PROTECTING IP- Sending STEP Files to customers for visual only. We don't want them to see the design components

[Anonymous]

Hi there, We have customers we want to send product 3D step files to but want to freeze all components so customer cannot do an exploded view and see how our products are made ( protecting IP ). Is there a way to just send them the a file which is used for viewing purposes and use in promotional brochures etc

Any help would be great

[jhackney1972]

Have you considered ripping the guts out of the assembly model before you export the STP file using the Derive command.  I have attached two assemblies, well one is a usable assembly the other is just one body.  If you open them both you will see they look the same but you are going to have to do some hard measuring to get much info from the single body one.

[danielgB7P2E]

Hi John,

I have files with multiple components in them, when I use the derive feature, it creates a new file with all the bodies still separate. How did you manage to merge all the bodies into one?

Thanks heaps,

Daniel.

[daniel_lyall]

What you can do is send a render of the product finished then this is just a pick you can do multiple views of said object, @jeff_strater  can you help with this, please.

[TrippyLighting]

If it is really for viewing purposes only, then send them the public link to the design from the data panel. Just make sure you disable download.

Then they can view the design in a web browser, even take simple measurements, but they don't have access to the geometry.

I use this all the time!

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

The attached Screencast outlines the entire process.  I went one step further in the video, I removed the timeline which will remove all the base features.  True you can apply the Find Feature command to the one body but it will not give you a lot of information.  Also true you can still measure the body but getting inside of it is rather hard.  You cannot make an exploded view from the model in the Animation environment since it has no components.

[YoavFriedlander]

@Anonymous look at @TrippyLighting response - best option ! built-in solution that protects you and actually will make a nice experience for the client

[danielgB7P2E · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

that was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much, it was perfect!

All the best,

Daniel.

P.S. - thank you to everyone else who made contributions as well!  🙂