CAD's STEP format

Has anyone used or converted a 3D STEP file to work in Flexsim?

The files that will be coming my way are between 20 & 75 MB - The objects will be flow items on a conveyor, but only a small number of them (maybe 5). I'm tempted not to try to import without reducing them, because the initial output will just be a video of a slow moving model which will give the graphics time to refresh.

If you have experience in working with largs STEP (.stp) files then I'd appreciate a comment on how you got on and any issues that you found.

I'm particularly interested in suggestions for conversion to 3DS or WRL

Thanks, Kenny

Hi Kenny,

If the STEP file are between 20 to 75 MB then you need to reduce them.
There will be a lot of geometries in the STEP files that you do not need to have in Flexsim.

It can be like screws, bolts, holes etc.

You need to have a CAD program or PolyTrans to do the reducing of the model.

Need more information, let me know.

Lars-Olof

Anark Core (Anark.com) does a really good job of CAD translation and simplification; it's an interactive tool where you can reduce polygon count on individual bodies, and you can remove shapes smaller than some specified size (easy to get rid of bolts, etc...) and they even make it pretty easy to delete any non-visible polygons.

I think cost is a little over 10k, but it's in that area, and it's worth it, especially as it's quite good at converting from one CAD format to another.

I have PolyTrans as well, and it works well enough, but I like Anark a lot more...

Hello

We are building a model in Flexsim, and we were asked if we could upload a 3D image rather than loading a jpg on a visual tool, so we were just wondering if its possible to load a 3d CAD drawing, and what format is it in ?? We have tried a 2D dwg file, but we would like to know what format does flexsim accept for 3D files ??

Thanks

From the user manual:
"Flexsim can import several types of 3D media. These include 3ds, wrl, dxf, and stl file types"

Actually this is already old because from 5 onwards it can also import Google Sketchup files