Sharing Data - Prevent import as assembly

[steveing]

We want to share our data with customers as STEP files. Since many of the components in our assemblies don't touch because of clearances and such, when we derive into a single part file it produces a set of disjointed bodies. In turn, when this is exported to STEP and subsequently brought back into Inventor, an assembly can be recreated using "Import Multi-Lumps as assembly".

Aside from actually modifying the part file to add solid geometry to fill the voids; thereby eliminating the disjointed bodies, does anyone have an easier method to ensure that the STEP file always come in as a part?

[Anonymous]

Derive the assembly into a part file then export that.


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Duncan
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http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375


wrote in message news:5627668@discussion.autodesk.com...
We want to share our data with customers as STEP files. Since many of the
components in our assemblies don't touch because of clearances and such, when we
derive into a single part file it produces a set of disjointed bodies. In turn,
when this is exported to STEP and subsequently brought back into Inventor, an
assembly can be recreated using "Import Multi-Lumps as assembly".

Aside from actually modifying the part file to add solid geometry to fill the voids;
thereby eliminating the disjointed bodies, does anyone have an easier method to
ensure that the STEP file always come in as a part?

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind that not all other systems can support disjointed solids.

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wrote in message news:5627668@discussion.autodesk.com...
We want to share our data with customers as STEP files. Since many of the
components in our assemblies don't touch because of clearances and such,
when we derive into a single part file it produces a set of disjointed
bodies. In turn, when this is exported to STEP and subsequently brought
back into Inventor, an assembly can be recreated using "Import Multi-Lumps
as assembly".

Aside from actually modifying the part file to add solid geometry to fill
the voids; thereby eliminating the disjointed bodies, does anyone have an
easier method to ensure that the STEP file always come in as a part?

[steveing]

We tried that.

However, since deriving the assembly into a part produces a "disjointed solid" (because of tolerances in the assembly that introduce gaps between the geometry), it is possible to create an assembly on subsequent import due to "muti-lumps".

-Steve

[cad_fun]

OK, you are trying to prevent someone else from importing as an assembly or you are trying to allow this?