Export model from Creo

I'm currently attempting to export a model using a CAD program called CREO. I'd like to replace one of the flowitems. Is there a recommended file type to save this as? I attempted to save it as a dxf, which is an AUTOCAD file but the file is 14.1 mb and REALLY slows down the model, it practically shuts FlexSim down. I also tried to save it as .stl but when I uploaded it to Flexsim an image didn't appear. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I'm no expert so I don't know what files stay very small but Flexsim itself uses *.3ds a lot and we have good experience with that as well. Also vrml1 (*.wrl) files works fine.

But 14Mb should actually work fine in your model so I guess there is the problem with the graphics card or graphics card settings. Please check this post out:
https://www.flexsim.com/community/fo...hlight=flexsim

Victoria,

can you please give me access to the files you have exported and let me give it a try?

Best wishes
Ralf
FlexSim

hi Ralf, I attached a zip file, again the file ext is .dxf as this was one of the only common file extensions between CREO and Flexsim that I could use. Hope you can find something out!

Victoria,

I attached these three things:

1. Screenshot from Polytrans, a 3D conversion tool I use.
2. Screenshot from FlexSim after using the shape as you sent it in a visual object.
3. FlexSim model I took the screenshot from.

There are a few broken polygons visible in FlexSim, but overall I think it looks pretty good. What do you think?

Best wishes

Ralf

Hi Ralf - thanks for looking into this! It does look good however, are you implying that I have to use a 3D conversion tool similar to Polytrans, in order to upload the file into Flexsim?

Hi Victoria,

no, I used the shape exactly as you sent it.
No conversion required.

Best wishes

Ralf
FlexSim

I think the Polytrans screenshot was just for comparison - Ralf used the dxf in the visual tool /shape object (he now replied).

If you post the creo assembly file we can see how that compares to the dxf.

Just to add a few words to this discussion :
- I agree with Ralf : it a DXF and then can be imported direclty with FlexSim as 3D Shape
- From our experience we prefer do not import direclty 3D DXF, because DXF format might give some problems with solid representation (in this specific example the imported 2032980g1.dxf show a bad quality.
- We prefer have 3DS or better (and when available) get a STEP file and then process it with a data simplification program (Polytrans is a good example) In this way keep the solid aspect and get a light weight representation (the 2032980g1.dxf is a 14 MB => 70K polygons, not that good as FlowItem)

This specific example after having been simplified with polytrans and exported to 3DS format we get a 344 kB and 4650 polygons 3DS, without graphics losses respect of the original file (is 6.5 % of the original complexity); this just seaming adjacent edges. Graphic quality is still bad because of the losses of DXF export.


In order to get a good result IMHO :
- Export from Creo to STEP.
- Load it with polytrans and run the Process Polygons commands (that basically join small surface into a single polyhefron) and trhen remove the hidden polygons.
- Export to 3DS and then load it to FlexSim.
This should also give a good graphics output


Attached the original 2032980g1.dxf simplified with Polytrans and then converted to 3DS