Check for converting file formats

Discussion in 'SolidWorks' started by Mark Bannister, Aug 20, 2004.

  1. A customer asked me to verify the volumes on converted parts the other
    day. Is that a reasonable way to check the accuracy of a conversion?
    Mark B.
     
    Mark Bannister, Aug 20, 2004
    #1
  2. Not a bad idea at first sight. But some bad errors might preserve the volume
    : thing about a misplaced hole, or a mirrored feature...
    Remember, the customer is always right ;-)
     
    Philippe Guglielmetti, Aug 20, 2004
    #2
  3. Feature Works can help verify but you would need both models which I presume
    you don't have.
     
    Corey Scheich, Aug 20, 2004
    #3
  4. Mark Bannister

    Seth Renigar Guest

    The pros and cons about this method is:
    If it does show a difference in volumes, you definitely know that there is a
    problem.
    But if it show the same volumes, that does NOT necessarily mean that
    everything is OK. (as Philippe pointed out)

    I would definitely use this method first. If it shows a difference, you
    know immediately that it was a bad conversion. If it shows the same, that's
    a good sign. But you still need to do more investigating.
     
    Seth Renigar, Aug 20, 2004
    #4
  5. Mark Bannister

    matt Guest

    Why don't you use the Geometry Compare function in Utilities? You've
    already got it if you have SW Office.

    matt
     
    matt, Aug 20, 2004
    #5
  6. Mark Bannister

    Sporkman Guest

    If I understand Mark Bannister correctly AND if the customer already
    knows the correct volume of the original solids I believe simply
    checking the volume in SolidWorks would present a fairly accurate
    picture of how good the conversion was. If a solid didn't knit properly
    or if dimensions were somehow distorted there WOULD be a difference --
    if only a very slight one -- and if the volumes were precisely identical
    that would indicate proper knitting and no dimensional distorsion.

    I could be wrong . . . but I don't think so.

    'Sporky'
     
    Sporkman, Aug 21, 2004
    #6
  7. Mark Bannister

    TheTick Guest

    I think your customer has a good idea, but it may take a little more
    than that (as other people have already said).

    When comparing models, I compare all the physical property data,
    including center of mass and moments of inertia. Even minor hiccups
    in translation are readily evident when comparing these properties, as
    long as the densities are set the same.
     
    TheTick, Aug 21, 2004
    #7
  8. Mark Bannister

    P. Guest

    The others have had some pretty good ideas about this. My question to you
    is: What are you comparing against? What file format are you receiving data
    in?

    One problem you are up against is how are you going to get the original
    volume? If you have IGES, SW has to translate it just to find it's volume.
    You might use Rhino if you have it since it is going to leave the data
    pretty much alone on translation.

    The other thing I would watch for is a file where fillets and other
    difficult geometry may have been replaced by surfaces in the original.

    If you have the luxury, try bisection when doing volumes. In other words,
    compare:

    A. Both wholes
    A1. Left half
    A1a. Left half top
    A1b. Left half bottom
    A2. Right half
    A2a. Right half top
    A2b. Right half bottom
    and so on. If something is moved you will eventually find it this way. Again
    you need a way to do this in both the source system and SW.

    Also, benchmark the source system volume calculation with SW.

    Also, you could use a system like Rhino to overlay both the original and
    translation.
     
    P., Aug 21, 2004
    #8
  9. Thanks everyone.
    The imported files could be coming from anything but are typically
    brought in as IGES or STEP. I have noticed with playing around that
    getting an *exact* volume match between two systems is difficult. They
    are often very close, but I have yet to see one exact to say 4 decimal
    places in inches.
     
    Mark Bannister, Sep 1, 2004
    #9
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