VENDORS - WHY would you make a model that no one can use?????

[tmoxam]

If you are a vendor....and you are providing a file of a commercial part....

then why would you make a file that no one can use?

i have been fighting, and reading, and researching for hours on how to make a STEP file i downloaded visible in my drawing just show that i can show a clearance. (1/2" all round)

If you are going to make a file available online then it should work. I should be able to use the surfaces to position the object, i should be able to dimension to an edge. ... WITHOUT hours trying to make if visible. What good is it otherwise.

Just don't do it. 

i have downloaded hundreds of STEP, SAT, and IGES files and had no problems.

As a vendor remember.......if your model gives me problems...i may choose another vendor (with files that work )

i don't have time to go through and correct and stitch or whatever you have to do to make a solid. i don't want the guts. i don't want to know how you made it. I just want the envelope of the part.

Sure i can make a box to represent your item, but, should i have to?

[3D4Play · Accepted solution]

I immediately thought of this setting, which will probably solve your problem if you have not already tried it. See attached.

[mcgyvr]

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@tmoxam wrote:

i have been fighting, and reading, and researching for hours on how to make a STEP file i downloaded visible in my drawing just show that i can show a clearance.

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In the future just ask here... We could have saved you hours and an unnecessary rant.. 😉

[tmoxam]

thanx for the dialog box.  However, i don't know where it came from. (view recovery?)

if i could find something similar, it may help.

i was asking how to make the model solid. surfaces selectable. 

where did your dialog box come from?

[tmoxam]

@mcgyvr 

This site and this forum is where i spent the hours searching.

Several hours now and still don't have the answer i was looking for.

i know the rant does nothing on this forum. But, the point is still valid......

if you are a vendor, your model should work out of the box without me having to do ANY work on it.

That will 90% guarantee i use and buy your part (except for eng. change). Otherwise to me, brand A is as good as brand B.

[mcgyvr]

@tmoxam  What version of Inventor are you using?

That recovery dialog tab is part of the drawing base view dialog box..

Its been around for at least a few years now so either you just haven't found it or have an old version of Inventor..

[3D4Play · Accepted solution]

It's shown in the image, but may not be clear: it's in the drawing view properties, when you place the view, or when you double-click an already placed view. Go to a view you are having the issues with, double-click inside the view boundary, and this dialogue box will appear. The image says everything you need to know from there.

I only provided the image because you said you were having issues with visibility in a drawing view.

[tmoxam]

@3D4Play  , @mcgyvr  thank you. 

i didn't realize that it was the drawing view dialogue box. 

i tried it and yes, now visible.

I have been using Inventor since R5. (15 years+). I have used lots and lots of step files and not had this problem before. its a good thing that all the parts i downloaded from McMaster-Carr and others did not exhibit this behaviour.

thanx again

[mcgyvr]

The model you have is simply a surface model and doesn't have solids in it..

There are totally valid reasons why manufacturers would provide those vs full solid step files..

IP protection/Reduced File Size,etc... 

Glad you found the proper dialog tab though now and it should be smooth sailing from now on no matter what file you have..

[3D4Play]

Good! In all fairness, I didn't know about this setting either, until Autodesk Support dude I was actually talking to on the phone pointed me to it. At that time (a few years ago) it wasn't in the help documentation. Now it is, under the Drawing View Dialog Reference. Honestly, sometimes you can find exactly what you need in the help files, but other times there is a dearth of help in Help. Searching these forums is sometimes not much better either, especially when you need an answer now. 

[mcgyvr]

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@3D4Play wrote:

 At that time (a few years ago) it wasn't in the help documentation.

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A few years ago it wasn't an option at all.. That is a new feature added in 2018 I believe..