The Ultimate Guide for Working with STEP Files

[Alin]

Have just added one more chapter to the STEP saga:

https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... and-speed/
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... tep-files/
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... tep-files/
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... ssemblies/
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... ody-parts/
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... ody-parts/

Feel free to replace "STEP" with any other word implying a file format that could be imported in SOLIDWORKS.

[Alin]

Have just added one more chapter to the STEP saga:

The Ultimate Guide to Working with STEP Files, Part 1: The Battle of Two Import Engines – Quality and Speed
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... and-speed/

The Ultimate Guide to Working with STEP Files, Part 2: Working with Revised STEP Files
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... tep-files/

The Ultimate Guide to Working with STEP Files, Part 3: Geometry Comparison for Revised STEP Files
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... tep-files/

The Ultimate Guide to Working with STEP Files, Part 4: Simplification Techniques for Complex Imported Geometry Imported as Assemblies
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... ssemblies/

The Ultimate Guide to Working with STEP Files, Part 5A: Simplification Techniques for Complex Imported Geometry Imported as Multibody Parts
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... ody-parts/

The Ultimate Guide to Working with STEP Files, Part 5B: Simplification Techniques for Complex Imported Geometry Imported as Multibody Parts
https://www.engineersrule.com/the-ultim ... ody-parts/

Feel free to replace "STEP" with any other word implying a file format that could be imported in SOLIDWORKS.

[berg_lauritz]

This macro might be very helpful to you too.

What I use it for:

• Move bodies around & re-save to have it at the corrected position (i.e. if you get a step file where something is slightly angled (and you know it should not be) or when you want to adjust the main planes to your gusto).
• You can modify the step file without having to fear to use features!
• Instead of using the very slow, cumbersome and not very fail proof approach to i.e. delete fillets from an imported body you can simply use 'delete face' now & re-save it again.
• Importing geometry with feature recognition does not yield weird planes/views anymore because you can adjust the standard planes. And you can modify it before with all your standard tools....
• I think you could even upgrade the macro to keep the face IDs to make it even more powerful.

I wanted to make a video for a long time now but I never found the time. Maybe this weekend.


Edit: I just made a quick .gif of how I have to work sometimes. I hope this clarifies some things @Alin :

Edit2: Just thought of another HUGE benefit of this: If you modify something you can run import diagnostics AFTER you added some features & reduced it back to imported bodies only. This is often very beneficial when you i.e. know you have to modify the purchased part and the failed imported surfaces/bodies are going to be removed by you anyway.
You can also make sketches from the original part (convert entities, offset surfaces etc.) & then reduce it back to 'imported geometry' only. It's incredibly powerful, I think.

Edit3: Just read the article - nice work!

[Alin]

This macro might be very helpful to you too.

I love it!!! This should be part of the SW functionality.

Many thanks!

[berg_lauritz]

I love it!!! This should be part of the SW functionality.

Many thanks!

I agree. Can you push for an SR?

[Alin]

I agree. Can you push for an SR?

Would be nice to add the functionality to include the surface bodies.