Hi,
My customer has asked if we can add co-ordinates to our model so that they can place it within their MicroStation without them needing to do any work on it. We have tried to send them Parasolid files so that they can insert them but they don't even want to attempt to open it within their software. Is there are way to do this??
Billy.
Hi Matt,
Unfortunately I cannot say who the files need to be sent to.
So if I send them an IGES / Step file then they would be able to insert it into there model within MicroStation? I assume that you have had to import models from other people/companies, so have you ever come across any problems with locating them within the MicroStation?
Unfortunately, I haven't imported anything 3D into Microstation from SW. IMO, Microstation really isn't the correct tool for anything 3D. Unless things have radically changed in Microstation, working in 3D is cumbersome and time consuming. It really is a waste of resources.
Think of trying to use SW to make a drawing by sketching it out in 2D. Working in 3D in a software made for 2D is annoying to say the least.
Would this be the same for Bentley OpenPlant Modeler V8i (SELECTseries 5) and AECOsim Building Designer V8i (SELECTseries 5)?
I have never used either of those products. But, I'd be surprised if they are based on anything other than Microstation, ie a dressed up 2D package that doesn't have a true 3D parametric kernel.
There is an interesting history behind 3D technology and Bentley. I think it was in 1998 Intergraph (who made Microstation at the time) sold the rights to the parasolid kernel along with their 3D modeling program that later changed hands and became Siemens SolidEdge. Well, a few years later Bentley acquired Microstation from Intergraph, but obviously did not acquire a parasolid kernel (I read somewhere they are now licensing the parasolid kernel, as of last year).
Since then, Bentley has made great claims about parametric this or that, but they didn't have the technology. For example, I went over to see what one of our structural guys was using that was called Bentley LeapBridge or something like that. It was touted as being parametric. I took one look at it and laughed. It was a dialog box that you entered parameters into and it generated some beams into a 2D drawing. I asked how you get the dialog back to make changes and the answer was, "you can't". I figured it was garbage at that point.
However, Bentley has developed or acquired OpenRoads, and that does appear to be truly parametric. So as I said above, I doubt either one of those are truly 3D programs, but I can't be sure.
I'm sorry you are having to deal with Microstation. These are the import options I see in Microstation SELECTseries 2:
Apparently, they didn't configure our install correctly because my install of MS can't find the settings file for either IGES or Step. I tried and can't import either. But, one of those should work. Can you say who these files are being sent to?