Problem with STEP file

[Perry Fisher]

It seems models and software are the topic of the day. Here's my problem and I'll start by saying I know nothing about STEP files or any associated software. I have used the demo version of Rhino 3D to change the zero point in a step file but that's the extent of my knowledge.

I am trying to program offline from a customer supplied STEP file generated from Catia. When I click on the model in PC-DMIS to create a surface or vector point I get a message on the bottom of the PC-DMIS edit window, not a pop up, instructing me to "SELECT WIRE ON SURFACE" so I click on the model again and the message changes to "TAKE FINAL HIT ON THIS SURFACE". After a third click sometime I get a point close to the selected spot and sometime the point falls else where on the model.

Edge points stay at the same X, Y & Z at whatever the previous feature was only the vectors change with the same messages above.

Circles are not even recognized.

I have talked to my customer and he has no idea from what I can tell him. He has sent me an IGES of the same part with the same results from PC-DMIS.

As always any and all help is appreciated. If one of ya'll with more knowledge than me (it ain't hard to do) would be willing to take a look at this file PM me an email address.

Thanks

[Matthew D. Hoedeman]

Do you have BOTH surface and WIRE FRAME data in the file? If so, change to SURFACE mode instead of WIRE mode.

[Cumofo]

Yes, Matthew is correct. Also separate the wire entities and solids into two different levels. You may have two or three levels with duplicate entities, that the software is recognizing.

[Perry Fisher]

Success!!

Do you have BOTH surface and WIRE FRAME data in the file? If so, change to SURFACE mode instead of WIRE mode.

It appears I ONLY have surfaces, no wire. When I un-select draw surfaces the model disappears.

That's it Professor Matt. I was in WIRE mode instead of SURFACE mode. I have done very little offline programming with cad models. Evidently this is the first cad mode I have had without wire data.

Thanks. I told you was easy to be smarter than me working with solid models.

[Perry Fisher]

Yes, Matthew is correct. Also separate the wire entities and solids into two different levels. You may have two or three levels with duplicate entities, that the software is recognizing.

Ok, how do I do that?

[rangerboat72]

Ok, how do I do that?

Go to VIEW SETUP, click CREATE, a new box pops up. Click CREATE under New Level then select the surfaces you want to create a new level for. It can be a pain sometimes and quite time consuming...