Pro-E W4 File Format Conversion

You aren't providing enough information.

Every 3d applicaition has its own core file type. This is how it builds and maintains its features. Underlying that is the fundamentals of 3d geometry. Geometry typically breaks down into a type. (point, triangle, face, quadrangle, polygon, etc.)

The more of each type of geometry in your model, the greater the size.

For each application, the designers typically design around what is optimal for their functions. those functions depend on purpose.

If you are animating, then low poly is king. If you are doing FEA, then quality of the mesh is king. If you are raytracing, then texturing is king... if you are performing mechanism interference, or whatever.. different apps have different focus.

What you are asking is disconnected from purpose.

What do you want to be able to do with the model? Ask for advice to help you acheive it. Low file size is easy.. but it probably won't do anything useful.

Chris

Thanks for the insight chris

what i need is a geometrically correct model of the assembly which has to be uploaded into a website for visualisation.

I have tried X3D and VRML formats and didn't get an accurate result.

sarvan

I'm not experienced with Pro-E.

I've downloaded models from 3d Content Central which came in an array of formats, (solidworks, IGES, STEP, STL, prt, etc)

but for 300mb.. I'm pretty sure that you will have to break up your model. I've seen this done before. You make a naming convention that says "part AAA - component of Assy XXX" and that way you can get your file sizes down.

However, if the reason you are uploading to the site is for file sharing purposes with specific people, for technical reasons, then you might be better off putting the original file on an FTP site or large file format system.

What is going to happen with the file? is it a mechanical assembly that others are going to need it to 'work'? is it just for inclusion into other artworks? (marketing purposes?)

Chris

Its purely marketing purpose, i just need the goemetry of the model and the uploading file size is restricted to 5MB.

regards

Sarvan

well, in solidworks, If I faced this problem, and I really needed the actual geometry to be uploaded, I would have to either remove a bunch of geometry, or use a different type.

Some of the biggest offenders are curved surfaces, especially fillets. Either turn them off, delete them, or create a configuration that can use chamfers instead.. This will depend entirely on the visibility of the curve. In computers, there is no such thing as a curved surface... only approximations. Everything gets converted to triangles or polys...

For marketing purposes, I would suggest providing images instead.. and they can (will) be cleaned up anyway in photoshop.. just position the model the way you want, and use the printscreen button. and paste into painbrush..

Perhaps you have a rendering engine attached to Pro-E. (solidworks has its own rendering app) but so much can be done with photoshop etc...

For example, here's an amphibious vehicle I dreamed up in solidworks a while back. (printscreen)

and then the same image cropped and ghosted into a photoshop image. (with a drop shadow)... so I repeat.. do you really need the geometry, or do you just need the image?

Chris

I need the geometry chris, people can use the model to add new interiors and different coloring scheme and check for viability.

regards

Sarvan

Hello Sarvan,

I have seen similar apps before - my question is: Do you really have to upload the geometry? Can you have the geometry on a server, when the customer makes interior/colour selections via via the xhtml page, these are carried out locally and the "rotating image" is dislpayed on the web page?

ya i have to upload the geometry in the web.

You can create a shrinkwrap that will essentially just be the surfaces of the model, not all the internal detail. You can also create ProductView files that someone else can view. I believe PTC makes the Product View application freely available so that those working with ProE can more easily communicate with those that don't have a solid modeling program or that don't have a robust engineering computer to handle a large model.

You should ask this question to either a ProE user group or to PTC's forum. Go to PTC.com and sign up to get on their forum. Then you'll be in touch with the experts on this software. If you're not associated with a user group, I would suggest doing so. There are a lot of tips and time saving tricks you can learn from one of those groups.