Importing CAD Data

PC-DMIS can import CAD data into the Graphic Display window.

These translators are supported:

If you want to use the CATIA, Parasolid, Creo, Solidworks, NX, or VISI translators, your LMS license or portlock must have these DCT license options enabled: CATIA V4 DCT, CATIA V5 DCT, CATIA V6 DCT, NX DCT, PRO-E DCT, Parasolid DCT, and VISI DCT.

General Import Procedure

The general procedure below imports the CAD data through an Import menu. However, you may find it easier to drag and drop the files directly into the Graphic Display window to start the import process. Drag and drop import functions if you run PC-DMIS as a standard user. If you run PC-DMIS as an administrator, this is not allowed, due to Windows UAC security restrictions.

To import CAD data into the Graphic Display window of your inspection plan, follow this general procedure. You can find specifics for your CAD type in the topics below:

  1. Select the File | Import | <CAD File Type> menu item to open the Import dialog box.

  2. From the file type list, select the file type that filters the current folder.

  3. From the Import dialog box, navigate to the folder that contains the file to import. Then select the file.

  4. Click Import to import the file. If you already have a CAD model in the Graphic Display window, PC-DMIS asks if you want to replace the existing CAD data or merge the CAD data together.

Some imported file types automatically replace old existing CAD data with the imported data. In those cases, you won't be presented with the Merge Import Data dialog box.

If a Model View is active, and you merge an imported CAD file, PC-DMIS adds all the visible geometry of the imported CAD model into the active Model View.

For details on CAD Model View, see "Working with CAD Model Views" in this documentation.

  1. PC-DMIS starts to import the CAD data with any accompanying GD&T/dimension information.

If your model contains embedded GD&T callouts, PC-DMIS asks if you want to create Edit window commands from the GD&T callouts:

 

If you re-import the original CAD model file, the PC-DMIS removes any modifications to the GD&T CAD callouts in the Graphic Display window.

In some supported CAD model formats, the Cancel and Stop buttons are available:

During the import process, you can cancel or stop the import.

If you import both a part model and a machine model into the Graphic Display window, and you don't have any outstanding manual machine offsets or rotations, PC-DMIS automatically positions the part model to the machine model's table.

If you have manual x,y,z, offsets or rotations from the Part/Machine tab of the Setup Options dialog box, you need to use that tab's Auto Position button to position the part model to the machine table. For more information on the Auto Position button, see the "Part Setup area" topic in the "Setting Your Preferences: Introduction" chapter.

More:

Importing Multiple CAD Files