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What Graphical Only 3D Format Do You Use?

Question asked by Samuel Leith on May 21, 2013
Latest reply on May 21, 2013 by Samuel Leith

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Hello,

I need to share a 3D model with a third party, but do not want to send the full details of assembly/part files.

I would like to save my parent assembly to a read-only, graphical data only type of 3D format.

What format do you suggest?

I tried WRL so far but it was creating a HUGE file, so I ended the process before it completed. I also tried HCG, and although SW seemed to be able to export to HCG, I couldn't then import it back into SW. I believe CRG files are for Catia only.

Thanks for your help.

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John Burrill May 21, 2013 8:22 AM
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Well, edrawings works pretty good and gives the best visual fidelity without providing goemetry. From there, the person you're sending it to can export it to STL if they want to bring it into Max or Blender or something
You can write the files straight to STL-which most programs can read in.
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Patrick O'Hern May 21, 2013 8:59 AM
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I typically send STEP files, but it really depends on what software your vendor/customer has. Many programs are limited in the filetypes that they are able to import, so you may have to work with them to find something that works. Try exorting your different options, then import them back into SW to see how they turn out (sometimes you will get errors in the conversion process.)
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Kelvin Lamport May 21, 2013 9:51 AM
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You have several options.

Save as the assy to a part with the Exterior faces or Exterior components option.
On the newly saved part you could use the Defeature tool to further reducte details.

From that I would use either an eDrawing or 3D PDF file format.

If your client needs to load the part/assy into another 3D program to check fit, clearances, etc, then Parasolid, STP or IGS formats should suffice.
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Samuel Leith May 21, 2013 12:38 PM
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Thanks for all of your inputs.
We use Step files a lot, but this time, I just wanted to communicate the graphical data in a format that is not too big in size.
eDrawings format works perfectly, so I went ahead and exported in this format.

Thanks once again for your help.
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What Graphical Only 3D Format Do You Use?

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