Pre-Processing for Polygon Reduction

Pre-Processing for Polygon Reduction

Pre-processing for polygon reduction is possible using polygon facet resolution settings. Since the Polygon Reduction tool starts with a default facet density, it can sometimes be useful to adjust that pre-set facet density to a higher value. More information about the Polygon Reduction tool can be found here. Change Facet Resolution Starting with a sample CAD component, you can select the model with the Single Select tool, or just “Select All”, and right click to get the Change Facet Resolution options (see figure 1): Normal: The lowest resolution option, approximately 27 segments on a cylinder or hole. Medium High: Slightly higher than normal,...
Do Your Translations Look Like This?

Do Your Translations Look Like This?

Do your translations look like this? If so, you’ve got problems! This is the actual result of a translation by a software solution we will not name here – but you can imagine how dismayed the user was when they saw this output! The user contacted us and we set them up with a copy of TransMagic to solve their problem right away. Different Types of Bad Translations Mis-translations can take many forms, from missing geometry (usually the most complex, organic geometry is missing, and prismatic geometry is retained), to missing details and PMI, to geometry that is there, though unusable; the screenshot above is simply the most outlandish and...
Can you find the errors in this CAD model?

Can you find the errors in this CAD model?

Can you find the errors in this CAD model? This ACIS compressor looks fine to the naked eye; but what problems lurk beneath the surface? The Auto Repair Wizard We can run the Auto Repair Wizard to find out; find this tool on the Home toolbar and click it. Normally, we’d just run the Auto Repair Wizard and keep clicking “OK” to complete the repair process; doing so, we’d have this file repaired in about three seconds. This time, though, let’s exit the ARW before it has a chance to heal the model; see this step in the upper left of the figure at right. The ARW analyzes the repair needs and suggests a course of action, highlighting...
Automated CAD Translation

Automated CAD Translation

The fastest way to translate lots of files is through automated CAD translation, a type of batch processing; through this technique, hundreds or even thousands of files can be translated into the format of your choice at one time, saving you and your department valuable design and engineering time. This process has two key advantages: The files are can be queued up at one time by the user, eliminating the time-consuming task of using the mouse and keyboard to individually locate and open each file. The files do not have to be opened and rendered graphically on the screen, since they are processed by the translator directly, speeding up the translation process....
Can I convert polygonal models to CAD models?

Can I convert polygonal models to CAD models?

One question we get regularly at TransMagic is “Can I convert polygonal models to CAD models?”. Well now the answer is yes; as of release 12, TransMagic Expert has the capability to convert polygonal formats to geometric CAD formats. I asked TransMagic’s head of development, Craig Dennis, about this process, as well as some of the benefits and challenges of the Poly to CAD process: Polygonal formats are comprised of triangular polygons vs. the true geometry in CAD files such as spheres, planes, torus, cones, free form surfaces (NURBs), etc.  The conversion from true CAD geometry to triangles is very easy (CAD to *.stl); however, the inverse,...