Autodesk® DirectConnect 2015 User's Guide
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Contents Chapter 1 What Is Autodesk DirectConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Supported products and translators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chapter 2 What's New in This Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Improvements in Autodesk DirectConnect 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Chapter 3 Installation and Licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 DirectConnect and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
STL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 ZPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Chapter 5 Locations of Imported Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Autodesk Alias Data . . . . . . . Autodesk Maya Data . . . . . . Autodesk Showcase Data . . . . Autodesk Opticore Studio Data . Chapter 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ZPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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What Is Autodesk DirectConnect 1 Autodesk® DirectConnect is a family of data translators. Each of these translators imports a specific CAD file format into one or more of the following Autodesk® software products: ■ Autodesk® Alias® ■ Autodesk® Maya® ■ Autodesk® Showcase® ■ Autodesk® Opticore® Studio ■ 3ds Max®/3ds Max® Design ■ VRED™ The translators also export some CAD file formats from some products.
Supported products and translators Import to Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Opticore Studio, 3ds Max, 3ds Max Design, VRED: File Format Windows® 7, 64-bit; Windows® 8, 64 bit Apple® Mac OS® X® 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 64-bit Autodesk Inventor (page 10)® Not available in 3ds Max/3ds Max Design Not available CATIA V4 (page 12)® All versions + V3RX, .
File Format Windows® 7, 64-bit; Windows® 8, 64 bit Apple® Mac OS® X® 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 64-bit NX (page 28)® UG V13.0 to NX 9.0 Not available Open Inventor™ and Cosmo™_ (page 34) All versions Not available in 3ds Max/3ds Max Design Not available SolidWorks (page 38)®(1) 2003-2014 Must be licensed and running on the import machine. Not available SPF Alias (.wire) Not available in Showcase STEP (page 40) AP214, AP203E2 Not available in Showcase, Opticore Studio.
File Format Windows® 7, 64-bit; Windows® 8, 64-bit Apple® Mac OS® X® 10.7, 10.8, 10.9, 64-bit Not available in 3ds Max/3ds Max Design. NX (page 28) UG V15.0*, NX1.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, 8.0 Not available in 3ds Max/3ds Max Design. Not available SPF Alias (.wire) STL (Stereo-lithography) Not available in 3ds Max/3ds Max Design. ZPR (page 44)® (ZPrint CAD for Rapid Prototyping) V1.2 Not available in 3ds Max/3ds Max Design.
What's New in This Release 2 Improvements in Autodesk DirectConnect 2015 ■ CATIA V4 importer supports .model files created from CATIA V5-6R2013. ■ CATIA V5 importer supports V5 R22 (V5-6R2013) files. ■ NX importer supports NX 9.0. ■ Parasolid exporter supports V 26.
■ SolidWorks importer supports SolidWorks 2014.
Installation and Licenses 3 DirectConnect and Installation Autodesk® DirectConnect software installs automatically when the following Autodesk software is installed: ■ Autodesk® Alias® ■ Autodesk® Maya® ■ Autodesk® Showcase® ■ 3ds Max®/3ds Max® Design ■ VRED™ ■ VRED™ Design ■ VRED™ Professional ■ VRED™ Presenter Autodesk DirectConnect software is provided on the media with Autodesk® Opticore® Studio software, in the Autodesk DirectConnect 2015 folder. It requires manual installation.
Support platforms Autodesk DirectConnect runs on the same platform as the Autodesk product it installs with: Autodesk Software Microsoft® Windows® 7, 64bit; Windows® 8, 64-bit Apple® Mac OS® X® 10.7, 10.8, 10.
Translator Details 4 9
Autodesk Inventor Autodesk® Inventor® is a 3D mechanical design, product simulation, tooling creation, and design communication software. Autodesk® DirectConnect supports the import of Autodesk Inventor part (*.ipt) and assembly (*.iam) files into the Autodesk® Alias®, Autodesk® Maya®, Autodesk® Opticore® Studio, and VRED™ software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect.
3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file. NOTE To maintain the original positioning and orientation of part files in your scene, import the assembly file. Importing part files before the assembly file positions all of them at the origin (0,0,0), and removes the original positioning.
CATIA V4 CATIA® is computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of CATIA V4 (all versions, plus V3RX Levels) into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Opticore Studio, 3ds Max®/3ds Max® Design , and VRED software. The import includes geometric sets, attributes, such as names, layers, RGB colors, and visibility, and the CATIA file types. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect.
Autodesk Showcase File > Import > Import Files Autodesk Opticore Studio File > Import 3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 In the browser, select a CATIA V4 *.model, *.mdl, *.session, *.exp, *.dlv,*.dlv3, or .dlv4 file. 3 Click OK, or Open. The translator launches automatically, and the file imports into the scene.
■ NURB curve (Type 46) ■ NURB surface (Type 47) NOTE ■ To locate this data in your Autodesk software, see Locations of Imported Data (page 47). ■ For information about options in Alias for data importation, see the Autodesk Alias Help. ■ For definitions on these data types, consult your CATIA documentation. CATIA V5 CATIA is computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes.
Import CATIA V5 files 1 Choose the menu path in your installed Autodesk software product: Autodesk Alias File > Open or File > Import > File Autodesk Maya (Windows version) File > Open Scene or File > Import Autodesk Showcase File > Import > Import Files Autodesk Opticore Studio File > Import 3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 In the browser, select a CATIA V5 (*.CATProduct ,*.CATPart, or *.cgr) file.
■ Toroidal surface ■ BSpline surface ■ Revolve surface ■ Ruled surface ■ Open body ■ Solid body ■ Layer ■ Geometric set ■ Part (from CATIA V5 release 6 and higher) ■ Product (from CATIA V5 release 6 and higher) ■ Attributes (RGB color, layer, name, visibility, and materials) ■ Per face color assignments ■ Cloud mesh data ■ Tessellated data ■ Weld data NOTE ■ To locate this data in your Autodesk software, see Locations of Imported Data (page 47).
DWF Design Web Format (DWF™) is a file format developed by Autodesk for Web viewing and printing. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the export of Autodesk Alias tessellated model data to file in DWF(*.dwf) format up to version 2014, to view in Autodesk Design Review and Project Freewheel. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect. (page 7) NOTE For more information about software setup for Autodesk Alias, see the Autodesk Alias Help.
3 Set export options, and then click Save. Option Function Export Curves When turned ON, exports curves. Export Symmetry If an Alias layer has symmetry turned ON, this information and the geometric objects resulting from symmetry can be merged and converted, or left intact (unmerged) and converted. When turned OFF, layer symmetry is not exported. Tessellator Fast Models triangulate quickly and less accurately. Accurate Models triangulate slowly and more accurately.
DWG DXF The DWG and DXF® file types are drawing files and Drawing eXchange files in the AutoCAD® software. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of AutoCAD (DWG and DXF) files into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Opticore Studio, and VRED software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect.
Types of DWG and DXF data imported ■ Colors ■ Materials ■ Lines, arcs, and splines ■ Extruded curves ■ Extrusions ■ Layers ■ Meshes ■ Surfaces ■ Text ■ 3D solids IMPORTANT ■ Showcase does not support the AutoCAD material attribute Illumination. Alias supports the AutoCAD material attribute Illumination; however, it is called Incandescence. ■ Showcase supports only 3D hierarchical data. It does not support 2D drawings.
2 On the File Formats menu, click DWG or DXF. For details about the available options, see the Help in the Autodesk software. 3 Select a DWG/DXF version, and click Save. IGES Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) is a file format for transferring graphics data between CAD/CAM systems. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import and export of the neutral IGES V5.3 (*.iges or *.
Autodesk Opticore Studio File > Import 3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 In the browser, select a native IGES V5.3 (*.iges or *.igs) file. 3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file into the scene. Export IGES files 1 In your Autodesk software, choose File > Save As, or File > Export > Active As . 2 On the File Formats menu, click DWG or DXF. For details about the available options, see the Help in the Autodesk software.
Types of data imported The DirectConnect for IGES translator imports ASCII format IGES files with or without linefeed characters at the end of each record. The software does not support Binary IGES files.
Type Form IGES Entity 106 2 copious data 106 11 copious data 106 12 copious data 106 63 closed area 108 0 plane 108 +/- 1 bounded plane 110 0 line 112 0 parametric curve 114 0 parametric surface 116 0 point 118 0-1 ruled surface 120 0 surface of revolution 122 0 tabulated cylinder 123 0 direction 124 0 transformation matrix 126 0-5 rational B-spline curve 128 0-9 rational B-spline surface 24 | Chapter 4 Translator Details
Type Form IGES Entity 130 0 offset curve 140 0 offset surface 141 0 boundary entity 142 0 curve on surface 143 0 boundary surface 144 0 trimmed surface 186 -1,0,1 Manifold Solid BRep Object (MSBO) 190 0,1 plane surface (1) 192 0,1 right circular cylindrical surface 194 0,1 right circular conical surface 196 0,1 spherical surface 198 0,1 toroidal surface 308 0 subfigure definition 402 7, 9 associativity instance 408 0 singular subfigure instance 502 1 vertex
Type Form IGES Entity 508 0,1 loop 510 1 face 514 1,2 shell (1)For type 190, 0 means unparameterized surface and 1 parameterized. The plane surface type is unbounded unless it is subordinate to another entity, such as the Bounded Surface Entity (type 143) or the Trimmed parametric Surface Entity (type 144), that references its bounding geometry. IGES levels The system adds all supported geometric IGES entities that are associated with IGES level to an Alias layer called LEVEL.
Import JT files 1 Choose the menu path in your installed Autodesk software product: Autodesk Alias File > Open or File > Import > File Autodesk Maya File > Open Scene or File > Import Autodesk Showcase File > Import > Import Files Autodesk Opticore Studio File > Import 3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 In the browser, select a (*.jt) file. 3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file into the scene.
NOTE ■ To locate this data in your Autodesk software, see Locations of Imported Data (page 1). ■ For Information about Alias options for data importation, see the Autodesk Alias Help. Limitations ■ Import options are not available. ■ The software automatically excludes curve geometry and animation when importing a JT file. NX NX® is a solid modeling package based on the Parasolid kernel.
Import NX files 1 Choose the menu path in your installed Autodesk software product: Autodesk Alias File > Open or File > Import > File Autodesk Maya (Windows version) File > Open Scene or File > Import Autodesk Showcase File > Import > Import Files Autodesk Opticore Studio File > Import 3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 In the browser, select an NX (version UG V13.0 to NX 9.0) part or assembly*.prt file.
4 For options, see the Help in the Autodesk software. 5 Click Save. See the Alias documentation for details about building a model for maximum compatibility between NX and Alias. Supported Alias geometry types for export to NX The translator does not support non-geometry entities, such as lights, cameras, textures, windows, and animations. The numbers in the table entries refer to Notes for NX entities following the table.
Notes for NX entities (1) NX cannot have free-standing surfaces, so it maps all surfaces to faces which must be attached to a sheet body. (2) Splits appear in surfaces that have internal discontinuities at the discontinuities. (3) Mapped as a Display Attribute of the mapped surface or shell. (4) Layer name is not mapped.
NX Entity Objects Alias Entity Bcurve Curve Point Point (Curve) (1) Sheet Body Shell (Open) (2) Assembly Groups/Instance (3) Layer Layer Category Category Space points Space points annotation leaders (locators of type annpotate in .wire files) annotation leaders (locators of type annpotate in .wire files) Notes for Alias NX (object) entities (1) An NX point converts to a degree 1 curve composed of two coincident points. On export to NX, this construction converts back to an NX point.
■ Parabola ■ Hyperbola ■ Surface Parameter Curve ■ Trimmed Curve ■ Intersection Curve ■ BSurface ■ Planar Surface ■ Spherical Surface ■ Cylindrical Surface ■ Conical Surface ■ Surface of Revolution ■ Spun Surface ■ Offset Surface ■ Ruled Surface ■ Swept Surface ■ Toroidal Surface ■ Blended Edge Surface ■ Blended Bound Surface ■ Facet ■ Sheet Body ■ Solid Body ■ Part ■ Instance ■ Assembly ■ Category ■ Coordinate systems or locators NX | 33
Open Inventor and Cosmo Open Inventor™ is a 3D file format from Silicon Graphics Inc., with no relation to Autodesk Inventor software. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of Open Inventor ASCII or binary (*.iv) files, or Cosmo 3D™scene binary (*.csb) files into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Showcase, and Autodesk Opticore Studio software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect. (page 7).
Type of data imported The software imports polygons and NURBS for these file formats, and maintains the following information on import: ■ Data organization (parent, child, and groups) ■ Units ■ Materials ■ Textures ■ Polygonal Shapes ■ Transformation nodes NOTE To locate this data in your Autodesk software, see Locations of Imported Data (page 47). Limitations When importing Open Inventor files, the system automatically excludes lines, cameras, lights, manipulators, tolerances, and animation.
Pro/ENGINEER Pro/ENGINEER® is a computer-aided design software application. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of Pro/ENGINEER (Wildfire® R5 or lower) and Creo (up to V2) part, assembly, or PTC® Granite® (Release 8 or lower) files (*.prt, *.asm, *.g, *neu) into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Opticore Studio, and 3ds Max/3ds Max Design software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect.
Autodesk Opticore Studio File > Import 3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 Select a Pro/ENGINEER part(*.prt), assembly (*.asm), Granite (*.g)), or neutral (.neu) file. 3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file. NOTE To maintain the original positioning and orientation of part files in your scene, import the assembly file.
SolidWorks SolidWorks® is a computer-aided design software application. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of SolidWorks part *.sldprt and assembly *.sldasm files into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Opticore Studio, and 3ds Max/3ds Max Design software. NOTE For information about additional software setup for Autodesk Alias, please see the Autodesk Alias Data Transfer reference book and the Autodesk Alias Help.
3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 Select a SolidWorks part (*.sldprt) or assembly *.sldasm file. If you cannot see the files, start the SolidWorks software, minimize its window, and then try again to open the files. 3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file into the scene. NOTE To maintain the original positioning and orientation of part files in your scene, import the assembly file.
STEP Standard for the Exchange of Product Data (STEP) is an ISO standard exchange format that multiple programs can recognize. It is used for transferring graphics data between CAD/CAM systems. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of STEP (*.stp or *.step) files into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk Opticore Studio, and 3ds Max/3ds Max Design software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect (page 7).
3ds Max/3dsMax Design Application Menu > Import > Select File to Import dialog 2 In the browser, select a native STEP (*.stp or *.step) file. 3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file into the scene.
STL STL is a file format native to the stereolithography CAD software created by 3D Systems. Multiple software packages support the STL file format. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the import of STL files into the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Showcase, and Autodesk Opticore Studio software, and the export of STL files from the Autodesk Alias and Autodesk Maya software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect. (page 7).
3 Click OK, or Open to launch the translator and import the file into the scene. Type of files imported We support ASCII and binary STL (color STL) files. NOTE To locate this data in your Autodesk software, see Locations of Imported Data (page 47).
ZPR ZPrint CAD format (ZPR™) is a proprietary file format developed by Z Corporation® and used with ZPrint and ZEdit for printing on high definition color 3D printers. Autodesk DirectConnect supports the export of ZPR (*.zpr) files to use in the Autodesk rapid prototyping solution in the Autodesk Alias, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Showcase, and Autodesk Opticore Studio software. See installation information in Install Autodesk DirectConnect.
Depending on the entity selected for export, such as a shell, additional setup can be required. For information about additional setup options, see the Autodesk Alias Help. 4 Pick the meshes or shell to export, then click Accept. 5 Adjust settings, if necessary, and click Update. 6 Click Accept. Types of data exported for ZPR ■ Triangle meshes with simple colors. ■ Textures for use with ZEdit and Zprint software for rapid prototyping.
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Locations of Imported Data 5 Autodesk Alias Data Data Organization Tolerances and Units Colors (Shaders) Parts and assembly information displays in the Windows > Information > Layer Categories window. View unit settings at Preferences > Construction Options. Colors are visible in the Render > Multi-lister > Shaders window. For information about these settings, menu items, and options, see the Autodesk® Alias® Help.
Autodesk Maya Data Data Organization Tolerances and Units Colors (Shaders) To view layer information, display the Layer Editor: click Display > UI Elements > Channel Box/Layer Editor or display the Relationship Editor: click Window > Relationship Editors > Display Layers. To view assembly definition and assembly reference nodes, see Window > Outliner or the node Attribute Editor. View unit settings at Window > Settings/Preferences > Preferences > Settings.
Data Organization Tolerances and Units Colors (Shaders) To have more control, select Lock display quality to, and adjust the slider for LOD. For more information about these settings and menu items, see the Autodesk® Showcase® Help. Autodesk Opticore Studio Data Data Organization Tolerances and Units Colors (Shaders) View the node structure in the Scene Graph Editor, in the Window > Scene Graph Editor menu. It opens by default. There are no units in Studio.
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Glossary Glossary terms ASM (.asm) A file format used by Pro/ENGINEER to represent an assembly. assembly An organizational file that fits together a collection of manufactured parts into a complete model. BSD license The Berkeley Software Distribution license for redistribution and use of source code. CATIA ➤ V4 CATIA V4 is computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes. Autodesk DirectConnect allows the exchange of 3D model data from CATIA V4, using .model, .session, .exp, .dlv, and .dlv3 files.
Cosmo™ A legacy 3D file format from Silicon Graphics Inc. using efficient binary compression and *.csb (Cosmo scene binary) files. CSB (.csb) Cosmo 3D™scene binary (*.csb) files. DLV (.dlv) A file format used by CATIA V4 computer-aided design software from Dassault Systèmes. DRAW (DR) A two-dimensional entity defined in the drafting and detailing world. DWF™ Design Web Format, a file format developed by Autodesk for web viewing and printing.
IPT (.ipt) A file format in the Autodesk Inventor software to represent a part. IV (.iv) A file format in the Open Inventor software. JT JT is a DirectModel file format that is developed and supported by the JT Open Program for the visualization of 3D models. NX ➤ NX is a solid modeling package based on the Parasolid kernel. The package contains many (mostly optional) modules: for example, CAD, CAM, CAE, sheet metal applications, knowledge bases, quality control, and rapid prototyping.
SolidWorks ➤ A solid modeling CAD/CAM/CAE software product from SolidWorks Corporation that requires positional construction tolerances. SPACE (SP) A three-dimensional entity defined in the 3D modeling world. SPF Alias SPF (Studio Packet File) is a native file format used by Autodesk Alias software, with the extension .wire. STEP (.step) An international standard for the exchange of geometric product definitions.
Index A Autodesk Alias locate imported data 47 view unit settings 47 visible colors 47 Autodesk AutoCAD drawing files Autodesk DirectConnect 1 improvements 5 install 7 supported platforms 7 supported products 2 supported translators 2 Autodesk Inventor file formats 10 translator 10 Autodesk Maya imported colors 48 locate imported data 48 unit settings 48 Autodesk Opticore Studio imported colors 49 locate imported data 49 tessellation tolerances 49 Autodesk Showcase imported colors 48 locate imported data 48
supported products and translators system requirements 7 J JT file types translator 26 26 N NX file types translator 28 28 O Open Inventor file types 34 translator 34 P Pro/ENGINEER file types 36 translator 36 S SolidWorks file types 38 translator 38 STEP file types 40 translator 40 STL file types 42 translator 42 support platforms 7 56 | Index T trademarks translators Autodesk Inventor 10 CATIA V4 12 CATIA V5 14 Cosmo 34 DirectConnect 1 DWF 17 DWG DXF 19 IGES 21 JT 26 NX 28 Open Inventor 34 Pro/EN
