3D Model with PMI included

[[Au...]]

Hello everyone,

I have a CAD file that our designer said are with PMI included. But it is a file .prt.19
How it should be exported in .stp file? I read on this forum that should be in STEP 242 format?
With what software I can do this? In our factory we are using Creo. Or what should to ask to designer when they are update the CAD file with PMI info? (it's from other country, can't talk directly with him)

If someone has some info about this topic, please post here if you have any documentation, or any articles. For example I found this info:

https://www.cati.com/blog/2017/01/expor ... olidworks/

Thank you!

[[Ro...]]

I use solidworks for my cad files, but any major cad system should be able to convert for you.

if you are using an older version of calypso, you may need to change your cad file extension from '.STEP' to '.STP' before calypso will recognise it, its a bug that they eventually fixed but it was a major problem up until about 2 years ago.
just rename the file in windows and you should be good to go.

[[Da...]]

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Is it really .prt. 19?
Never heard of it.

[[Au...]]

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yes, .prt.19 My colleagues exported this file in .stp but no PMI info available in Calypso. Now I asked them to try to export in .step 242

http://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_p ... _STEP.html

[[Da...]]

OK. Look, I think EVERY modeller has extra license to pay to do STEP with PMI equipt model export.
So ask local PTC (Creo) support is one option.
And even with STEP model with PMI in place, there is still not straight-forward path. Search this forum for PMI, example -> viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3953
There is option two - call Zeiss about native format (Creo or whatever) import. Also extra license to pay.
And report your findings back here please.

[[Ri...]]

I don't know about Creo (I'm willing to test if someone has one that they'd like to test), but NX, Solidworks, and Catia all have a native with PMI that works well with Calypso.

[[Er...]]

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Paying for those added file formats from NX, Solidworks, and Catia are ridiculously expensive! Not an option at all.

[[Ri...]]

Unfortunately the native CAD formats are not free-to-use APIs.

Hopefully STEP242 will stay relatively inexpensive.

[[Ün...]]

We use Catia in our company. They claimed $ 10,000 for the PMI plug-in and $ 1,000 for annual maintenance. I never even presented it to management 🙂

[[Er...]]

With the risk of stepping over some boundary here, you can convert all formats with or without PMI (that is supported) to sab directly in the AIDE with command lines without paying for any special license.

(Now, I'm only saying that it is possible do this, I do not encourage it. Same as you can shoot someone in the head. But you shouldn't.)

Maybe this is something you guys and gals at Zeiss should have a look at, I can't come up with any reason why us, end users should have access to AIDE? (Except .scm-programs, which can be quite handy in time from time when RnD have fun requests.) 🙄

[[Gr...]]

Just a guess, but unless you have the PMI option in Calypso, none of this data will import anyway.
We do not have the PMI option, nor will we ever get this option.
We also have AutoCad and Solid Works here but neither has the option to include PMI data on exported file.

[[To...]]

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Is there a separate PMI option in Calypso? I was under the impression that if you have a CAD converter that supports PMI, that's all you need. I believe any license would be at the CAD end. Am I right?

[[Gr...]]

Wow a brain fart. Confused PMI with PCM.
Disregard my previous post.
It is PCM we do not have nor will the owner invest in it.
We do have curves and free form surface which makes life good.

[[Au...]]

Hello everyone,

I'm coming back with news about PMI: it seems that Calypso are not supporting yet STP files with embed PMI. Only with 2021 edition will be available. And the step file must be exported with AP242 protocol. For now working with CATPart, PRT, SAT si SLDPRT. Our files with PMI are .prt, so so I couldn't try it yet how it works. No licence yet for .prt files

An info from CREO Team:

“There are different protocols for reading and exporting both the file and annotations in STEP format: AP203_e2, AP214_is, AP242.
Because your part has included semantic data of PMI, then AP242 is the single one which can also support MBD - Model Based Definition.

With the STEP AP242 export application protocol included in Creo Parametric, you have the ability to export parts with different 3D Annotations, including: GD&T, notes, symbols, dimensions, surface finish notes, etc.
You have also the possibility to export rich semantic content with the exported annotations data, which means that these annotations will be machine readable. In other words, if you have a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) or other different kinds of inspection equipment, they will be able to read the 3D Annotations and to inspect them also.
In case if you have different annotations that are linked with reference datum geometry (like datum axis or datum planes), you have the possibility to export also these annotations.
Moreover, if your 3D model includes parametric surfaces, but also freeform surfaces, this protocol has facilities included to approximate the freeform surfaces with different patches, like Bezier patches, by raising the surface degree.

This AP242 export protocol has been adopted in Creo Parametric starting with Creo Parametric 4.0 M020, and it is part of core capabilities, as well as the concept of Creo Unite Technology.
Additive Manufacturing, 3D scanner data or texture data are not supported yet. These are part of STEP AP242_e2, which was launched in April 2020, and is not integrated yet in Creo Parametric.”


But I tried with the demo CAD Cube which has integrated PMI (sat file) and for which I also find a STL scan (does not exactly match the CAD file, but it's ok for tests). A few observation: it's very important how features are defined by designer and and how big the differences are between CAD and scanned STL (the measuring points can come out of the measuring area)

So I have a question for you: can I establish measurement strategies depending on the size of the feature? in the same program to have automatic defaults strategies, but different for grid setting (planes for example... a big plane with a strategy and an small plane with other strategy)

[[Te...]]

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With 2020's Variable Strategy Assignment I would say yes, with previous version you will probably have to adjust a few of the features.

Setting up the Safe and Load Default strategies will take care of most of it, but will apply the same settings to big or small features. You can have multiple strategies saved; for example I have CAD and NO CAD default strategies set as well as Small Diameter CAD and Small Diameter NO CAD default strategies saved and I pick the one I want to cover the majority of the project at the start of the program that way I only need to change a few features as I program.