FormatWorks Update / Solidworks Inability To Deal With Non-Native Imported Surface Geometry

Discussion in 'SolidWorks' started by jon banquer, Nov 2, 2003.

  1. jon banquer

    jon banquer Guest

    FormatWorks was mentioned by Kellnerp as a solution to
    SolidWorks inability to deal with non-native imported
    surface geometry. I was not aware of this product.
    I thought I would post what I have found out
    about Format Works.

    "FormatWorks 2004 minimizes data interoperability problems,
    saves engineering time and brings you maximum benefit from
    your SolidWorks investment. Importing the most complex
    models and assembles is no longer a challenge."

    "Manual repair has never been simpler. If necessary,
    FormatWorks will automatically provide you with the
    workflow to fix all problems originating in the CAD
    model Defective entities are grouped in a project
    tree as separate documents. All manual repair
    operations are intuitive and easy to use since they
    are completely integrated into SolidWorks. As a result,
    the user operates only on faulty parts and their
    neighbours instead of manipulating on the whole
    model or complex assembly."

    "FormatWorks 2004 extends the SolidWorks data translation
    capability to support native CATIA V4 and V5 data as well as
    other formats. The technology used in FormatWorks is based
    on proprietary algorithms developed by Capvidia for the
    automotive industry to provide automatic, accurate, and
    reliable translation into and out of SolidWorks."

    "FormatWorks sells for $2875.00 plus 20% maintenance. For
    this price you can select either our IGES importer, Catia
    V4,or Catia V5. If you want both CATIA V4 and V5, add
    $1500.00."

    Spending $2875.00 plus 20% maintenance does not seem to
    me to be viable solution to working with non-native imported
    surface geometry because SolidWorks can't handle even the
    most basic elements of modification.

    jon
     
    jon banquer, Nov 2, 2003
    #1
  2. jon banquer

    TT Guest

    What DO you feel is a viable solution, purchasing think3?? LOL

    Gimme a break.

    In all seriousness, SW has greatly improved their importing capabilitues
    with 2004. I had some older files that were a REAL pain to get into SW and
    then fix, but now it is all done automatically. Whatever they did, they did
    it right.

    Kudos, once again, to SolidWorks!!

    Todd
     
    TT, Nov 2, 2003
    #2
  3. jon banquer

    jon banquer Guest

    What DO you feel is a viable solution, purchasing think3?? LOL

    The technology in think3's thinkdesign/ thinkshape far exceeds Solidworks
    and it's not really very hard to see this if your not a blind product
    loyalist. The same can easily be said for VX's Vision.
    In all seriousness there is little of no difference between SW 2003 and
    SW 2004 when it comes to importing non-native surface geometry because
    you still can't turn on U, V surface points and you still can't edit NURB
    splines.
    For doing exactly what ???

    Have you read Mark Biasotti's comparison of SolidWorks to Pro/E Wildfire ?
    Any idea how much better thinkshape with Global Shape Modeling is than
    Pro/E Wildfire at surfacing let along comparing it to SolidWorks ?

    Look forward to you addressing these specific issues with SolidWorks
    rather than you once again stating:

    "Kudos, once again, to SolidWorks!!"


    jon
     
    jon banquer, Nov 2, 2003
    #3
  4. jon banquer

    TT Guest

    Jon,

    From experience:

    SolidWorks 2004 healing funtionality has been greatly improved.

    Fact: I opened an IGES in 2003, it failed and I had to manually repair with
    surface tools.

    In SW 2004, I no longer need to do a thing.

    So in that regard, "Kudos to SolidWorks!!"

    --Todd
     
    TT, Nov 2, 2003
    #4
  5. jon banquer

    jon banquer Guest

    SolidWorks 2004 healing funtionality has been greatly
    Okay. This is good to know.
    Understand what you mean now.

    I guess what concerns me is the concept of relying on
    automatic healing rather than providing the needed manual
    tools in SolidWorks.

    Automatic tools will never be powerful enough to take care
    of many of the kinds of problems that one often experiences
    when importing non-native surface geometry.

    jon
     
    jon banquer, Nov 2, 2003
    #5
  6. jon banquer

    TT Guest

    Jon,

    From my personal experience, a LOT has to do with the exporting system. A
    majority of my experience of importing files is from Pro/E (no thanks to
    Pro/E for encrypting their files) IGES files. If you follow the suggestions
    SolidWorks gives you for settings found in Pro/E (not using the default),
    the IGES files come in WAY better. They also provide settings for other
    systems (although I have no experience with those).

    In regards to SW, the fill command was the best tool in regards to fixing
    files they have come out with. That 1 tool made almost every file
    "repairable".

    When simple "surfacing" tools don't do the job, that usually means that
    there is "bad" geometry. I have been able to overcome this by simply
    adjusting the import tolerance. May take an extra few steps, but usually it
    usually does the trick.

    As far as tools that you say are needed, what do you mean?

    --Todd
     
    TT, Nov 2, 2003
    #6
  7. jon banquer

    jon banquer Guest

    Todd,

    "From my personal experience, a LOT has to do with the
    exporting system. A majority of my experience of importing
    files is from Pro/E (no thanks to Pro/E for encrypting their
    files) IGES files. If you follow the suggestions SolidWorks
    gives you for settings found in Pro/E (not using the
    default), the IGES files come in WAY better. They also
    provide settings for other systems (although I have no
    experience with those)."

    No disagreement on what you need to do with IGES.

    IMO

    1. "I Guess" is a joke of a standard.

    2. Until Mr. Atari's STEP really becomes a meaningful
    standard or the next latest and greatest standard emerges, I
    think it's best, if possible, to import the file at the
    kernel level. Granite One, Parasolid, ACIS, etc.

    "In regards to SW, the fill command was the best tool in
    regards to fixing files they have come out with. That 1 tool
    made almost every file "repairable"."

    Does the SolidWorks fill command support consistent
    continuous tangent curvature (C2) ?

    "When simple "surfacing" tools don't do the job, that
    usually means that there is "bad" geometry."

    I work with people who are artists and who have no
    idea what needs to be done to get something manufactured or
    are not full time users of products like Rhino and often
    produce files filled with bad geometry.

    "As far as tools that you say are needed, what do you mean?"

    Tools that allow one to work directly on imported non-native
    surface geometry.... the tools you find in a fully hybrid
    modeler.

    jon
     
    jon banquer, Nov 3, 2003
    #7
  8. jon banquer

    kellnerp Guest

    Huh????


    jon banquer wrote:
    ....snip...snip...snip
     
    kellnerp, Nov 3, 2003
    #8
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.