When working with embedded design, you work close with the electro mechanical engineers, who design PCB´s.
When doing so, there is always files generated from their programs. Usually it is Gerber data, which can be exported to idf (.emn .emp files). Now, I have not found any solution to get the idf file into f360, and I actually don´t need it at the moment.
The solution we have now is they export step files, which are fine to use. However, the problem is, there will be thousands of components sometimes. Imagine opening it in f360....Yes, it takes time and try to spin the model.... Impossible to work with. Since I have not found a good solution to export/import the file again (as one joined) step file. I´m suggesting you look at Creo. There is a function called shrink wrap. Please check it out, if you don´t know how it works. Basically, it joins all components and saves it to their native .prt file. Once you open this file, it is x10 smaller and you have one volume to work with. The benefits are, you can still measure and find positions distances etc.
You probably suggest to me to create a stl file and use it. I have, and it would be enough, if I would be able to take measurements, but that is not possible.... When doing so, it is like the scaling is factor 10, and snap points is no near to be found. To work around it, I scale it down with factor 0.1 and set the mesh to BRep, then export to step, then import again…A lot of time consumed, and still all the curves from the mesh…doohh!
So, again. I would be pleased if there was a functionality in f360 that joins all components, subcomponents or join all bodies to one, then export/import step file. This would be great, due to size and handling the model but also time consumption.
/JP
