Because of the popularity of the XT/.xt file format there’s a huge need for viewing, manipulating, healing, and translating Parasolid 3D models throughout many manufacturing segments. However, due to the cost CAD and/or CAM software platforms, these simple functions become inaccessible to many employees without direct access to that software.
- 1722 Parasolid 3d models are waiting for you. Download or buy, then render or print from the shops or marketplaces. 3D Models below are suitable not only for printing but also for any computer graphics like CG, VFX, Animation, or even CAD.
- Parasolid is a 3D geometric modelling toolkit developed by Siemens PLM's components group in Cambridge, U.K. This toolkit provides hundreds of complex mathematical algorithms and functions which allow software developers to create 3D modelling software based on.
- The Parasolid modeling kernel helps you to deal with large, complex models at the highest level. It will make your file management more consistent and reliable. Data transfer compatibility is.
This blog post details how to import solid bodies into Blender from NX. As always there are many different ways to skin a cat, but I was only able to find particular combination of files types and tools to maintain solid body definition after the import into Blender. The assembly model I wanted to import from NX had over 50 different bodies and over 500 surfaces. Even trying to select all of the surfaces associated with a body and creating a group or linking them would be impossibly tedious and wasteful. Hopefully this information will save you time and effort as well!
Steps:
I'm going to use this part with two bodies, a cube with a square cutout and a cylinder, as an example and walk through the process.
1. Export the model from NX. I'm using NX7.5. File -> Export -> Parasolid
2. A new Export Parasolid dialog will pop up. Select the desired bodies to export or Ctrl+A for all bodies. The desired bodies should be highlighted and the OK button should become green/selectable. Click OK.
3. Browse to the desired output directory and name the output file.
![Free parasolid models for sale Free parasolid models for sale](/uploads/1/1/9/8/119877193/521789555.jpg)
4. Download and install CAD Exchanger. Unfortunately this is not freeware or open source, but there is a free trial period (no idea the duration) and it was the only file converting utility I could find that could go from parasolid to x3d.
5. Open CAD Exchanger. Before we get started we need to enable 'Merge Face Sets' in the X3D exporter options. Go to Tools -> Options. Click on 'X3D exporter' in the left hand list. Check 'Merge Face Sets'. Click OK.
7. Import the recently exported parasolid file, File -> Import.
8. You can see a preview of the model and solid bodies in the tree to the left.
9. Export the model, File -> Export. Select X3D files (*.x3d) in the dropdown menu). Name and save the file.
10. Open a new file in Blender and delete the auto-generated cube. Your screen should look something like this. I'm using Blender 2.68.
11. Import the newly exported X3D file using File -> Import -> X3D Extensible 3D (.x3d/.wrl).
12. Browse to the X3D file, select it, and click 'Import X3D/VRML2'.
13. After rotating and scaling this is our cube and cylinder! Done!
Hope someone finds this helpful, I know it would have saved me quite a few hours of trial and error. Please post successful results or questions in the comments as well as if you find a free/open source file converter.
Parasolid to STEP translation is essentially moving from a geometric modeling kernel to a neutral CAD format.
Parasolid is the one of the most popular geometric modeling kernels in use today, and is the next best format to use when converting from a Parasolid-based CAD application.
The best format is always the native CAD format. Parasolid to STEP can also appear as .x_t to .STP or .x_t to .STEP.
Let’s say you are working with some CAD data that originally came from Solidworks, NX or Solid Edge (all CAD systems that use Parasolid as their geometric modeling kernel). You need to bring the Parasolid data into a CAD-related application that only reads STEP. In this scenario, Parasolid to STEP makes good sense.
On the other hand, if the CAD-related application reads Parasolid files, you’d be better off using the Parasolid file directly; and if the CAD-related application is actually based on the Parasolid geometric modeling kernel, such as is the case with Mastercam and many other solutions, there’s even more reason to avoid STEP, and use only the Parasolid file.
See which CAD systems and tools use Parasolid and other kernels in the Geometric Modeling Kernels Reference.
Finally, if you have access to the original, native SOLIDWORKS, NX or Solid Edge files and the CAD-related application you are bringing the data into reads those files directly, you’re best off using the native formats and avoiding Parasolid and STEP altogether. For example, if you are using an NX-based machining package you’d be better off getting the original NX file from the customer.
Read more about how to tell what format is best for different situations in the articles The CAD Format Ladder Part 1 and The CAD Format Ladder Part 2.
If you are going to translate from X_T to STEP, make sure to use a good translator. Unlike the translators for geometric modeling kernels, there is a lot of latitude in how a STEP translator can be built. Not all translators are created equal, and oftentimes the STEP translators built into CAD applications are not the highest quality.
The other factor is that you have to consider not only the STEP translator you are using to convert TO STEP, but the translator that is reading the STEP file in the CAD-related application; using two different STEP translators presents twice the opportunity for a bad STEP translation to degrade your CAD data.
TransMagic’s STEP translator is purpose-built to provide the best possible STEP read/write capability in the industry, with the capability to read, recognize and write not only spline-based geometry, but all NURB geometry (essential for properly reading CATIA files) as well as analytic geometry such as cones, cylinders, planes, lines and arcs.
Parasolid Model Part File
You can test drive TransMagic SUPERVIEW, along with MagicHeal and MagicCheck Add-Ons for 7 days at no cost – just click this link to get to the free eval. If you need to be able to write CAD formats to do a proper eval, let us know at [email protected].