Most secure method of sharing models

[cem385]

I have to send a model to another company but I don't want to give them a lot of data. I'd like to send a complete solid model of an assembly. Basically, creating theasm as a part. They can get a few overall dimensions bet that's about all. I'm thinking of using IGES or a skrink wrap. Just looking for other like methods.


Thanks

 

[Brandon Miller]

Absolute best way in my opinion would be to save it in Adobe 3D if you have that.

 

[dojo]

I hate to say it, but you could download e-drawings for pro which is free. The thing is after the pro startup splashscreen you get the edrawings splashscreen ...


You can also like Brandon suggested download the acrobat 3D trail http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat3d/tryout.html, 30 days and works great !





Nick

 

[Jacoolo]

shrinkwrap is enough if You want to stay with the softwae you have(Pro\e)

close whole assembly - there should not be a gap between components and Shrikwrap prepare for You nice DMU with no interior

 

[dojo]

all depends on what you want the 3rd party to see ....

 

[cem385]

When it comes to downloading new software it probably won't happen. Our IT dept doesn't allow us much access and the hoops we have to jump through just to get something implemented is crazy. We've been sitting on WF3 for a year now and it's still not installed.


The potential customer wants to test fit their product in our product. Basically an over all picture without interiordesign.

 

[Jacoolo]

so the answer is DMU by Shrinkwrap.

 

[trillicomm]

If you don't trust your vendors, you shouldn't do business with them at all.

Have them sign an NDA.

Open the assembly
Suppress the unwanted components. (Might have to replace the locations)
Save a copy in STEP format.
Before you send, import this STEP file into ProE and check how it looks.

The file size may be large, do FTP, email may not accept large file.

IGES format may miss few points. STEP format includes everything. But either does not show the features, just strictly the contour of the parts and assembly.

 

[dojo]

Two other ways frequently used in our buisiness : just give a envelope dimensions where they can work in. If its not that simple and you approx know where their part will need to fit in :


Create a new part in your assembly, create copy geometry features containing surfaces which surround the area where their part will need to fit. By doing this you almost send out no detail data at all. Export this new part as step.


Nick

 

[cem385]

Two other ways frequently used in our buisiness : just give a envelope dimensions where they can work in. If its not that simple and you approx know where their part will need to fit in :


Create a new part in your assembly, create copy geometry features containing surfaces which surround the area where their part will need to fit. By doing this you almost send out no detail data at all. Export this new part as step.


Nick

I was thinking about doing a copy geom of the surfaces then just sending that.

 

[cem385]

If you don't trust your vendors, you shouldn't do business with them at all.

Have them sign an NDA.

Open the assembly
Suppress the unwanted components. (Might have to replace the locations)
Save a copy in STEP format.
Before you send, import this STEP file into ProE and check how it looks.

The file size may be large, do FTP, email may not accept large file.

IGES format may miss few points. STEP format includes everything. But either does not show the features, just strictly the contour of the parts and assembly.

I have limited knowledge on this potential customer. Just what the Engineer is feeding me. We are in process with a Non disclosure but due to the nature of our business we still need to be careful what we send. Uncle Sam wouldn't be happy.

 

[harrisonking]

WHYDONT YOU SENT DXF FILES.IT CAN KEEP THE ORIGINAL COLORS AND THE


SURFACE BROKEN CHANCE WILL BE VERY LOW.

 

[magneplanar]

hand sketch it on a piece of paper and send a pdf of that...kidding of course

here is a scary scenario:

sign an NDA, release 3d files, lose contact with the company and discover they re-incorporated under a new name. That makes the NDA void and viola...a copycat version of your product in stores in three months...

welcome to the new global paradigm...

cheers,

M

 

[pjw]

We have to send data of large assemblies out to customers all the time. Here's how we do it (you need Advanced Assembly Extension):


Open up your assembly, delete as many (internal)parts and features as you can without affecting the overall layout. Freeze any failed componnt placements. Deleting things like text and non-critical radii will decrease the file size.


Create a merged shrinkwrap with your setting at '5'. You might need to up this later if it's not sufficient. Create your Shrinkwrap. This will now be a single .prt file with an external geometry copy with a soldifiy feature to make it solid. Note you should only have these two features in your model tree (apart from datums etc.). If you haven't, chances are that the there are surface features which were unable to be be solidfied. Now you can create protrusions to basically make the inside of your part as useless as you can to anyone that was looking to reverse engineer it. then create your STEP or IGES file from this model. Check that it imports as it should, zip it up and there you have it.


Note: The customer could always just buy one of your products and reverse engineer it if they really wanted to.


Phil

 

[alfacadfr]

Hi

here is the way we do proceed with siplified 3D model for customers (process to insure fast update):

* create a new TOP assembly
* add your assembly to the top assembly
* create a new part and add it to the TOP assembly
* SAVE all
* proceed to part simplification, using the insert mode for example
* in the new part (let's call it "simplication part", create a surface copy of each of your component (in assembly mode)
* create a solidify feature for each surface copied in the new part
* add feature to hide remaining unwanted geometry
At this point of time, you can interface to STEP of IGES or whatever
If you need to send native Proe file, then:
* create an additional part (let's call it "merge" part), and add it also to the TOP assembly.
* create one more time, a surface copy and a solidy of the surface create from the "simplication" part

As the result, the "merge" part can be sent, and can be open without any other Proe file

Advantage:
using this, you can update the simplified model in the future. It will update automatically (in this case, you need to save the TOP assembly including the "merge" part).
If you want to keep track of your simplification playing with the insert mode, you have
* to create 1 inheritance part for each component
* assemble each inheritance model to the TOP assembly with CSYS to CSYS constraint
* the surface copy has, in this case, to be set on the inheritance parts

Not simple I agree, but it permits to avoid reproceeding to the simplification each time it is requested

Alfacad