Import - CatiaV4, CatiaV5, CatiaV6, Inventor, STEP, IGES, ACIS, Pro/Engineer, SolidWorks, Unigraphics, JT

File Type

Set it to the type of geometry that you want to import.

File to Read

Enter the name of the file that you want to import.

Tips on Entering File Names in Text Boxes.

Part Name

Enter the name of the part with which you want to associate the imported geometry.

Tips on Entering File Names in Text Boxes.

Model Name

Enter the name of the model with which you want to import the geometry. If the input data is an assembly, then individual parts in the assembly will be translated as separate parts under the Adams model.

Level

Enter the level or levels to be translated in the CAD file for IGES file. Levels let you associate geometry into a group. These groups can be manipulated as a single entity for purposes of visibility and color. The CAD program that generated the CAD file defines the levels and are labeled with integers greater than or equal to 0. Levels are typically used to organize data for viewing and are similar to layers. If you do not specify the levels you want translated, Adams View reads all levels.

You can specify a single level or a range of levels. Separate the range with a comma (,). For example, enter 10, 15 to translate levels 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

Scale

Enter the factor by which you want to scale the size of the geometry created in Adams View. The default scale factor is 1.0, meaning that the geometry in Adams View will be the same size as the geometry in the CAD file. A scale factor less than 1.0 reduces the size of geometry and a scale factor greater than 1.0 increases the size of the geometry.

For example, if you specify a scale factor of 0.5, Adams translates a cylinder of length 2 meters and diameter of .5 meters to a length of 1 meter and diameter of .25 meters. Adams also scales the distance from the geometry to the coordinate system specified in the Relative To text box according to the scale value. If the cylinder was located at 3, 2, 0 in the file, it would be located at 1.5, 1, 0 after it is translated to Adams. The orientation of the geometry is not effected by scale value.

Assembly retain

When specified to true, the import operation will create sub-models as necessary, in order to maintain the hierarchy in the input CAD model.

Note that the parameter is only supported in Adams Modeler. If specified in traditional Adams, the parameter will be ignored.

Ref. Markers (Reference Markers)

Upon import Adams creates reference markers to correspond with each piece of geometry created in the Adams model. These markers are typically automatically named with the prefix PSMAR. These reference markers are usually located and oriented at the origin of the Adams model. However, sometimes the geometry in the CAD file was created in such a way in the CAD system that it has a location/orientation transformation value relative to the CAD assembly/part origin.

For example, the geometry was created via a copy/paste/move action performed on an original piece of geometry, or an assembly is composed of a number of parts/sub-assemblies re-located relative to the origins about which they were originally modelled.

In these scenarios, setting the option Reference Markers to “Local” will locate/orient the Adams-created reference markers by applying the same location/orientation transformation value used in construction in the CAD system to the marker relative to the Adams model origin. Setting the option Reference Markers to “Global” will locate/orient all reference markers at the origin of the Adams model.

The default is "Global".

Blanked Entities

Select to translate entities that are blanked (made not visible). Adams View translates the blanked entities and makes them invisible. If you do not select Blanked Entities, Adams does not translate the blanked entities.

Blanked entities are typically construction entities that are used in the definition of another geometric entity. For example, a line can be used as the center of rotation of another line in the definition of a cylinder. The center line and the sweep line rotated about the center line are both blanked because they are temporary entities used in the construction of the cylinder.

Once you translate blanked entities to Adams, there is no distinction between construction entities and other geometry. You can change the visibility of the entities.

Location

Specify the translational position where the geometry in the CAD file is to be located, relative to the Adams part coordinate system. These coordinates can be relative to any other coordinate system defined in the model.

By default, you enter Cartesian (x,y,z) coordinates. You can change the convention for entering translational positions. Learn about Setting Default Coordinate System.

Orientation

Specify the angular position where the geometry in the CAD file is to be oriented relative to the Adams part coordinate system. These orientation coordinates can be relative to any other coordinate system defined in the model.

Adams View orients the coordinate system starting from the initial coordinate system and applying three successive rotations. By default, you supply body-fixed 313 angles. You can change the convention for entering orientation angles.Learn about Setting Default Coordinate System.

Relative To

Enter the coordinate system relative to which the translated geometry will be defined. The coordinates you specified in the Location and Orientation text boxes are relative to the coordinate system that you specify. You can specify a coordinate system, part, or model.

Naming

This setting is applicable only for Unigraphics file import and impacts the way entities are named in Adams.

Consolidate To Shells

Set to import all the geometry as one shell. If you do not select Consolidate To Shells, Adams imports the geometry as individual entities. We recommend that you select Consolidate To Shells to receive the best animation results.

Display Summary

Select to write a verbose log file to the disk. A message will be displayed indicating the log file to which the translation operation details have been written.

Translation Options

Click on this button to invoke the Manage Geometry Translation Options dialog box for the relevant geometry and translation operation (read or write). The dialog box would be pre-filled with the option name, short description of what the option is for and the default value.

Upon changing the desired option values, click on the 'Done' button. The translation options so set will be used in the ensuing translation operation.

Clean on Import

Enables an automatic geometry scanner and cleaner behind-the-scenes during import of geometry files. This process looks for small imperfections in the geometry that would render in not "watertight" and therefore cause problems with mass property calculations based on geometry and density/material. In some cases this may slow down import speed of certain geometry. If disabling this option, be sure to verify that the volume Adams View calculates is still sufficiently accurate enough.

Ignore_density

If selected, any density values in the file will be ignored and not applied to the corresponding part(s). More information about using CAD-resident density values is available here.