STEP Assembly and Part

Use

You can import and export STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (.step, .stp) files.

The .step file format is the ISO standard for exchange of Product Data. It covers much more than part geometry exchange, and is used for bill of material, simulation data, and configuration management. STEP is based on the language Express that allows strict specifications.

Supported

  • Hierarchical structured Scene Tree

  • File properties, Model properties

  • Object Attributes: Color, opacity, visibility, and object names (both part number and instance names)

  • Solid or Mesh Import:

    • Tessellation control with mesh import and dynamic tessellation option for solid import

    • Normals and UV coordinates

  • Construction geometry; for example, Points, Coordinate Axis, Surfaces/Curves, planes (imported as wireframes) with line-style support

  • PMI and Views are supported with AP242 files. Tessellated PMI is supported only for AP2013 ED2.

  • Linked step files as assembly are supported

Limitations

  • Metadata in the Scene Tree sorts in alphabetical order so the original order is not preserved.

  • Initial view is not respected when loaded in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Author or SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Generator

  • Animation

  • BOM support based on part names

  • Textures

Features

This format contains both import and export options. You can use them to customize the way in which your file opens and saves.

Import Interface

Field

Functional Description

Common

Defines the general settings including tessellation (arrangement and density of the polygons)

Geometry: Defines the geometry settings

  • Import Metadata: Imports file metadata from the original CAD file (stored inside the file as the metadata category CADMetadata)

PMI Captures Model Views: Defines settings for PMI

  • Import PMI: Imports any Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) within the file. You can access the PMI data objects from within the 3D Objects list.

  • Import Model Views: Imports any custom model views within the CAD file

  • Import Captures: Imports any captures within the file. Captures define a list of PMI and Geometry to display. For each capture, there is a model view in the Scene Tree.

Tessellation Settings: Defines the tessellation settings

  • Import Splines, Surfaces and Solids: Determines whether splines, surfaces, and solids are imported

  • Tessellation Level: Applies different resolutions based upon preselected values for chord height ratio and normal tolerances. If you select User-Defined, further options become available.

    • Angular Tolerance: Determines the maximum angular deviation (in degrees), allowed between an analytical surface and its triangulation. Pairs of triangles do not incorporate a dihedral angle greater than this amount. For example, this setting dictates the minimum number of facets around a smaller circle or cylinder regardless of the Surface Deviation setting. This parameter gives you added control over faces with small radii. Lower values result in finer tessellations, while higher values produce coarser tessellations.

    • Chord Height Tolerance: The value between the analytical surface and its triangulation that determines the distance and accuracy of the tessellation. The lower the value, the more accurate the result. 0.00001 is the minimum unit (high detail), and 1 000 000 is the maximum unit (low detail).

    • Chord Height Behavior: Determines how accurately the chord height tolerance is applied. Absolute applies the chord height tolerance as it is. Scaled adjusts the values depending on the scale of the object being tessellated.

Construction Geometry: Defines settings for the construction geometry

  • Import Surfaces: Imports all construction geometry

  • Import Points: Imports all 3D point data stored inside the CAD file and draws points as saved in CATIA files

  • Import Planes: Imports all infinite 3D plane data stored inside the CAD file and draws planes as transparent mesh

  • Import Wireframes: Imports all wireframes if any exist

Geometry Transformation
Transforms (rotate, position, and scale) the scene along the X, Y, and Z axes:

  • Rotation: Sets the degrees of rotation around each axis from 0 degrees to 360 degrees. The rotation values can be entered with up to 6 decimal places.

  • Scale: Scales the object along the X, Y, and Z axes

  • Position: Sets the position of the scene along the X, Y, and Z axes

Export Interface

Field

Functional Description

Application Protocol

Defines the way in which the file saves, and the protocol to use

  • AP214: Saves the file using core data for automotive mechanical design processes

  • AP242: Saves the file using the managed model based 3D engineering protocol.

  • AP203E2: Saves the file using the configuration controlled 3D designs of mechanical parts and assemblies protocol

Convert Offset Surfaces to NURBS

Changes offset surfaces to NURBS surfaces