STEP Writer
The STEP writer allows developers to export B-rep data from Exchange to STEP. The file extensions that you can create when you export the data are:
.STEP
.STP
.STPZ (_AP242_ only)
- To compress a STEP file, simply use the .STPZ file extension appended to the file name in the export file name parameter for
the
A3DAsmModelFileExportToStepFile()
function.
Assembly
The full assembly tree is exported with all the instancing information maintained.
B-Rep
When we export to STEP we look at the source data and map each surface to one of the following:
B_SPLINE_SURFACE
B_SPLINE_SURFACE_WITH_KNOTS
CONICAL_SURFACE
CYLINDRICAL_SURFACE
DEGENERATE_TOROIDAL_SURFACE
OFFSET_SURFACE
RATIONAL_B_SPLINE_SURFACE
RECTANGULAR_TRIMMED_SURFACE
SPHERICAL_SURFACE
SURFACE_OF_REVOLUTION
TOROIDAL_SURFACE
…and curves to one of the following:
B_SPLINE_CURVE
B_SPLINE_CURVE_WITH_KNOTS
CIRCLE
COMPOSITE_CURVE
POLYLINE
RATIONAL_B_SPLINE_CURVE
Our STEP writer supports the export of tessellated geometry to the AP242 format. This includes tessellated solids, shells, wires, and point sets.
Tessellation
HOOPS Exchange only export tessellated data from import files originally containing only tessellation data.
As such, to write to tessellated STEP, your originating file needs to have been imported with A3DRWParamsGeneralData.m_eReadGeomTessMode
set to kA3DReadTessOnly.
Visualization
Our STEP writer supports the export of tessellated geometry to the AP242 format. This includes tessellated solids, shells, wires, and point sets.
If a part contains solids with no B-rep, all of the geometry for this part will be exported as tessellated geometry for the AP242 format. This includes TESSELLATED_SOLID, TESSELLATED_SHELL, TESSELLATED_WIRE, and TESSELLATED_POINT_SET.
Writing B-rep and tessellation together is not yet supported.
Views
Views, camera definitions, sections, and PMI visibility are supported by our STEP file writer.
PMI
PMI is supported by our STEP file writer. HOOPS Exchange supports export of semantic PMI to the STEP AP242 format.
This includes:
DIMENSIONAL_SIZE
DIMENSIONAL_LOCATION
POSITION_TOLERANCE
STRAIGHTNESS_TOLERANCE
UNEQUALLY_DISPOSED_GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE
GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE_WITH_DEFINED_UNIT
GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE_WITH_DEFINED_AREA_UNIT
GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE_WITH_MODIFIERS
GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE_WITH_MAXIMUM_TOLERANCE
MODIFIED_GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE
CYLINDRICITY_TOLERANCE
FLATNESS_TOLERANCE
LINE_PROFILE_TOLERANCE
ROUNDNESS_TOLERANCE
SURFACE_PROFILE_TOLERANCE
GEOMETRIC_TOLERANCE_WITH_DATUM_REFERENCE
COAXIALITY_TOLERANCE
CONCENTRICITY_TOLERANCE
CIRCULAR_RUNOUT_TOLERANCE
TOTAL_RUNOUT_TOLERANCE
ANGULARITY_TOLERANCE
PARALLELISM_TOLERANCE
PERPENDICULARITY_TOLERANCE
SYMMETRY_TOLERANCE
DATUM_TARGET
DATUM_FEATURE
It is possible to export PMI representation as polylines (text will be outlined) or tessellated (text will be filled).
Miscellaneous
The following file attributes can be exported: User Name, Organization Name, and Authorization Name.
User-defined attributes on geometry and part can be exported (AP242 only).
Validation properties on geometry, part and PMIs can be exported (AP242 only).
Limitations
Currently the HOOPS Exchange API does not support STEP drawings export.