imps111/man1/doc1

issue 070601
PDMS ImPLANT-STL
version 1.1
User Guide
2
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PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
i
Contents
1 Introducing ImPLANT-STL
1.1 General............................................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Input to ImPLANT-STL .................................................................................... 1-1
1.3 Output from ImPLANT-STL............................................................................. 1-1
1.4 Compatibility with PDMS DESIGN.................................................................. 1-2
1.4.1 Solid Polyhedron Definition .................................................................1-2
2 Controlling the Process
2.1 The Translation Process .................................................................................... 2-1
2.2 Controlling the Quantity of STL Data .............................................................. 2-2
2.3 Controlling the Quality of STL Data................................................................. 2-3
2.4 Controlling the PDMS Model ............................................................................ 2-3
2.5 Reviewing and Improving the PDMS Model..................................................... 2-4
2.6 Typical STL Files and Resultant PDMS Models .............................................. 2-5
3 Using ImPLANT-STL
3.1 Modes of Operation............................................................................................ 3-1
3.2 The ImPLANT-STL User Interface................................................................... 3-1
3.2.1 Advanced Options without Solid Polyhedra Option............................3-3
3.2.2 Advanced Options with Solid Polyhedra Option .................................3-5
3.3 Interactive Mode................................................................................................ 3-7
3.4 Batch Mode ........................................................................................................ 3-7
3.5 Adding the PDMS Macro File to PDMS DESIGN............................................ 3-9
4 STL Input
4.1 Mechanical CAD Systems and STL File Production ........................................ 4-1
4.2 Units and Scalar Factors................................................................................... 4-2
5 PDMS Macro Output
5.1 General............................................................................................................... 5-1
5.2 PDMS Data Structure ....................................................................................... 5-1
5.2.1 PDMS v11.2 Geometry Hierarchy........................................................5-1
5.2.2 PDMS Version With Solid Polyhedra Geometry Hierarchy................5-2
6 Reports
7 Error Messages
7.1 System Errors .................................................................................................... 7-1
7.2 Licensing Errors ................................................................................................ 7-1
7.3 Parameter Setting Errors.................................................................................. 7-1
7.4 File Access Errors .............................................................................................. 7-2
ii
7.5 Data Errors ........................................................................................................ 7-2
7.6 Data Processing Errors...................................................................................... 7-2
8 Limitations
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 1-1
User Guide
1 Introducing ImPLANT-STL
STL format provides an approximation of a curved surface model, with accuracy and
level of detail controlled through a tolerance setting. PDMS ImPLANT-STL maps this
format onto PDMS 3D primitives. Hence a 100% accurate translation of the source
model into PDMS geometry cannot be guaranteed.
1.1 General
ImPLANT-STL is a standalone program for translating stereolithography (STL)
files, that have been generated from non-Cadcentre Mechanical CAD systems,
into PDMS macro files that can be input to PDMS.
ImPLANT-STL is available for Windows NT platforms running Windows
NTv4.0 Service Pack 5 and Windows 2000.
ImPLANT-STL is sitefile protected, ie before you can use ImPLANT-STL it
must have been installed and tested in accordance with the instructions
contained in the PDMS ImPLANT-STL Installation Guide.
1.2 Input to ImPLANT-STL
The input to ImPLANT-STL consists of STL files generated from/by non-
Cadcentre Mechanical CAD systems. Some non-Cadcentre Mechanical CAD
systems have an inbuilt facility for generating STL files, others do not, and the
generation of STL files from these systems involves the use of a separate
translator program, such as CADfix from FEGS.
The STL files will have the extension .stl and can be either ASCII or binary in
format. ImPLANT-STL reads both ASCII and binary STL files.
The ImPLANT-STL program works in read-only mode and the original STL
files will not be changed in any way.
1.3 Output from ImPLANT-STL
The output from ImPLANT-STL consists of an ASCII format macro file that is
suitable for input to PDMS DESIGN. The format of the output file means that
the program does not create any databases within PDMS DESIGN.
Introducing ImPLANT-STL
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
1.4 Compatibility with PDMS DESIGN
The files generated by ImPLANT-STL are compatible with all versions of PDMS
DESIGN from 11.2 upwards. PDMS DESIGN does not need to be installed on
the machine running ImPLANT-STL.
In future PDMS releases after version 11.3.1 a new PDMS primitive has been
introduced called Solid Polyhedron with a generic type of POLYHE. ImPLANT-
STL allows the creation and use of this primitive, see the Installation Guide.
Note that if you use this facility to create Solid Polyhedra and you attempt to
read the macro generated into a version of PDMS DESIGN that does not
support solid polyhedra the macro will fail.
1.4.1 Solid Pol yhedron Definition
The definition of the Solid Polyhedron is a set of faces that have to make a
complete solid, ie all edges of the faces have to have corresponding edges from
other faces. The Solid Polyhedron has the following characteristics:
1. It is more economical to store in PDMS databases than a corresponding
POHE/POGO arrangement.
2. It is faster to manipulate in the Design module.
3. The clash detection is better than POHE/POGO because it can detect parts
that are completely inside the polyhedron.
4. It allows the use of invisible edges. This is a facility that:
a. Edges are not displayed in wireline mode in DESIGN.
b. In colour-shaded mode in DESIGN the parts are displayed with smooth
shading between faces that share invisible edges.
c. Drawings produced using the DRAFT module show the visible edges and
any silhouette edges only.
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 2-1
User Guide
2 Controlling the Process
2.1 The Translation Process
Within the STL format all objects are represented by triangles, the triangle
being the shape with the minimum number of sides that can be used to
represent a three-dimensional object. Unfortunately, reducing a shape to
triangles increases the quantity of electronic data necessary to define the shape.
For example, a square drawn in a CAD system is defined by its four corners or
vertices. The same square in STL format is represented by two triangles, each
triangle having three vertices, totalling six vertices, representing a 50%
increase in data needed to define the square.
Figure 2-1 Data Volume Comparison
Taking this analogy a step further, a cube within a CAD system is defined by its
eight vertices. The surface of the same cube in STL format is represented by 12
triangles, two for each of the six faces of the cube, each triangle having three
vertices, totalling 36 vertices. This represents a 450% increase in data needed to
define the cube.
Controlling the Process
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
Shapes within a CAD system more complex than a cube result in even greater
data increase factors. It can therefore be seen that STL files can be very large in
terms of data volume or file size. This has two main effects:
Large STL files may take several hours to map into PDMS DESIGN.
Highly detailed models in PDMS may drag down the performance of the
computer and will be slow to manipulate.
It is therefore very important that the detail in the source CAD file
used to generate the STL file and the amount of detail that is required
in the PDMS Model should be considered very carefully.
However, it is impossible to give any definite instructions as to what should be
done as there are too many possible combinations of source CAD systems and
PDMS model uses to define parameters for. The most suitable combination of
parameters and settings is best determined by trial and error. The following
guidelines may be useful:
control the quantity of STL data
control the quality of STL data
control the PDMS model
review and improve the PDMS model.
2.2 Controlling the Quantity of STL Data
ImPLANT-STL processes STL data intelligently, attempting to recognise
groups of triangular facets that equate to particular standard shapes defined in
PDMS as PDMS primitives (box/cylinder/pyramid/extrusions and negative
versions of these). Facet data that cannot be mapped to any of these PDMS
primitives is dealt with by creating the facets as POHE (polyhedron) primitives,
a less efficient form of handling the data. However, if the solid polyhedron
mode is used (see below), and ImPLANT-STL recognises a solid then this is
efficient.
A good indicator of a successful operation using ImPLANT-STL is the quantity
of POHE primitives within the resultant PDMS model. The fewer the number of
POHEs the easier it is to manipulate the data in PDMS DESIGN and PDMS
DRAFT.
There are therefore two factors that directly affect the performance of model
manipulation in PDMS DESIGN. These are:
The ability of ImPLANT-STL to recognise and map triangular facet
groups to PDMS primitives.
The quantity of data to be translated.
It is a good working practice to minimise the amount of data that needs to be
translated; this can be done by applying the following guidelines:
Using ImPLANT-STL
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 2-3
User Guide
Remove all non-essential aspects of the source model, eg in the case of a
gearbox, export the gearbox casing but not the gearbox internals.
Remove or disable features in the originating Mechanical CAD System
that automatically generate many curved surfaces, such as fillets and
chamfers. Some Mechanical CAD Systems allow these features to be
disabled temporarily, while the export to STL file operation is in progress.
Use an appropriate tolerance setting when exporting to the STL file. It is
impossible to stipulate an exact tolerance setting since this depends very
much upon your requirements for the PDMS DESIGN model. The higher
the tolerance factor setting the less accurate will be the resultant model
and vice versa. The recommended approach is to start with a high
tolerance setting, inspect the resultant PDMS model, and re-import all or
part of the model at a lower tolerance setting, as necessary.
2.3 Controlling the Quality of STL Data
The integrity of the source model has a direct bearing on the quality of the data
produced during an STL export operation. For example, if a solid in the original
model is not properly closed prior to being exported, then ImPLANT-STL will
not recognise the resultant triangular facet group as a single PDMS primitive
and will map the solid inefficiently with POHE primitives. Most Mechanical
CAD Systems have a healing facility that will process the model and check it for
inconsistencies such as solids that are not properly closed. It is therefore
strongly recommended that source models are healed in their originating
Mechanical CAD System prior to the data being exported in STL format. Where
the Mechanical CAD System does not have this facility, another application
such as CADfix from FEGS may be used to provide the healing function and to
carry out the export to STL format.
The STL format is an approximation of a curved surface model, the accuracy
and level of detail of which may be controlled through tolerance setting. A
balance must be struck between too great and too low tolerance settings. This
can be done by reviewing and where necessary improving the PDMS model
created.
Too great a tolerance setting may result in errors in the STL file.
Too low a tolerance setting may result in the STL translation operation
failing, eg where holes are located close to the edge of a solid.
2.4 Controlling the PDMS Model
If you are aware that holes below a certain diameter need not be transferred to
the PDMS model, then the option to remove these holes should be selected. This
may enable ImPLANT-STL to recognise and map more parts to PDMS
Controlling the Process
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
primitives, making it easier to manipulate the PDMS model. There may be
occasions however when ImPLANT-STL cannot remove the holes in a part
because in doing so it would invalidate the part.
You can obtain the value of the minimum hole size that has been exported by
viewing the ImPLANT-STL report. You can then use a higher value than this to
remove these holes and re-run the export operation through ImPLANT-STL to
review the changes this makes to the model.
The Wrapper option should be used only when you are sure that most or all
solid parts are inside other parts and can therefore be removed without
affecting the appearance of the PDMS model. If the Wrapper option is used
when this is not the case, then the resultant PDMS model may be too difficult to
manipulate. This is due to the fact that Wrapping prevents any PDMS
primitive recognition, increasing the amount of data that has to be transferred.
2.5 Reviewing and Improving the PDMS Model
The extent to which the resultant imported PDMS model may require to be
modified depends entirely upon your end requirements. A crude representation
may be sufficient for space management or clash checking purposes, whereas a
highly detailed model is required for realistic visualisation. Alternatively, if the
intention is to actively work on and manipulate the imported data, then an
efficient and compact data structure is of paramount importance. Whatever the
intention it is best to review the PDMS model. The review can range from a
superficial visual check to a detailed scrutiny of the graphics and database
hierarchy.
Reviewing the PDMS model allows you to:
verify that the level of detail in the model is sufficient for your purposes
identify areas where the data structure could be improved
identify any problem areas.
If the PDMS model is generated through ImPLANT-STL with a high tolerance
setting, the model needs to be checked visually to locate errors due to failings in
the STL export process. Identified problem areas can then be re-exported at a
lower tolerance setting. If this does not correct the errors or there is geometry
missing from the model, then there may be faults with the source model. In this
case check that the source model has been healed prior to export.
If the PDMS model is visually acceptable but is slow to manipulate it should be
checked to see if there are any areas where geometry can be remodelled more
efficiently using fewer primitives. Viewing the model in wireline mode will
effectively display areas that are densely packed with POHE primitives, ie
areas where it has not been possible for ImPLANT-STL to generate a more
efficient representation based on PDMS primitives.
Using ImPLANT-STL
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 2-5
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2.6 Typical STL Files and Resultant PDMS Models
The following Figures are examples of typical STL files and the PDMS models
resulting from their import into PDMS with various option changes in
ImPLANT-STL.
Figures 2-2 to 2-5 are examples of a PDMS model generated from a
Pro/ENGINEER source file.
Figure 2-2 Original Model as Triangles
Figure 2-3 Solid Model with All Holes Translated
Controlling the Process
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
Figure 2-4 Solid Model with Holes Smaller than 40 mm Diameter Removed
Figure 2-5 Solid Model with All Holes Removed
Using ImPLANT-STL
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Figures 2-6 to 2-8 are examples of a PDMS Model generated from a CATIA
source file.
Figure 2-6 Original Model as Triangles
Figure 2-7 Solid Model with All Holes Translated
Controlling the Process
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
Figure 2-8 Solid Model with All Holes Removed
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 3-1
User Guide
3 Using ImPLANT-STL
3.1 Modes of Operation
ImPLANT-STL has two modes of operation:
interactive mode
batch mode.
In the interactive mode you input your requirements to the ImPLANT-STL
program via the user interface.
In the batch mode you inputs your requirements to the ImPLANT-STL program
via a batch (.bat) file.
The normal mode of operation is the interactive mode.
3.2 The ImPLANT-STL User Interface
The ImPLANT-STL user interface comprises two interactive Windows-based
dialog boxes, the second accessed from the first. The basic dialog box is shown
in Figure 3-1. and comprises the following sections/fields and buttons:
STL File section
File name this field is used to specify the full path and
filename of the STL file to be translated.
STL Mode this field is used to specify the format of the
STL file, ASCII or Binary. ASCII is the default
value of this field.
PDMS Macro File section
File name this field is used to specify the full path and
filename of the resultant PDMS macro file. If no
value is entered here the program defaults the
macro file to the same location as the source
STL file and gives it the same name as the
source STL file with the extension amended to
.mac.
Using ImPLANT-STL
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
Reporting section
File name this field is used to specify the full path and
filename of the ImPLANT-STL program log file
or report. If no value is entered here the
program defaults the log file to the same
location as the source STL file and gives it the
same name as the source STL file with the
extension amended to .log.
The STL File, PDMS Macro File and Reporting sections also contain a browser
button ( ). This is to enable you to browse and select file locations and
names. This may be a simpler way to specify a particular location and filename
where the full path and filename is a complex string.
PDMS Model Section
Holes this field is used to set how the ImPLANT-STL
program deals with holes. The options are:
On the default value for this field. Where the
program finds holes in objects in the STL file,
corresponding negative primitives (holes) are
generated in the MAC file.
Off when this option is selected, where the program
finds holes in objects in the STL file, these are
all ignored and no holes are generated in the
MAC file.
Diameter> when this option is selected, you are able to
specify the maximum size of hole that is to be
translated as a hole. Where the program finds
holes in objects in the STL file with a diameter
smaller than the value entered, these are
ignored and corresponding holes are not
generated in the MAC file. Where the program
finds holes in objects in the STL file with a
diameter equal to or greater than the value
entered, corresponding holes are generated in
the MAC file.
Scale factor this field is used to specify an enlargement or
reduction factor that the ImPLANT-STL
program is to apply. The default value for this
field is 1.0.
Note: Within the ImPLANT-STL program there is no concept of
units. During the translation process the ImPLANT-STL
program maintains the physical relationships of objects in the
STL file, resultant primitives in the MAC file are therefore of
the same relative size. If the units used in the originating
program, from which the STL file was generated, are known,
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 3-3
User Guide
the Scale factor field can be used to scale up or down the
resultant MAC file objects to suit the PDMS file units.
Advanced Options>> clicking on this button calls up the advanced
dialog box, shown in Figure 3-2 or 3-3.
Figure 3-1 ImPLANT STL User Interface - Basic Dialog Box
3.2.1 Advanced Options without Solid Polyhedra Option
The second dialog box is similar to the first dialog box, with the following
additional fields and button in the PDMS Model section:
Min. sides per cylinder this field is used to specify the minimum
number of sides required in order for the
program to recognise and map a cylinder. The
program determines that an object is a
cylinder by inference, it actually detects a
cylinder as an extrusion having a circular
profile. The circular profile is mapped by
intersecting vertices, and the value set in this
field represents the minimum number of
intersecting vertices that the program is
required to use to map a circular profile.
Using ImPLANT-STL
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
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Geometry this field is used to set how the ImPLANT-
STL program is to deal with coplanar faces.
The options are:
Compressed the default value for this field. With this
option selected the program combines
coplanar faces with shared edges into bigger
faces. It also maps geometric solids into
PDMS primitives. This option produces the
smallest resultant MAC file.
Uncompressed with this option selected the program does not
combine coplanar faces with shared edges
into bigger faces and does not map geometric
solids into PDMS primitives. This option
produces a much larger MAC file than the
Compressed option.
Wrapper this field is used to set how the program is to
treat objects with internal parts. The options
are:
On with this option selected the program creates a
wrapper around all solid parts. It will then
remove from the MAC file any parts that are
wholly inside other parts. Internal features
created by solid parts overlapping are also
removed from the MAC file. This option is
useful if the STL file contains parts that have
lots of internal parts that can be recognised by
ImPLANT-STL as solids.
Off the default value for this field. With this option
selected the program does not perform the
wrapping operation.
Advanced Options<< clicking on this button closes the advanced
dialog box and re-opens the basic dialog box.
Both dialog boxes contain the following:
Create button Clicking on this button initiates the translation
process within the ImPLANT-STL program.
Exit button Clicking on this button closes the user interface
and terminates the ImPLANT-STL program.
The area at the bottom of the dialog box is used for displaying messages while a
translation operation is in progress.
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 3-5
User Guide
Figure 3-2 ImPLANT-STL User Interface-Advanced Dialog Box
3.2.2 Advanced Options with Solid Pol yhedra Option
Note that to be able to use this option the Environment Variable
IMPLANTSTLPOLYHE has to be set to true as described in the Installation
Guide.
The following additional fields are present on the Advanced dialog box.
Solid polyhedron This field is used to set how the program is to
map solid parts to PDMS. The options are:
On With this option selected the program creates
solid polyhedra for solid parts that can not be
mapped onto Boxes, Cylinders and other PDMS
primitives. This is the default value when the
appropriate environment variable has been set
to true.
Off With this option selected the program does not
create solid polyhedra but maps these parts to
PDMS POHE/POGO.
Using ImPLANT-STL
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
Edge visibility This field is used to set the mode by which the
program can set edges to be visible or invisible.
The options are:
On The default value for this field. With this option
selected the program sets all edges to be visible.
Off With this option selected the program sets all
edges to be invisible.
Angle > With this option selected you can set an angle
by which the program computes if an edge will
become visible or invisible. The default value is
set to 60 degrees. If the angle is greater than
the angle between the normals of the two faces
that share an edge then the edge becomes
invisible otherwise it will become visible.
Figure 3-3 ImPLANT-STL User Interface-Advanced Dialog Box (Solid
Polyhedra option)
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 3-7
User Guide
3.3 Interacti ve Mode
The following procedure represents the minimum interaction that is required in
order to generate a PDMS macro file from an STL file.
STEP 1 Start up the ImPLANT-STL program by executing the following:
Start>Programs>CADCENTRE>PDMSImPLANT-STL 1.1.1>PDMS
ImPLANT-STL
STEP 2 Enter or select, using the browser, the name of the STL file to be
translated.
STEP 3 Specify whether the STL file is in ASCII or binary format.
STEP 4 Click on the Create button to start the translation process.
STEP 5 Repeat STEPS 2 to 4 for each STL file that is to be translated.
Click the Exit button to terminate the ImPLANT-STL program.
The above procedure will create one or more PDMS macro files suitable for
input to PDMS DESIGN. Each of the macro files will by default have the same
root name as the associated originating STL file, with the extension of .mac.
In addition, there will be also be a report file (log) created for each translation
file operation. Each of the report files will by default have the same root name
as the associated originating STL file, with the extension of .log.
All file names are validated by the ImPLANT-STL program prior to the
translation operation starting. You can rename PDMS macro files and report
files using Windows NT Explorer.
3.4 Batch Mode
ImPLANT-STL may be run from a batch file, allowing multiple STL files to be
translated into PDMS macro files in the background.
In order to run ImPLANT-STL from a batch file it is first necessary to create a
batch (.bat) file containing the instructions to initiate the ImPLANT-STL
program and also the options to apply to the program. The options available are
as previously described in Chapter 2.2 The ImPLANT-STL User Interface.
The format of the batch file is shown below:
ImPLANTSTL <stl_filename> [-b] [-o <output_filename>]
[-r <report_filename>][-w] [-t] [-h <holes_diameter>]
[-c <sides_in_a_cylinder>] [-s <scalar_factor>] [-dpdms113] [-i
<invisibility_angle>] [-?]
where:
<stl_filename> is the filename of the input STL file. (Filename
must not contain spaces.)
Using ImPLANT-STL
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
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<output_filename> is the filename of the resultant PDMS macro file,
the default being the same root as the input STL
file with the extension .mac. (Filename must
not contain spaces.)
<report_filename> is the filename of the report or log generated by
the program, the default being the same root as
the input STL file with the extension .log.
<holes_diameter> is a numerical value indicating to the program
the minimum diameter of hole that is to be
maintained during the translation process, ie
holes with a diameter of less than the value
specified will be ignored. If this value is set to -
1.0 then all holes will be ignored.
<sides_in_a_cylinder>is a numerical value indicating to the program
the minimum number of sides that to be used to
represent a cylinder or negative cylinder. The
default value is 6.
<scalar_factor> is a numerical value indicating to the program
the scalar factor that is to be applied during the
translation in order to make the resultant model
bigger or smaller.
<invisibility_angle> Is an angle in degrees for the program to decide
which edges are to become invisible when a Solid
Polyhedron is created. If the angle given is
greater than the angle between the normals of
the two faces that share the edge then the edge
becomes invisible, otherwise it will become
visible.
The options to be applied are included in the batch file in the form of command line
switches, where:
-b indicates that the input STL file is a binary file.
If this switch is not used the program uses the
default value, in this case ASCII.
-o indicates that the following filename is to be used
for the output MAC file. If this switch is not used
the program uses the default value.
-r indicates that the following filename is to be used
for the report file. If this switch is not used the
program uses the default value.
-w indicates that the Wrapper option is to be used. If
this switch is not used the program does not
apply the Wrapper.
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 3-9
User Guide
-t indicates that the Geometry option is to be set to
Uncompressed. If this switch is not used the
program will use the default value, Compressed.
-h indicates that holes are to be translated and that
the following numerical value is to be applied as
the minimum size of hole that is to be translated.
-c indicates the minimum number of sides to be
used to recognise and map cylinders or negative
cylinders.
-s indicates that the following figure is to be applied
during the translation in order to enlarge or
reduce the resultant model in the MAC file.
-dpdms113 indicates that solid polyhedra are to be created.
-i indicates that the following figure is to be applied
to decide if an edge is visible or invisible.
-? Help
Several STL input files may be processed at once if you create a batch file with
a series of ImPLANT-STL commands.
3.5 Adding the PDMS Macro File to PDMS DESIGN
The output from ImPLANT-STL is a PDMS macro file, ready to be read into
PDMS DESIGN. This is done using the following procedure:
STEP 1 Start up PDMS DESIGN and make sure that the database is at
the appropriate ZONE level.
STEP 2 Read in each MAC file as:
$m <filename>
Large MAC files should be read into PDMS DESIGN by entering PDMS
DESIGN in dev tty mode and entering the command trace off before the read
command.
Reading in the macro may take some time, especially with large files.
Using ImPLANT-STL
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
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PDMS Macro Output
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 4-1
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4 STL Input
4.1 Mechanical CAD Systems and STL File Production
ImPLANT-STL addresses the problem of transferring 3D model data from
Mechanical CAD Systems to PDMS, where the model can be manipulated more
easily in the Design module and drawings can be produced via the Draft
module. The most popular Mechanical CAD Systems are:
CATIA
Pro/ENGINEER
I-DEAS
SolidWorks
ACIS based systems
Parasolid based systems
Unigraphics
Solid Edge
CADAM
ROBCAD
CADDS5.
The output files from other popular Mechanical CAD Systems, such as
AutoCAD and Microstation, may be imported into PDMS DESIGN using
product specific translators.
Most of these Mechanical CAD Systems have the capability to export files in the
STL format direct or some other standard format or CAD native format such as
IGES, STEP AP203/AP214, etc. Translator programs are available which can
read these other export file formats and generate STL files. One such
Translator Program is CADfix from FEGS. The possible routes to generating
STL files are shown in below.
Figure 4-1 STL File Input to ImPLANT-STL
STL Input
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
User Guide
The method of production of the STL files is an important factor in minimising
the volume of data that needs to be transferred. Applying the following factors
will help to reduce the volume of data:
All curved parts are approximated as planar faces (triangles) in the
process of being exported to the STL file. All STL translator programs
offer an approximation/tolerance factor to achieve this. It is very
important to control the number of triangles produced, keeping these to
the minimum to produce an acceptable model in PDMS DESIGN.
All parts of the model that are not essential should be excluded from the
transfer, in particular any internal parts that will not be used in PDMS.
Many features, such as chamfers, are not needed in PDMS and these also
should be excluded from the transfer.
4.2 Units and Scalar Factors
Within STL there is no concept of units and therefore ImPLANT-STL generates
PDMS macro files with no reference to any units. The translation operation
maintains the physical size of parts as they were in the originating program.
The size of the parts as they appear in PDMS can be adjusted by applying a
scalar factor to the STL file within ImPLANT-STL.
PDMS Macro Output
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 5-1
User Guide
5 PDMS Macro Output
5.1 General
The data output from ImPLANT-STL is presented in the form of a PDMS macro
file that can be read into PDMS DESIGN in order to create the corresponding
primitives and associated hierarchy.
5.2 PDMS Data Structure
When an STL file is translated into a MAC file and this is read into PDMS, all
geometric parts are converted to PDMS primitives which form a single PDMS
EQUIPMENT per STL file. PDMS uses the name from the MAC file as the
EQUIPMENT name.
5.2.1 PDMS v11.2 Geometry Hierarchy
If a BOX, PYRAMID, CYLINDER or EXTRUSION is recognised by ImPLANT-
STL, then these primitives are added to the PDMS EQUIPMENT element.
Negative primitives are added below these primitives.
Any other closed volumes that are not recognised as being any of the above
PDMS primitive types are added to the EQUIPMENT element as a
SUBEQUIPMENT. Each face with one or more holes in it is represented as an
EXTRUSION with each hole represented by a NEXTRUSION. All remaining
faces, with no holes, are represented by PDMS POHEs, each face of a POHE
being represented by a single POGO (polygon) element. The POHEs are added
under the SUBEQUIPMENT.
All non-closed volumes are split into non-manifold surfaces. Each non-manifold
surface is then treated as a closed volume as detailed previously.
The geometry hierarchy is as shown in Figure 5-1.
PDMS Macro Output
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
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Figure 5-1 PDMS Geometry Hierarchy
5.2.2 PDMS Version With Solid Pol yhedra Geometry Hierarchy
Any Solid Polyhedra (POLYHE) will be created under the EQUIPMENT
hierarchy rather than as a set of Extrusions and POHE under a
SUBEQUIPMENT.
Error Messages
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 6-1
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6 Reports
The standard report or log generated by ImPLANT-STL following a translation
operation provides the following information:
a count of the primitives found and translated
a list of errors or warnings
An example of a report is given below:
ImPLANT-STL REPORT
Date of run: Tue May 24:11:55:29 2001
Input StereoLithography Binary file:
C:\CADCENTRE\PdmsImPLANT-STL1.1.1\test\slide_gate1.stl
Output PDMS DESIGN macro file:
C:\CADCENTRE\PdmsImPLANT-STL1.1.1\test\slide_gate1.mac
primitives Processed
--------------------
Number of primitives recognised is 40
Number of Solid Shells is 15
Number of Boxes is 2
Number of Extrusions is 14
Number of Cylinders is 9
The smallest hole diameter found exported is: 10
Reports
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Error Messages
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 7-1
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7 Error Messages
7.1 System Errors
These errors indicate that there is something wrong with the ImPLANT-STL
program installation. In the first instance try re-installing the program.
Process cannot be initialised - check installation
Cannot find process for ImPLANT-STL user interface - check
installation
7.2 Licensing Errors
Either you do not have a valid license for the product, or all your licenses are in
use.
***** FATAL SITEFILE ERROR *****
Please contact your CADCENTRE Support representative
Cannot get license for this version, error =
** Warning **: PDMS ImPLANT-STL license expires in %d days
7.3 Parameter Setting Errors
The following errors may appear when operating ImPLANT-STL in Interactive
Mode:
Must provide a file name for STL file input
Must provide a file name for PDMS Macro output
You have not provided a report filename
Output file has same name as STL file input
Report file has same name as STL file input
Diameter must be a value >0.0
Scalar factor must be a value >0.0
Number of cylinder sides must be an integer >=3
Error Messages
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
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The following errors may appear when operating ImPLANT-STL in batch mode:
**Warning**: No scale factor for -s argument
**Warning**: Invalid scale factor for -s argument: <value>
**Warning**: No argument for output file name
**Warning**: Invalid name for -o argument: <name>
**Warning**: No argument for report file name
**Warning**: Invalid name for -r argument: <name>
**Warning**: No number for holes diameter argument
**Warning**: Invalid number for -h argument: <value>
**Warning**: No argument for sides in a cylinder
**Warning**: Invalid number for -c argument: <value>
**Warning**: Invalid number for -i argument: <value>
**Warning**: Unexpected argument: <text>
**Warning**: No Input File Name Supplied
7.4 File Access Errors
Either you have not provided a filename where it is needed, or the file cannot be
found, or does not have the correct access rights set.
**Warning**: Cannot open input STL file <name>
**Warning**: Cannot open output PDMS macro file <name>
7.5 Data Errors
**Error**: Unexpected end of file <name>
**Error**: This file does not start with solid: It may not be an STL
ASCII file
**Error**: Non-triangular facet(s) detected
**Error**: This File is incomplete (or not a binary file)
7.6 Data Processing Errors
**Warning**: Wrapper failed
**Warning**: The wrapper model did not create a solid model
Error Messages
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 7-3
User Guide
**Warning**: Object <n> has not been recognised as solid
**Warning**: No holes have been removed from primitive <n>
because too many faces were to be removed
Error Messages
1-2 PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1
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Error Messages
PDMS ImPLANT-STL Version 1.1 8-1
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8 Limitations
ImPLANT-STL is not capable of mapping all PDMS primitives, in
particular it cannot map Surfaces of Revolution due to the very high
number of faces that it would need to generate.
Occasionally ImPLANT-STL does not recognise solid parts.
ImPLANT-STL may fail when attempting to translate surfaces that
overlap or are duplicated for open skin surfaces.