions?
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UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Data Exchange Best Practices
Keith Powell
[email protected]
(800) 955-0000, Option 2-1-5
www.ugs.com
support.ugs.com
32
UGS Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
