Working with DXFs and Alibre Part Files

[HimyKabibble]

I've been working with the SprutCAM demo, and am really struggling with some aspects. If I import a DXF or Alibre part file, it seems to treat them as monolithic entities, and I can find no way to select specific features for operations, as I can with IGES files. What's the trick? I would, ideally, like to work directly from the Alibre models, but that seems, at present, to greatly limit the flexibility in defining toolpaths - it works fine if I let SprutCAM do what it wants to do, but I have limited ability to make it do what I want it to....

Regards,
Ray L.

[dbrija]

Originally Posted by HimyKabibble I've been working with the SprutCAM demo, and am really struggling with some aspects. If I import a DXF or Alibre part file, it seems to treat them as monolithic entities, and I can find no way to select specific features for operations, as I can with IGES files. What's the trick? I would, ideally, like to work directly from the Alibre models, but that seems, at present, to greatly limit the flexibility in defining toolpaths - it works fine if I let SprutCAM do what it wants to do, but I have limited ability to make it do what I want it to.... Regards, Ray L.

In Alibre, with your part open, "Tools->Add-ons->Sprutcam sends the part to Sprutcam.

Just make sure in Alibre you setup the units to be "Inches"

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by dbrija In Alibre, with your part open, "Tools->Add-ons->Sprutcam sends the part to Sprutcam. Just make sure in Alibre you setup the units to be "Inches"

I don't have any problem at all getting the model INTO SprutCAM. File->Import works fine, and the model loads and displays correctly. And, I can do simple operations, like a Waterline operation on the entire model. It's just that once it's in there, I have ONLY a Mesh representing the ENTIRE model, and there seems to be no way to de-compose it into faces, edges, etc, that can be individually selected as the targets for a Job Assignment, as CAN be done with IGES files. Am I missing something, or is this a (SERIOUS) limitation in the import capability?

The same is true of STL imports.

Regards,
Ray L.

[scottsss]

Did you use the sew command??? Could you post the model and Sprutcam file so we can what your doing.

[Gerry Sweetland]

I don't have Alibre so maybe I shouldn't comment. I use SolidWorks and when I click on the little icon in SolidWorks for SprutCam it exports the model as a iges file and opens SprutCam for me with the model in the work area of SprutCam in model mode. I then select the whole model and "Sew Faces" while still in SprutCam Model Mode as well as locate zero as needed and rotate part as needed. I thought Alibre dose it the same way as SolidWorks... exporting out of Alibre and into SprutCam that is.
All I use is iges files, I guess because I solid model everything I need to machine.

Can you attach a file that gives you problems in SprutCam, all mesh, etc.?
Gerry

[HimyKabibble]

The Alibre file, and the resulting SprutCAM file are attached. This was exported from Alibre using Tools->Add-ons->SprutCAM, though I get the same result loading directly into SprutCAM using File->Import.

[Gerry Sweetland]

I would not try to import a Alibre .prt file into SC. I would export or save as out of Alibre as a iges file and import the iges file into SC.

I also have problems when I try to import a SolidWorks .sldprt file into SC.

I have always just worked with iges files
HTH
Gerry

[HimyKabibble]

Originally Posted by Gerry Sweetland I would not try to import a Alibre .prt file into SC. I would export or save as out of Alibre as a iges file and import the iges file into SC. I also have problems when I try to import a SolidWorks .sldprt file into SC. I have always just worked with iges files HTH Gerry

Gerry,

That's great, IF you have Alibre Pro, but I have Alibre Personal, which does not do IGES export.... Is that really the only option? Seems odd that it will read an Alibre Part file, and properly display it, but can't extract the necessary geometry information? Same goes for STL import. The information is there, and it CAN interpret and display it. Why restrict the functionality?

Regards,
Ray L.

[dbrija]

Originally Posted by HimyKabibble Gerry, That's great, IF you have Alibre Pro, but I have Alibre Personal, which does not do IGES export.... Is that really the only option? Seems odd that it will read an Alibre Part file, and properly display it, but can't extract the necessary geometry information? Same goes for STL import. The information is there, and it CAN interpret and display it. Why restrict the functionality? Regards, Ray L.

Bingo! I have Alibre Expert, and if I open your Alibre part, and use Tools->Add-ons->Sprutcam, Alibre automatically exports as IGS, and auto-sews the part, and it has faces, etc....

Too bad Alibre limits this.

[dbrija]

Originally Posted by HimyKabibble I don't have any problem at all getting the model INTO SprutCAM. File->Import works fine, and the model loads and displays correctly. And, I can do simple operations, like a Waterline operation on the entire model. It's just that once it's in there, I have ONLY a Mesh representing the ENTIRE model, and there seems to be no way to de-compose it into faces, edges, etc, that can be individually selected as the targets for a Job Assignment, as CAN be done with IGES files. Am I missing something, or is this a (SERIOUS) limitation in the import capability? The same is true of STL imports. Regards, Ray L.

I ws thinking doing it this way might iges export to Sprutcam, but it appears not to....

[BurrMan]

Originally Posted by dbrija I ws thinking doing it this way might iges export to Sprutcam, but it appears not to....

Alibre's native file format "Used" to be ACIS, so a SAT file.. I have read latley that it is now STEP.. But they also create their own proprietary version of the STEP file, to handle their assemblies and such also.. The goemetry in the file posted is defined as "STEP" geometry. I think Alibre always had "2 such formats". So an Alibre STEP and a generic STEP. The Alibre one may be incompatable with other importers due to the proprietary stuff, so you would use the regular STEP exporter for translation to other systems. Using the "SprutCAM Built in" alibre support would be the way to go (Not importing alibre parts) Unless you specifically save from alibre in a neutral format.

[scottsss]

That is funny, I have the personal edition and was able to export out an IGES file. This is how it came into Sprutcam.

Originally Posted by HimyKabibble Gerry, That's great, IF you have Alibre Pro, but I have Alibre Personal, which does not do IGES export.... Is that really the only option? Seems odd that it will read an Alibre Part file, and properly display it, but can't extract the necessary geometry information? Same goes for STL import. The information is there, and it CAN interpret and display it. Why restrict the functionality? Regards, Ray L.