Importing a part from an IGES-format file

Many computer-aided modeling and drafting applications can read and write IGES-format files; you can use these files to exchange geometry information between these applications and Abaqus/CAE. Select FileImportPart from the main menu bar to import a part from an IGES-format file. You can export sketches and parts from Abaqus/CAE into an IGES-format file, but you cannot export the assembly to an IGES-format file.

Related Topics
What are the IGES options in Abaqus/CAE?
Editing techniques
Using the File menu

Context:

If the IGES-format file contains multiple parts, Abaqus/CAE imports them as a single part. An imported IGES part forms the base feature of a new part in Abaqus/CAE; you cannot modify this base feature directly, but you can add additional features to it, such as a solid extrusion or a blind cut.

  1. From the main menu bar, select FileImportPart.

    The Import Part dialog box appears.

  2. From the File Filter menu at the bottom of the Import Part dialog box, select IGES (*.igs*. *.iges*).

    Abaqus/CAE lists all the files in the current directory with a .igs* or .iges* file extension.

  3. Select the IGES file containing the part to import, and click OK.

    Abaqus/CAE displays the Create Part from IGES File dialog box.

  4. Click the Name-Repair tab to set the following:

    • The name of the new part.

    • The repair options that Abaqus/CAE will apply during the import.

    In most cases you should accept the default settings; for more information, see Controlling the import process.

  5. Click the Part Attributes tab to set the following:

    • The modeling space of the part being imported. When you import a part, Abaqus/CAE scans the file and tries to determine the modeling space.

    • The type of the part being imported. Abaqus/CAE always assumes that the part type is deformable. Alternatively, you can select Discrete rigid to import a discrete rigid part or select Eulerian to import an Eulerian part. For more information, see Part types.

    Again, in most cases you should accept the default settings; for more information, see What are the part attributes?.

  6. Click the Scale tab to scale the part during the import process.

    • Choose No scale to maintain the dimensions stored in the file.

    • Choose Use transform from file, including scale to read the scale factor, the rotation matrix, and the translation matrix from the IGES file.

    • Choose Multiply all lengths by, and enter a scale factor. Abaqus/CAE applies the scale factor to all of the coordinates in the file. As a consequence, any offset from the origin will be scaled accordingly.

  7. Click the IGES Options tab to set the following:

    • How Abaqus/CAE converts surface and trim curves into an internal representation of the part.

    • Whether Abaqus/CAE recognizes a Manifold Solid B-rep Object (MSBO, entity type 186). In most cases Abaqus/CAE sets the MSBO option automatically after scanning an IGES-format file and finding the entity. However, if the IGES file is very large, you must set this option manually.

    • The levels in the IGES file that Abaqus/CAE will try to import. For example, if the Levels field contains 0:2,4, Abaqus/CAE will try to import levels 0, 1, 2, and 4. If a level contains something other than geometry, Abaqus/CAE will ignore the level during the import. You can remove levels from the list, but you cannot add levels. This field is not available if the IGES file contains only one level.

    For more information, see What are the IGES options in Abaqus/CAE?, and What is an IGES entity?. You can also use the IGES Options dialog box to view the header information in the IGES file and to view a list of the entities found in the file. For more information, see What is an IGES entity?.

  8. Click OK to import the IGES part and to close the Create Part from IGES File dialog box.

    Abaqus/CAE scans the IGES file and starts the repair process, depending on the options selected. If you wish to cancel the import process, click Stop in the prompt area.

  9. When the part is imported, Abaqus/CAE displays a message indicating if the part contains any validity or precision problems. If necessary, use the Query toolset to locate areas of invalid and imprecise geometry. For more information, see Using the Query toolset in the Part module.