Export Ply Data

 

This page deal with options concerning the export of ply data to DXF, IGES2D or IGES3D:

These options are distributed in three tabs:

  • DXF
  • IGES2D
  • IGES3D

They are listed below with the mention of the format to which they apply.

 

File Name Pattern (DXF, IGES2D, IGES3D)

Defines the name of the exported file using key words:

  • %PARTFILENAME%
  • %PARTNUMBER%
  • %PLYGROUP%
  • %SEQUENCE%
  • %PLY%
  • %CUTPIECE%
  • %PLYORCUTPIECE%
  • %MATERIALID%
  • %MATERIALNAME%
  • %DIRECTIONNAME%
  • %DIRECTIONVALUE%
For complete customization, other constant characters can be inserted between the key words.
All characters are supported except /, \, ", :, *, ?, <, >, |, ° and any other character that is not supported in file names by Microsoft Windows.
If special characters are found in the values corresponding to the key word, they are replaced by “_“ e.g. 0/90 becomes 0_90.
  By default, all key words are selected.
 

Export Mode (DXF, IGES2D, IGES3D)

Possible export modes are:
  • One file per entity (ply or sub-ply): One file is generated for each ply or cut-piece.
  • One per material: All plies or cut-pieces of the same material are exported in one single file.
  • One file per ply (all sub-plies): The export file of the ply contains all the geometries of it cut-pieces, if any.
  By default, One file per entity (ply or sub-ply) is selected.
 

Entities to Export (DXF, IGES2D, IGES3D)

Defines the entities to export (Strategy Point, Rosette, Annotation)
  By default, Rosette and  Annotation are selected.
 

Annotation Pattern (DXF, IGES2D)

 Customizes the annotations added to the flatten shape, using the same key words as for the file name:

  • %PARTFILENAME%
  • %PARTNUMBER%
  • %PLYGROUP%
  • %SEQUENCE%
  • %PLY%
  • %CUTPIECE%
  • %PLYORCUTPIECE%
  • %MATERIALID%
  • %MATERIALNAME%
  • %DIRECTIONNAME%
  • %DIRECTIONVALUE%

Any other character can be added to the key words.
Add a carriage return to write the annotation on several lines.
  By default, all key words are selected.
 

Text Font for Stacking Preview (DXF, IGES2D)

Defines the font family and size used exclusively for the stacking preview.
When exporting to DXF/DWG, the font defined as default in the Drafting standard applies.
This is not necessarily the one you use for the preview.
Contact your administrator to learn which default font is used, and possibly change it in the standard.

  By default, Arial (True Type) 3.5 mm is selected.
 

Text Position (DXF, IGES2D)

By default, the annotation is placed at the seed point (or a computed central point) location
and written horizontally i.e. along the x axis of the drawing view.
Therefore, in some cases the text does not completely fit in the flatten shape of the ply.
Compute text position attempts to keep the annotation inside the shape,
at the anchor location and horizontally, or at the anchor location and along a direction.

  By default, Compute texte pre-positioning is selected and set to Anchor and direction.
 

Layer Options (DXF)

Defines the layers options:

  • Separate elements in different layers exports the information of each category in a different layer.
    Otherwise, several categories can be exported in the same layer.
  • Keep in export defines how the layers are driven, by their Number or by their Name.
  • Patches of color define the color applied to the layer in the preview of the Stacking Management.
  By default, Separate elements in different layers is selected, Keep in export is set to Number.
 

IGES 3D Contour Options (IGES 3D)

Take thickness update into account elevates the contours of the plies or cut-pieces by taking the thickness of the underlying ply into account:
  • On full stacking  takes the sum of the thicknesses of all the plies below the ply to elevate into account.
    To be used if the reference surface of the ply is not at the true location in space.
  • On ply group only takes the sum of the thicknesses of the plies below the ply to elevate, and that belong to its plies group, into account.
  By default, Take thickness update into account is not selected.
 

Colors in DXF export (DXF)

Defines the colors used in DXF export:

  • 3D colors: Colors used to display the flatten geometry in the graphic area. They are set by the material orientation in the ply or cut-piece.
  • Layer colors: Colors used to categorize flatten body elements.
  • Black and white: The flatten geometry is exported in black.
  By default, 3D colors is selected.
 

DXF Generation Preference (DXF)

Defines how some elements are generated in the DXF export file.
By default, 3D Curves are exported to DXF using lines, arcs and splines whenever possible.
Since cutting machines do not support arcs and splines well, the following options are also proposed:

  • Use polyline instead of arc when connectivity issue may occur:
    Select this check box for arcs with a very large radius reaching the DXF precision limit that may lead to connectivity issues, not managed by the cutting machine
    Although it reduces the precision on the rest of the curve, replacing the arc by a polyline ensures connectivity.
    The precision remains accurate enough for the cutting machine.
  • Do not create spline in DXF export: Prevents the creation of spline while exporting to DXF.
    Only affect splines, are can still be created.
  • Generate closed polyline for closed contour: Replaces closed contours by one closed polyline.
    Splines and arcs are converted into polylines and included in the polyline.
    If the contour is not closed, default export applies.
  By default, these options are not selected.