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Bernd Meißner

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Posts posted by Bernd Meißner

  1. You can't change the Surface Smoothness of Facet parts. 

     

    Yes, this has not been my question. My task is to *create* facetted parts from solids. And, using formats like VRML or 3DS, the surface subdivision/resolution of all exported files is controlled by the "surface smoothness" parameter of my parts.

     

     

    However, for solids there is the "ModelHelper" API sample that will change the Surface Smoothness of all selected solids.

    Go to C:\Program Files\IronCAD\10.0\ICAPI\Docs\ICAPIHELP.chm for more info.

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    Thanks, I'll look at it. This sounds more like the answer I've been looking for... :-)

     

    Bernd

  2. Under Tools > Options > Parts tab you can set it for new parts added.

     

    Yes, I knew that. My problem is I have to create facetted exports (from a finished file) in several resolutions...

     

    IronPRO XT has a function called Set Smoothness in the PROUtils catalog. If you drop it in the background you can set a value for all existing parts in the scene. If you drop it on a part it will set the smoothness only for that part.

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    Ummm... that means I need a US$ 600.- extension for a basic funktion like this? Ouch.

     

    If I get this right, my only solution at the moment is a complete export/import of the whole file using an exchange format like X_T, in order to create parts at the resolution needed...

     

    Thanks anyway :-)

     

    Bernd

  3. Sorry, if this is a stupid question that reveals my IC noob/block status ...

     

    How do I change the part/rendering parameter "surface smoothness" for all objects of a scene at once? Assemblies don't have this parameter and consequently can't apply it to linked children. Which obvious button did I overlook?

     

    Bernd

  4. Check out TRANSMAGIC.COM

    THey sell a translator that will convert i think.

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    Well, Transmagic is based on ACIS and will screw up any assembly structures and hierarchies contained in a file. This could be done better...

     

    Yes, a native SW importer for IC would be nice :-)

     

    Bernd

  5. Thats why if I could convert to a higher facet resolution it would help tremendously

     

     

    Tom,

     

    I'm using software that could do it. If you like you could send me an example, and I'll push the poly count… just to see if this is really the way to go.

     

    Bernd

  6. Bernd,

    Just in case your not aware,  V9 will accept point cloud data through the 3D Curve tool.

     

     

    Thanks, Tom,

     

    I know… but this is only the first step of the way. I'm dreaming about something like this:

     

    http://www.geomagic.com/en/products/studio/

     

    Similar technologies could be made available via plugin… if not integrated into the main application (like e.g. in VX, although I really don't like this application)

     

    Bernd

     

    P.S. Does anybody else have problems with e-mail notifications? I -do- have them enabled, but I never receive any e-mail.

  7. However if IC would allow to adjust the surface facet smoothness when coverting to a solid, this would provide much more useability. I could even then recreate the part picking points of the imported file to create a native IC model.

     

     

    Well, adjusting smoothness requires a) a model to be parametric geometry or B) IC being a subdivision modeler (polygonal). Since both requirements aren't fulfilled, I'd suggest to add surface re-engineering (from scanned point clouds and polys) to the next version of IC :-)

     

    Rhino has it as a plugin, FormZ has it as a plugin, others have it… IC should have it as a standard tool, right?

     

    ;-)

     

    Bernd

  8. I did a quick search for "3d models" anatomy. For the really high-end models, it looks like you might have to pay.

     

     

    Definitely. But one thing more should be considered: all anatomical models that I ever heard about are polygonal 3d objects, which could probably loaded in IC (*.3ds), but they are almost unusable there. In most cases they are made for rendering purposes using appropriate rendering software (which all use polygonal formats). I've never seen any 'parametric' anatomy models (IGES, STEP, SAT etc.)… but this must not necessarily mean they don't exist ;-)

     

    Bernd

  9. however not sure how to get xyz point on points in Rhino

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    Well, maybe it's a language issue, but... I don't understand the question above ;-)

    I don't have Rhino, so I can't help with this. All I can offer is checking the original DWG in one of my (3D DWG capable) applications, just to get an idea of what's in it... and what's possible to get out.

     

    Bernd

  10. I opened with Rhino and exported as stp file. Stp worked better than Igs. However, this autocad file is funny since we need it to pick up 3D points ( XYZ coordinates ) off it.

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    I can't believe that there isn't a better way of doing it... do you have 'true' 3D content in Rhino?

     

    Bernd

  11. Any help is appreciated.

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    Tom,

     

    if you like you could send me the file. I could at least give it a try using either FormZ or Concepts Unlimited, which both read 3D DWG/DXF... if it's not newer than version 2004. Newer versions need additional conversion, which quite often fails. Thanks to AutoDesk for constantly maximizing incompatibility ;-)

     

    Bernd

  12. Well I have had a hard time getting in contact with the correct peolpe there as well to get anything from them.

     

    These would be Bahman Dara (Sr. Product Marketing Manager) or maybe Joel Geraci (Acrobat 3D Evangelist). They gave me the impression of being very interested in user's opinions... of course it could be marketing talk as well ;-)

     

     

    So we are doing it in a different fashion. In V10, we will have the ability to export the 3D PDF using the our rendering toolkit. So then you can use the acrobat product to edit or add to it. Hope that helps.

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    Is this an equivalent to the 3D capturing Acrobat offers?

     

    Bernd

  13. Dear forum members,

     

    today I've met all the leading persons behind Acrobat 3D (Marketing, Envangelist & Development) and asked them about support for the IronCad file format. Their answer was simple: "if users demand it, we'll do it". So there just need to be enough voices to ask for Acrobat 3D supporting your favourite 3D application. While I'm not sure if I can give away the mail adresses of the persons above, you can definitely ask for this feature here: Create a feature request for Acrobat 3D

     

    I think it's worth it, and IronCad is one of the few CAD apps that is NOT yet natively supported.

     

    Bernd

  14. How do you get the markups on the 3D sample file that Bernd posted?

    Cary

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    Cary,

     

    when opening this file in Reader (7.0.7 and newer required for full 3D support), the TOOLS menu should have additional entries for comments and markup. I just made a screenshot, but somehow I'm currently unable to upload this file (blank screen after "Add this Attachment").

     

    OK, now I've uploaded it to our website... see the screenshot here:

     

    Adobe Reader Comments

     

    Bernd

  15. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told that running Windows on a Mac slows down Windows-based programs, somewhat. In other words, the heresay is that if you had two equally-processor-powerful computers - one Mac and one PC, the PC would be faster with Windows-based programs.

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    Dave,

     

    this is not quite true. Since you have two different options of running Windows on a Mac, there are two different results you get. Running Windows in a VM (Parallels) within OSX limits the use of the hardware to one cpu and doesn't support 3d/hardware OGL, so using a CAD application would not be recommended in that configuration. Standard applications run as fast as usually.

     

    Running windows using bootcamp is just as running windows on a PC, there's no difference to any other PC... ignoring the fact, that there are still some Windows drivers missing for the Mac hardware.

     

    So being slower is only true using the Virtual Machine, and this isn't different from running a VM within Windows.

     

    Bernd

  16. They might be convinced to sacrifice some degree of artistry for the speed, ease & utility of IronCAD (they can't even take measurement from their models) - but probably not.

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    Mike,

     

    it will be quite hard to convince a Mac user to work on Windows ;-)

     

    OTOH, CAD etc. is not necessarily tied to Windows, although there *is* definitely a large majority of apps on that platform. I'm working with FormZ (since 1996) in the first place, an ACIS based modeler, which is available on both platforms. I definitely *can* take measurements, handle 2d drafting, calculate volumes and share files with all CAD environments using STEP or SAT.

     

    There are some more applications (Ashlar Vellum Cobalt/Xenon, Vectorworks, CSI Concepts, SolidThinking), which are definitely good midrange CAD applications, and which have their userbase. Now, with Parasolid being ported also to Mac OSX (where ACIS has been available for a longer time), *I* would be the first one to get a Mac version of IronCad... the technology is already there :-)

     

    Bernd

  17. I have to be honest with you - I've worked at huge, small, and in between-sized companies and I have yet to know anyone who uses a Mac in an engineering environment.

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    Dave,

     

    working in borderland between engineering and media production (doing technical documentation and computer animation), I'm doing my main work on Macs... even 3D work (since 1996). Of course both platforms are living side by side in my office, but as long as I *can* do something on the Mac, I'll do it there. Now, with the Intel Macs and the option of using several OS platforms in ONE computer, I'll get the best of all worlds at once. I definitely DO know several engineers, who (after several years of just being fascinated by Apple's 'aura') consider getting a Mac now. So, I think it's a valid working environment meanwhile... with a QuadCore Mac Pro being less costly than a similarly equipped Dell box.

     

    Bernd

  18. 1. Eport IC Scene to .x_t

    2. Import the .x_t into Acrobat and convert to .pdf.

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    Mike,

     

    yes, this is exactly what I did in order to create the PDF file above. The list isn't any longer, the procedure is as simple as it looks.

     

    I just mentioned *.u3d as it is the "native" (not really) 3D format that Acrobat uses. If an application wants to create 3D PDFs on its own, I guess it has to do this via *.u3d AND needs to wrap this into a PDF by itself. Acrobat Distiller doesn't do this. So I just stated my (technical) opinion about direct 3D-PDF export from IronCad.

     

    Bernd

     

     

  19. Well, not knowing what "too well" means... this question has been asked in EVERY forum of EACH 3D application I use, and there are some ;-)

     

    Basically it would mean the ability to export directly to *.u3d, but I don't know how to bridge the gap to PDF format output from *.u3d files. Distiller (PDF Printer) doesn't do that yet.

     

    Bernd

  20. Anyway the capture and conversion sort of works, but there are major lighting problems trying to see the model on my system and most unfortunately, the sceen browser (part names) doesn't import.  Just wondering if anyone else has had some success (maybe IC 9 will be better for this?)

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    Peter,

     

    I successfully did this with v8, although I didn't go the 'capture' route. I exported my model to Parasolid/X_T format, which loaded fine into Acrobat (or the 3D Toolkit) including part names and hierarchy.

     

    Regards,

    Bernd

    palm_ic.pdf

  21. I think the terminilogy was created from a movie director...

     

     

    Not quite. It just sounds like that. The correct terms, used e.g. for robotics, aeroplanes and (here comes the movie director!) camera control are:

     

    Roll (rotation around x-axis)

    Pitch (rotation around y-axis)

    Yaw (rotation around z-axis/vertical axis)

     

    "Pan" is usually a linear movement of the camera, parallel to the stage, i.e. up/down and left/right (z- and x-movement), without changing any of the above parameters. "Dolly" would be the missing movement, changing the distance between camera and target (by moving the camera towards or away from the target, y-movement).

     

    Just to have an opinion here, too: I prefer a terminology that says "z-rotation" (for shaking my head), "x-rotation" (for nodding) or "y-translation" (for moving towards/away from s.th.).

     

    Bernd

  22. I have stopped using the the avi format as it is poor. Instead I export a series of images and compile them according to the end requirements.

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    John,

     

    the AVI format itself isn't one... like QuickTime it's a container, and it's the codec used making the movie looking poor. I've used uncompressed AVIs as a source for encoding to WMV, without any problems. The only drawback is the file size of uncompressed formats (much more than DV). You'll definitely need some GBytes of spare HD space.

     

    OTOH, using image series is also a very professional method for creating movies. It's even better if you need to re-render just some parts of an animation.

     

    BTW, for creating good looking movies, the frame rate should be set to "Video" (24-30 fps) according to the IronCad GSG. For PAL playback, this would be 25 fps. Lower frame rates as typically used for computer playback look bad, too.

     

    Bernd

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