Import .sat file and convert to 3D solid

[Keith.Brown]

I have several .sat files that I have imported into inventor.  In the past when I have received the files and imported them in and saved as a dwg solid, they come save as a 3D solid.  The files that I have now when saved as a dwg solid come in as surfaces.  I am a complete novice with inventor and I am not sure on how to make it export as a 3D solid if it is even possible.   I have tried stitching them, but it comes up with alot of errors.

I am hoping to try and fix this without asking the manufacturer for their original files.  I am not sure if they will even release them.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Dennis_Jeffrey]

Can you post one of them, zipped?

[Keith.Brown]

Here is a smaller one.

[JDMather]

There are missing surfaces in the parts.
What Options do you have set on open?

You might check this information on fixing the parts

http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=class&session_id=3056

[Dennis_Jeffrey]

It appears from the header information in the supplied file that this SAT file originated in Inventor 2010. See text below (Opened in Notepad):

700 0 37 0          
33 Autodesk Inventor 14.3.0000.27200 18 ASM 215.0.3.100 NT 24 Mon Nov 29 14:41:16 2010
25.399999999999999 9.9999999999999995e-007 1e-010

I'd ask for the parts and assemblies. This file could be repaired in the Construction environment, but it would take a lot of time.

[Keith.Brown]

JD,

I actually had downloaded your class the day before to try and fix the problems.  It did help and give some answers but there was just too many errors to fix per part.  There will be several hundred parts to make this feasible.  Thanks for the extremely helpful video and the input.

Dennis,

I am currently in contact with the manufacturer to try and get their assemblies.  Hopefully they will release them and make my job that much easier.  Thanks for your help.

[Keith.Brown]

Once you have the original assembly and part files, is it possible to export them in a .sat format as a 3D solid and not a surface?  If so, are there very many steps to accomplish this?  Thanks.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

Trivially easy.  In fact I wonder about the source and the reason this file was missing faces.   (either they did not know what they were doing or this was a rough attempt at protecting intellectual property by removing some geometry)

The steps are File>Save Copy As> type ACIS (*.sat)

but I would STEP (*.stp) instead

or

Environments>AEC Exchange >Save as dwg solids of dwg is needed in the end.

[Keith.Brown]

They did send out a .sat file but the file came in as all surfaces.  I will be using the model in AutoCAD MEP and it requires full 3D solids instead of  3D surfaces.  They are not sure why it came out as a surface instead of a 3D solid and neither am I.

[JDMather]

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@advmech_kbrown wrote:

They are not sure why it came out as a surface instead of a 3D solid and neither am I.

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Sounds like they need some training.  See if they will let you post the original files here.  My guess is that it will be garbage.

[Keith.Brown]

They are not going to let me post.  I am able to shrinkwrap the assemblies to obtain a 3D solid and then export to a dwg using the AEC exchange.  Still not sure on how to export a 3D solid .sat file which would be the prefered method.  I take it that the .sat would export as a 3D solid if the assembly and parts were modeled better?

[JDMather]

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@advmech_kbrown wrote:

  I take it that the .sat would export as a 3D solid if the assembly and parts were modeled better?

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Yep.  My first thought is that they used Delete Face somewhere (without knowing how to use this command).  Imported geometry that was not repaired could be another source of trouble.