STEP load options
Creo Elements/Direct Modeling allows you to load a STEP file either directly or using the Granite mode. STEP module is active by default.
To load a STEP file,
1. Click > . The Load file browser opens.
2. In the File Type box, select STEP (*.stp;*.step;*.STP;*.STEP).
3. Click Options. The Load STEP options dialog box allows you to set the following options for STEP data:
◦ Processor: Choose Direct or Granite mode.
◦ Encoding: Choose Unicode or Legacy (Roman8 or Shift-JIS). You should use Unicode unless your Computer Aided Design (CAD) - software does not support Unicode. This option is available only in the Direct mode.
◦ Curve: Load curve elements into Creo Elements/Direct Modeling. This option is available only in the Granite mode.
◦ Invisible: Load invisible (hidden) elements into Creo Elements/Direct Modeling. This option is available only in the Granite mode.
◦ Connect: Attempt to connect imported faces for a surface model. This option has no effect on solids.
◦ Check Part: Perform a minimal part check on the imported parts after they are loaded.
◦ Show Log: Display a log file after the conversion is finished.
◦ Custom or
Automatic Resolution: A value between 1E-1 and 10E-6 mm for the target resolution. Please read
Data accuracy for more information. This option is available only in the
Direct mode.
◦ Under Granite Healing, you can set the following for the Granite mode:
▪ Keep BSpline Degree: Retain surfaces that are B-splines.
▪ Simplify Surfaces: Simplify the imported surfaces.
▪ Trim: For the surface boundaries of the imported surfaces, use the half-edges along the UV direction, by default. Alternatively, use the intersection curves along XYZ, if available.
▪ Close Boundary: Connect the end-points of trimming boundaries and close the open boundaries of the imported surfaces.
◦ Log File: The name of the log file. These variable are defined in the environment of the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling startup process.
4. Select the path where the file should be located.
5. Select a file or type the name of the file in Filename.
6. Click Load.
General import guidelines
• The data model representation in a STEP file should be in the form of solid models (AP203 (class 6) , or AP214 (class 1 or 2, boundary representation solid model) or, if this is not possible, face-based or shell-based surface models.
• The distance accuracy of the data model should be in the range of 1.0E-2 mm to 1.0E-6 mm for the best possible results when importing into Creo Elements/Direct Modeling.
• The STEP data file should be re-imported into the sending system successfully. This test indicates a good chance for a successful exchange with other systems.
• A consistency check (such as Check Body) should be performed.
Preferred data model representations
• Solid Models (Boundary Representation): AP203 (class 6) or AP214 (class 1, or 2) solid models convey the most advanced representation. These typically provide the best results when importing solid model data into Creo Elements/Direct Modeling.
• Surface Models: Topology based surface models of AP203 (class 4) or AP214 (class 1) (shell-based surface models) typically provide good results because they convey topological connectivity between faces.