I don't have much experience with translating 3D files.

I'd like to export both solids and curves from MoI in a format that Alibre will read - and one that maintains their relative position in 3D.

I can export as iges, but only the solids appear when imported in Alibre.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I have access to AutoCAD, Illustrator and/or sketchup if any of these can be used as an intermediate step (pun not intended ;-).


Thanks,
Hamish

Hi Hamish, you're probably going to need to contact Alibre support to find out if they can import curves and from which formats that is supported.

MoI will write out 3D curve information to 3DM, IGES, STEP, and SAT formats (STEP and SAT are added in MoI version 2).

But doing a quick test, it does not seem that Alibre may only be looking for surface/solid information in these formats and possibly skipping individual curve objects that are in the file.

One other thing you can try is to save the curves to 3DM format, and run the 3DM to DXF converter for curves which you can get here:
http://moi3d.com/wiki/Resources#3dmCurves2DXF_converter

I tried with some planar curves and the DXF file that comes out of that converter seems to go into Alibre, but into the 2D sheet editor instead of into the part editor though.

If you find out from Alibre support that there is a way to export 3D curves from AutoCAD into Alibre, you could get things through that way by bringing the curves into AutoCAD by DXF format with the converter above.

- Michael

Hi Hamish,

I have not played around with Alibre for a while since I started using TurboCAD Pro, but if I remember correctly, you can export curves only from MoI as IGES files and then export your solids and surfaces as IGES or STEP files. You could then try to import them into Alibre separately.

Also, Alibre imports 3DM files directly. You should try that as well.

See if that works.

Michael T.

Alibre V12.1 and Moi3D V2

Moi3D V2
Create a 3D Curve (Spline)
Pipe: 0,01mm
Save as *.3.dm



Alibre V12.1
Open an empty 3D part
Insert -> Surface -> *.3dm file
3D Sketch -> Project to Sketch
Toggle Surfaces View OFF
Viola :)

Thanks Ralf!

No wonder it was a bit difficult to find, I would not have thought to go to the Insert > Surfaces menu to import curves as well.

So Hamish, it looks like to import curves into Alibre you need to use the steps that Ralf shows above instead of picking the File > Import menu item.

- Michael

Alibre V12.1 and Moi3D V2

Moi3D V2
Create a 3D Surface/Face
Curves -> Loft
Save as *.3.dm



Alibre V12.1
Open an empty 3D part
Insert -> Surface -> *.3dm file



Extrude Boss to Geometry( Face/Surface)





:)

Michael, I`m glad to help. :)

Thanks very much for all your help guys. But I'm not quiet there yet...

I only had success after making a planar surface within any lines, (adding extra lines to do so if required) or extruding/lofting curves as per Ralf's second example, before importing to Alibre. Both 3dm and igs files imported fine using this technique. That's an easily created work-around I agree - and makes the 3D sketching in Alibre obsolete :).

Ralf, I'm missing something in your first post, sorry. I don't see and couldn't find what you mean by "pipe: 0.01mm"? Did you sweep a circle dia .01mm along the curve?
After creating a zero-thickness line, or freeform curve, I tried the steps you suggested but nothing showed up in Alibre.
I also tried export from MoI as .3dm as you suggested and after using your steps, got this import error message from Alibre: "ACISERROR_INSERT_NO_FACES: Insert - The File has no faces."

Thanks for the Alibre import method too. It's not intuitive that File >Import... just creates a new file with the imported entities.


I did some searching and see at: www.sycode.com/products/dxf_import_ad/index.htm the author provides a relatively expensive Alibre importer for 3D DXF. On the same page he states (as you mentioned Michael):

"Alibre Design already has an AutoCAD DXF import feature. However, this import feature creates a 2D drawing in Alibre Design by reading 2d geometric objects such as curves and ignores 3D solids. DXF Import for Alibre Design removes this limitation by giving Alibre Design the ability to read 3D solid geometric data such as ACIS 3D solids, bodies and regions in an AutoCAD DXF file and create corresponding 3D solid models in an Alibre Design part document."


Hamish

Hamisch,

Please take a look: Pipe
http://kyticka.webzdarma.cz/3d/moi/#Pipe

Danke Ralf!

Michael, any chance we could have one page that lists all available commands AND scripts? It would be really useful for us newer users.

Thanks again,
Hamish

Hi Hamish,

> Michael, any chance we could have one page that lists all
> available commands AND scripts? It would be really useful for
> us newer users.

Check out Petr's page here:
http://kyticka.webzdarma.cz/3d/moi/

It's listed near the top of the "Resources" page from the main web site:
http://moi3d.com/resources



- Michael