Imported Models

PD

We work in industrial automation and would like to start using Onshape instead of SW.  However, OS doesn't seem to handle importing parts that well.  We have to import a lot of models that are provided by other manufacturers whose parts we integrate.  In many cases these STEP files, for example, are imported with thousands of surfaces and/or parts.  I would love it if there were a way for these to be simplify these into one solid since that is often all that is needed. 

The other thing for this industry is that it is a bit cumbersome going back and forth between a part studio and an assembly.  In many cases, we insert an air cylinder, for example, into an assembly and mate it as needed.  We then need to transfer mounting holes to a frame we created.  There is no way to do this in OS without going back and also inserting the cylinder into the part studio and doing it there.  

This type of workflow for this sort of application seems a bit disjointed.  Perhaps I'm going about things in the wrong manner.  Any suggestions would be great.

robert_morris

For the STEP files that come in as multiple parts, they would likely come into Solidworks as multiple bodies as well (The feature tree would shows 'Body 1', 'Body 2', etc.). The difference is that SW still treats those multiple bodies as essentially a single part, but Onshape treats them as individual independent parts. A lot of the time you can select all the parts in Onshape and do a Boolean Union to join them together. The only issue I've had with that is with something like a ball bearing because it sees it as a zero thickness where the ball touches the track.

On the STEP files that come in with surfaces, that is likely due to how they were exported by the program that originally made them. I would try to import them into SW and check them there. SW will usually let you know if there are problems with the part (bad edges, missing faces, etc.) and can sometimes fix them. If SW can fix them, then you could export them back out of SW and bring them into Onshape.

keith_risebrough

Hi, Sorry to dig up an old thread.
I was just curious if there is a known good method on how to approach the issue of imports with high numbers of 'surfaces'.
On most of the items I import I do not want to update any of the features, for example on this connector below.
Ideally (wish list) I would like to just work with this item as a single solid, but anything to simpl

 

Object_Mage

PD said:

We work in industrial automation and would like to start using Onshape instead of SW.  However, OS doesn't seem to handle importing parts that well.  We have to import a lot of models that are provided by other manufacturers whose parts we integrate.  In many cases these STEP files, for example, are imported with thousands of surfaces and/or parts.  I would love it if there were a way for these to be simplify these into one solid since that is often all that is needed. 

The other thing for this industry is that it is a bit cumbersome going back and forth between a part studio and an assembly.  In many cases, we insert an air cylinder, for example, into an assembly and mate it as needed.  We then need to transfer mounting holes to a frame we created.  There is no way to do this in OS without going back and also inserting the cylinder into the part studio and doing it there.  

This type of workflow for this sort of application seems a bit disjointed.  Perhaps I'm going about things in the wrong manner.  Any suggestions would be great.

I'm having the same problem uploading PCB STEP files from Altium

Jake_Rosenfeld

@kai_gull

Try our PCB Fixer custom feature:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/9a9b81d17d4b69e58ad9b0b0/v/c253688ad8add5efd222a709/e/3152191074466a8b45231663

To add this feature to your toolbar, just follow that link and then click the '+ Custom features' button at the top of the page.

Object_Mage

PD said:

In many cases these STEP files, for example, are imported with thousands of surfaces and/or parts.  I would love it if there were a way for these to be simplify these into one solid since that is often all that is needed. 

owen_sparks

I was talking to a creo driving colleague about this recently due to the high number of vendor models that contain errors.  We're convinced they're deliberately sabotaged before upload so they offer a visual representation only and not easily copy friendly models...

andreas_ravn

Jake_Rosenfeld said:

@kai_gull

Try our PCB Fixer custom feature:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/9a9b81d17d4b69e58ad9b0b0/v/c253688ad8add5efd222a709/e/3152191074466a8b45231663

To add this feature to your toolbar, just follow that link and then click the '+ Custom features' button at the top of the page.

Thumbs up for PCB Fix. I wish this could be used on other imported STEPs with several solids that needs to be simplified into one chunk.

NeilCooke

@andreas_ravn - have you tried creating a composite part?