IGES Fun – Data Doctor

CAUTION: page under (slow) development. This is an update of “Redefining IGES files“

Goal: Create a watertight surface or solid model.

Typical problems:

  1. Untrimmed surfaces
  2. Extra surfaces
  3. Irregular edges

Methodology:

  1. Correct surface boundaries and improve edge quality by creating new isolines and projecting nearby edges.

Workflow:

  1. Open the IGES file in a text editor and locate the accuracy parameter. Double-check units.
  2. Create a new part, and set the accuracy to match the import file value. Test the import quality with accuracies an order of magnitude above and below the file value – it may save you time later.
  3. Insert “Shared data” “From file”, and open the IGES file.
  4. Review the data to determine if filtering is required.
  5. Create layers for curves and the base quilt. Hide the base quilt to reveal problem areas. Color unattached quilts for further definition.

Tips:

You can use the find tool to select loose quilts for color assignment. Textures are kind of interesting.

I like to set the system colors back to “White on Black” and then modify the quilt display color to something like yellow.

When you’re working up close, set the spin center to an involved edge. Here’s a mapkey to help:

mapkey sc ~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `ProCmdViewOrient.view`;
mapkey(continued) ~ Select `orient` `SetupOptions`1 `setup`;
mapkey(continued) ~ Select `orient` `spincentPH.SpinCentRadio`1 `EdgeAxis`;
mapkey(continued) @PAUSE_FOR_SCREEN_PICK;~ Activate `orient` `OkPB`;

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