Select File
ImportPart from the main menu bar to import a part from a Parasolid-format file. Parasolid is a library of solid modeling functions developed by Unigraphics Solutions and marketed by EDS. You can use a translator from Elysium, Inc., to import Parasolid-format parts directly into ABAQUS/CAE. A variety of CAD products can generate Parasolid-format parts, such as Unigraphics, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, FEMAP, and MSC.Patran. For information about the versions of the CAD software supported by the direct translators from Elysium, Inc., see the Geometry Import page on the ABAQUS web site.
An imported Parasolid part forms the base feature of a new part in ABAQUS/CAE; you cannot modify this base feature directly, but you can add additional features to it, such as a solid extrusion or a blind cut.
To import a part from a Parasolid-format file:
From the main menu bar, select FileImportPart.
The Import Part dialog box appears.
From the File Filter menu at the bottom of the Import Part dialog box, select Parasolid (*.x_t*,*.x_b*, *.xmt*).
ABAQUS/CAE lists all the files in the current directory with a .x_t file extension.
Select the Parasolid file containing the part to import, and click OK.
ABAQUS/CAE displays the Create Part from PARASOLID File dialog box.
Click the Name-Repair tab to set the following:
Name
The name of the new part. For more information, see “Using basic dialog box components,” Section 3.2.1.
Repair Options
ABAQUS/CAE automatically repairs a Parasolid part during the import process.
Topology
ABAQUS/CAE selects the topology—solid, shell, or wire—based on the entities that it finds in the file. In most cases you should accept the setting selected by ABAQUS/CAE. However, if the topology of the resulting part is not as expected, you can try importing the part again with a different topology selected.
Part Filter
A Parasolid file can contain more than one part, and ABAQUS/CAE imports all of the parts in the file by default. Alternatively, you can toggle on Import part number and enter the number of a single part to import from the file.
Click the Part Attributes tab to set the following:
The modeling space of the part being imported. When you import a part, ABAQUS/CAE scans the file and tries to determine the modeling space.
The type of the part being imported. ABAQUS/CAE always assumes that the part type is deformable. Toggle on Discrete rigid to import a discrete rigid part. For more information, see “Part types,” Section 11.4.2.
Click the Scale tab to scale the part during the import process.
Choose No scale to maintain the dimensions stored in the file.
Choose Use transform from file, including scale to read the scale factor, the rotation matrix, and the translation matrix from the Parasolid file.
Choose Multiply all lengths by, and enter a scale factor. ABAQUS/CAE applies the scale factor to all of the coordinates in the file. As a consequence, any offset from the origin will be scaled accordingly.
Click OK to import the Parasolid part and to close the Create Part from PARASOLID File dialog box.
ABAQUS/CAE scans the Parasolid file and repairs the part during the import process. If you wish to cancel the import process, click Stop in the prompt area.
When you import a single part, ABAQUS/CAE displays a message in the message area indicating if the part contains any validity or precision problems. If you import multiple parts from a single Parasolid file, you can use the Part Manager to check if any of the parts are invalid or imprecise. The Query toolset provides a set of geometry diagnostic tools that allow you to locate areas of invalid and imprecise geometry. For more information, see “Using the Query toolset in the Part module,” Section 11.16.4. Use the Repair toolset to try to repair an imported part. For more information, see Chapter 47, “The Repair toolset.”
