Hi, a client sent me a STEP file and when I open it in MoI, some of the surfaces that create a thickness aren't trimmed properly. The model is sort of a pipe and you can see some thickness at the bottom of the image, but it doesn't continue around the entire opening. The model imported small so I enlarged it 100x, hoping to retrim the surfaces, but the trimming edges seem to be missing. I want to look smart for my client. Is there something I can tell them to do in SolidWorks that will create a STEP file that I can use.

Thanks if you can help me!

-Randy

Here is are two snapshots of the 3D PDF they included with the STEP file.

-Randy

Hi Randy, is it possible for you to send me the file at moi@moi3d.com so I can take a look?

Also are you using MoI v3 or an older version?


> Is there something I can tell them to do in SolidWorks that will create a STEP file that I can use.

Try asking them for an IGES file (.igs or .iges file extension) and see if that seems to work better or not. Sometimes there can be problems with STEP format on closed surfaces since SolidWorks creates trim curves that can cross over the closing "seam edge" of the surface, those have to be split when import into MoI and that splitting process can be delicate sometimes. IGES files can have their own different kind of problems but between them you will be more likely to be able to salvage it.

If you want help untrimming and retrimming it, please send me the file through e-mail if you can, I promise to keep it confidential.

- Michael

It will not more simple to say to Solidworks users to use an Export 3dm ?
They are existing some add-in ;)
http://www.sycode.com/products/3dm_export_sw/

And from the docs of Solidworks seems export for Rhino so 3dm is existing!
http://www.solidworks.com/sw/products/3d-cad/cad-import-export.htm

Hi Pilou,

> They are existing some add-in ;)
> http://www.sycode.com/products/3dm_export_sw/

That particular one won't work for transfer into MoI because it only stores triangle mesh type data in the 3DM files that it writes.

- Michael

Ah damned! :)

Thanks for the quick response, Michael! I am using v2.52. I have sent you the file. Thanks for taking a look at it!
-Randy Geske

Hi Pilou. I was just about to get excited about that export plug-in!
-Randy

> And from the docs of Solidworks seems export for Rhino so 3dm is existing!
> http://www.solidworks.com/sw/products/3d-cad/cad-import-export.htm

I went to the link and they list Rhino as an import/export format. Is that also triangle mesh type data or could that be used instead of having my client export to STEP of IGES?

-Randy

I will be applying a carbon fiber texture that runs along the contours of the model as shown below.



Is there any way to control how UVs are created on export from MoI or are UVs something I can only deal with in Cinema4D, the app intend to use to produce a realistic rendering? My normal workflow is to export OBJ from MoI and import this into Cinema4D.

-Randy

Hi Randy, I got your e-mail, I'll reply back to you there.

> Is there any way to control how UVs are created on export from MoI or are UVs
> something I can only deal with in Cinema4D, the app intend to use to produce a
> realistic rendering?

No, MoI does not have any way to control UVs and currently only exports a very basic set of UV coordinates. Usually you'll need to discard those and have better UVs created in your polygon modeling program.

There are also various stand-alone UV mapping utilities which you can use as well, check out here:

UVMapper: http://www.uvmapper.com/
Unwrap3D: http://www.unwrap3d.com/u3d/index.aspx
Unfold3D: http://www.polygonal-design.fr/

- Michael

Hi Randy,

> I went to the link and they list Rhino as an import/export format. Is that also triangle mesh type data
> or could that be used instead of having my client export to STEP of IGES?

I don't think all of those listed there are for both import and export, some are import only and some are export only.

I seem to remember that SolidWorks has a 3DM importer but I don't think it has a 3DM exporter. I may be wrong though. If it did have one it would likely be not mesh data only.

- Michael

Hi Randy, I sent you a reply through e-mail, I'll also post it here:

---------------------

Hi Randy, there may be something wrong with the file, I tried to open it in a different CAD program called ViaCAD and it also had a problem with that exact same surface there too.

Rhino did seem to be able to open it ok though, so I’ve attached here a 3DM file saved off from Rhino, hope that helps.

Other than that, Moi v3 does seem to read more of the file than MoI v2.x did although it still has that one surface messed up. But there are all sorts of various fixes in v3 so it is probably worthwhile to update to v3.

Thanks,
- Michael

Thanks for your help and answers to my questions! Yes, I just discovered today that v3 isn't beta anymore. I will definitely be upgrading. You have created a great program!

Yes, that Rhino file has all of the edges. I noticed that the surface is missing, though. Even though, I have owned your program for a while, I'm a relative newbie when it comes to MoI, is there a way I can make that surface myself?

-Randy

I was able to fill in the surface with Loft. Thanks again for all of the help!
-Randy

You're welcome Randy! Yup Loft was the right tool for filling that in.

- Michael