Hi Michael. I've attached both a McMaster-Carr STEP file that imports as a group with discrete objects and an ACE file that imports as a solid that I wish was organized as group. Just to repeat my question, it is up to the provider of such a file how they organize it ? and if providing a group what would they call such a feature ? Does it rely on a certain STEP version ? I'd like to ask ACE about this if it something they just aren't providing, but first would like to understand how it works and what to ask for.

Appreciatively, Sven

Hi Sven, so just to make sure I understand, the file "1488A13_Surface-Mount Hinge with Holes.STEP" is the one from McMaster-Carr with the structure you like where the hinge is made up of individual separate objects which can be rotated independently?

And the file "GS_19_150_0_A8_MA8_A8_OA8_4.stp" is the one you don't like, because things like washers, nuts and bolts are all combined together instead of being independent pieces?

- Michael

Yes. Is this just a product of how provider exports or something else ? If contacting provider do I refer to this feature/ability as "object name properties" or something else ? Thank you

Hi Sven, sorry that doesn't have to do with name properties after all.

That's not really anything specific to STEP file format versions or export options, it's just differences in how the modeling was done.

In the case you don't like they did booleans to combine pieces that touch together into a larger single object.

The one you do like they left individual parts alone and did not boolean union together parts that touch.


> If contacting provider do I refer to this feature/ability as "object name properties" or something else ?

I guess you'd say something like "Do you have a version where individual parts such as nuts and bolts are separate objects instead of booleaned together?".

But I kind of doubt they would have it, they have gone through some additional modeling effort to produce it this way.

Probably with the goal of eliminating geometry that is not visible because it's contained inside other parts, to attempt to reduce file size perhaps.

- Michael

thanks for explaining Michael

Sven