Hi Michael,

>>I'm pretty sure that there aren't any formatting problems in MoI's IGES export.

I was thinking the format output by MoI/Rhino is no good for Viacad, well, that is obvious, not that the IGS output from MoI/rhino is bad/corrupted.

>>It's possible you may have better luck with SpaceClaim,

mmmm, well, from the comment from Fredrik put together with the fact there is no "product capabilities" (well apart from file import/export), that there is no price on the Pro version (which is the only version available for download) there is also no comparison chart of the difference between the Pro and LT versions, and the fact the LT version is priced at £595 (GBP), it make me think Spaceclaim is another Alibre professional, "looks good, but very little under the hood for the price"

>>It won't be too far into v2 until I add in STEP and SAT

The Step from Rhino does import and shelling made, but I have only looked at simple models (but even those where failing with 3DM/IGS)
The (Acis) SAT from rhino showed problems (check object), but I have not checked all the various output types yet.


- manz

Well well well, looks like it's quite complex just to have a 'better' shelling command :).
I did some .igs export test in Viacad, works fine so far (but it was simple objects). However it's true the shelling wasn't working
so good when objects are not created in viacad itself ... I suppose the construction history might help to resolve complex overlapping surface.

Well I thing I'll give up for the moment, as it requires to much technical knowledge and I don't have the time (I'm a bit lazy when it's about
reading documents).

Looks like the first best friend for Moi is still Rhino (maybe not for the shelling), I hope I will find some job soon where I can use all I've learned
so far in Moi, and pick a Rhino license (a bit expensive for an hobby style of work)

Hi Michael,

>> It won't be too far into v2 until I add in STEP and SAT format support as well,
>> maybe ViaCAD has better support for those formats

Well I look forward to that, not for ViaCAD but to go 'direct' into my CAM system.

I might look at Spaceclaim LTX because it is supposed to have full .3dm support, I will
have a look once I have covered everything in ViaCAD.

Hi Group,
Just thought I'd pop in.
CoCreate Modeling Personal Edition (PE) is worth a try from PTC makers of Pro-E, they say the PE is free but I don't know if they mean, 'for free' or free download,
you have to register to find out. Anyway to come to the point, in the feature list they mention 'Advanced shelling' so when I have time I will investigate.

Cheers

I might be wrong, but i recall that version does not export Nurbs, only meshes?

jonah

Yeh, I'm not sure about the PE version either jonah, but on their spec sheet it says...

>>Data Exchange
• Use imported designs as if native to CoCreate Modeling
• Import and export 3D via STEP, 3D IGES, SAT, and Printed Circuit Board IDF
• Export 3D as VRML and STL
• Import 2D via Autodesk DWG™ & DXF™, and 2D IGES
• Support lightweight publishing and viewing of eDrawings®
• Take advantage of automatic integrity check and repair

As I said, I'll have to investigate further, unless someone else has tried it already ?

Cheers

Hi Danny,

>>CoCreate Modeling Personal Edition (PE) is worth a try from PTC makers of Pro-E, they say the PE is free but I don't know if they mean, 'for free' or free download

It is Free, but requires activation (on each execution), so a need for the software to connect out to their servers each time it is run (it does allow 72 hrs "off-line" use)

You can import various formats, but the export is restricted, there is STL output~ But, that is limited to 1086 triangles, so not anything that can be worked with.

- manz

Thanks Steve,
You saved me the research time, that I didn't have in the first place ;) I owe you one.

Cheers

Hi Michael,

>>I'm pretty sure that there aren't any formatting problems in MoI's IGES export.

EDIT:

I have had the models (I have been using for testing) checked in other Cad`s. There are no problems with the shelling of imported IGS files from MoI, apart from if the wall thickness is too big (greater than the minimal radius of curvature).



- manz

Hi all,
Just bumped into this after reading Michaels post about the MoI review in Develop3d mag.
Autodesk Inventor LT one year free license...................... http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/inventor_lt/
Might be a good companion to MoI.


cheers

hmmmmm interesting.

I wonder whats missing tho, I mean what can't LT do in comparision with big brother Inventor ?

Hi Paul,
>> I wonder whats missing tho,...

According to the FAQ not much on the modeling side of things, not much missing that is.

Hope you don't mind the attachment Michael ?

Cheers
~Danny~

The free version includes one dozen aggressive sales calls from Autodesk... :)

jonah

Thanks Danny....

Jonah: I wouldnt dream of leaving any contactable numbers ;-))

>>Autodesk Inventor LT one year free license

I would of liked to of taken a look, but unfortunately the download/registration is limited to location :-

>>"Autodesk Inventor LT Technology Preview 2009 is available as English language software and is available for download only in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United States"

Wow! 1.3G download.
Not as lightweight as MoI :o

.

> Not as lightweight as MoI :o

It seems like lightweight has really gone out of fashion or something... :)

That is roughly 100 times the size of MoI's download.

- Michael

>>It seems like lightweight has really gone out of fashion or something...

And that's 'Inventor LT', imagine how big 'Inventor Heavy' would be :)

>>That is roughly 100 times the size of MoI's download.

And roughly 10 times the price when it goes to market.

~Danny~

I got burned by Autodesk back in the early 90's when they came out with a product called "3D Concepts" - 3D programs back then were buggy and archiac by todays standards.

Anyway, the program was cool except if you boolean'd holes in your object it would display fine in the package but upon export the holes was missing!

Sent in several reports on this, it was never fixed, product dropped - just a quick program for them to rake in $250 to obtain some revenue and they moved on.

It looks like a powerful product but the idea is to get you hooked now, charge you later...

Caveat Emptor.

-Will