Importing from Pro\E

[DougB]

I have created a solid model in ProE 2000i2 that needs to be translated into a format that a moldmaker using Mastercam can handle. I have no experience with Mastercam and the mold maker is new to it as well. I have IGES'ed the model out as surfaces and the moldmaker is getting wireframes in that he says do have alot of errors. This file is about 4MB and is being set via E-mail. Should I burn these to a disc instead, or is there a better method of file translation?

 

Thanks for the help.

[Wallace]

Hi DougB,

 

Mastercam Version 9 read native Pro/E .PRT or .ASM

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

I'm not familiar with Pro/E. Do you have the capability to export either Parasolid or SAT(ACIS) solids? These would be a better option than IGES which is prone to "flavors". If not, there is a Translator that is available from Mastercam that will allow Mastercam to read NATIVE Pro/E files. There is a charge for this option. Also, there is a link on the bottom of this page cadcam-e, they can provide translations at a relatively low cost.

 

HTH

[McRae]

Use the Mastercam Pro/E converter. If this is a shop that you will be doing some substantial work with then the cost is easily justified. To trial this option, contact your dealer and they may as a value added customer service, convert it for a nominal fee. I use the Pro/E converter all the time and have great success with it. There is a caution though with .asm's these files are nasty to convert and do what ever it takes to get the file as a single .prt . We have a work around for this if you require a .asm

 

I caution though about 3rd party converters. I suggest for the reason of support to stick within the Mastercam family of products (or get your shop to use Pro/NC - Yikes!)

[McRae]

Part Two - File communication and transfer

 

Thanks to Glenn and Allan at Inhouse who have helped me in this area. When sending large files over the internet, use winzip to compress the file. With a complex part, there is a potential for some data corruption to go un-noticed until it is too late. If there is corruption in a .zip file, then the contents will not extract at all giving you the confidence that your data in complete and uncomprimized.

 

[ 08-23-2002, 12:16 PM: Message edited by: MfgEng ]

[ProductDevelopmentGuy]

DougB,

I'd like to see a sample IGES File if I could. We've done a lot of work over the years making sure we can read Pro/E IGES. You can upload it to the forum FTP site or E-Mail me at [email protected]. Remember to ZIP the file first.

PDG

[kyle]

Have the proe guy export the iges but when he exports have him export the wireframe and surfaces at same time. Creating wireframe from surfaces in mastercam always creates double entities because of the tolerance issue.

[Greg Williams]

Hi all,

 

I have dealt a bit with PRO-E files and I have found that STEP format works well if you dont have the PRO-E converter

[P_Scott]

DougB,

 

Welcome to the Forum. IGES is a lower geometry format. It contains redundant geometry that is not easily "cleaned up" by the mold/tool maker. It also becomes a hassle to apply toolpath to because of gaps between the surfaces or even surfaces that are missing or corrupted in some way. The best format is to send the native Pro-E (.prt) file. As Andrew (MfgEng) said, a local Mastercam reseller may convert the file for you at a nominal fee or as a one-time free demonstration of the Pro-E converter in Mastercam. For Mastercam V9, the converter was developed by Mastercam themselves and is up to date with Pro-E. STEP files also require the STEP converter, for an add-on license fee, and may be more costly to license than the Pro-E converter. Stick with the native format and you will get the best results. Hope we have answered your question.

 

[ 08-26-2002, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Peter Scott, SFA ]

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Also, the MC Pro/E Converter uses the Granite kernel which is licenced to MC (and other software authors) by Pro/E. Definitely the best option. If you've got the extra $.

[Michael Reynolds]

Or just convert it to a parasolid (x_t)...

 

HTH,

 

Mike R.