Export of Mechanical Systems Design

3DEXPERIENCE mechanisms can be exported to V5 using the Downward Compatibility tool, although not all of the components of the mechanism can be exported.

To access the Downward Compatibility batch, from the Tools section of the action bar, click Utility. For more information, see Running the DownwardCompatibility Batch and About Downward Compatibility.

This page discusses:

3DEXPERIENCE to V5 Data Import Table

This table describes the export effect on mechanism entities that can be translated using the Downward Compatibility tool. See File Coexistence and Migration User's Guide for more information.

3DEXPERIENCE Data Type Export Effect
Mechanisms
Mechanism representation under a root product (not flexible)Exported as mechanism. A mechanism is created under the Applications node.
Exported as mechanism but cannot be simulated in V5
Submechanism Exported as mechanism
Macro mechanism Not supported except a macro mechanism that assembles only one mechanism.
Commands
Command Partially supported as some joints cannot be assigned commands in V5. Potential orientation issues.
Engineering ConnectionsPartially supported. Exported as V5 joints; V5 Assembly constraints are not created for geometry combinations that cannot be selected.
Rigid Exported as rigid joint

All supports are permitted. However, the Fix Together relatively constraint is handled as a simple Fix Together in V5. The Fix Together relatively constraint does not exist in a V5 rigid joint.

Prismatic Exported as prismatic joint, except if the 3DEXPERIENCE engineering connection includes coincidence constraints and edge/line elements as supports.
Revolute Exported as revolute joint, except in the two following configurations:

  • if the 3DEXPERIENCE engineering connection includes a coincidence constraint and two edge/line elements as supports.
  • If the 3DEXPERIENCE engineering connection includes an offset constraint, a point and a face/plane elements as supports.

Spherical Partially supported. Exported as spherical joint if the spherical engineering connection includes a coincidence constraint and two points as supports. The curve as support is not supported.
Cylindrical Exported as cylindrical joint.
Planar

Partially supported. Exported as planar joint, except if the 3DEXPERIENCE engineering connection includes an offset constraint and two face/plane elements as supports.

U Joint Not supported
Point Curve Exported as point curve joint.
Point Surface Exported as point surface joint
Roll Curve Exported as roll curve joint. A 3DEXPERIENCE command assigned to a Roll Curve is exported in V5. If there are two commands assigned to a 3DEXPERIENCE Roll Curve joint, only one command is created in V5.
Slide Curve Exported as slide curve joint. Assigning a command to a slide curve is not permitted in V5. Thus, if a command is assigned to a slide curve, it is not exported to V5.
Compound Engineering ConnectionsPartially supported.
GearExported as gear joint
RackExported as rack joint
CableExported as cable
ScrewExported as a screw joint
Fixed Parts
Fixed Part Exported as fixed part. All supports are permitted. However the fix in space constraint will be handled as simple Fix as it does not exist for a V5 rigid joint.
Dressup
DressupExported as a dressup

Additional Information

This section lists the limitations and provides detailed structure diagrams.

Export Exceptions or Limitations

  • Compound Connections
Compound connections can be used to link the behavior of prismatic and revolute joints. In V5, the two elementary joints that participate in creating compound joints, including gear, rack and cable must share a common impacted product. A 3DEXPERIENCE compound joint that does not comply with this rule is exported as two elementary joints (a revolute joint and a prismatic joint).

  • Commands

In 3DEXPERIENCE, commands, can only be assigned to an engineering connection that includes a controlled constraint (available only for offset, curve, and angle constraints).

You can create more command types in 3DEXPERIENCE. If in 3DEXPERIENCE two commands are assigned to compound connections (gear, rack and cable), only one command is created in V5.

Assigning a command to a slide curve is not permitted in V5. Thus, if a command is assigned to a slide curve, it is not exported to V5.

A 3DEXPERIENCEcommand assigned to a roll curve is exported in V5. If there are two commands assigned to a 3DEXPERIENCE roll curve joint, only one command is created in V5.

The command orientation is exported for revolute, prismatic, cylindrical, or screw joints. For cylindrical and prismatic joints, specific situations arise where the command orientation cannot be kept during the export process.

  • 3DEXPERIENCE constraints

Free, symmetry, projection and user-defined supporting constraints involved in a mechanism are not exported when running the Downward Compatibility tool.

3DEXPERIENCE Engineering Connections vs V5 Assembly Constraints

A 3DEXPERIENCE engineering connection is a collection of one or more constraints that restrict the degrees of freedom between two components. A 3DEXPERIENCE engineering connection is defined by both a combination of constraints and a combination of geometry supports. As the geometry support combinations you can use to define engineering connections is wider in 3DEXPERIENCE, the table above lists in detailed the geometry selections that are allowed and supported when running the Downward Compatibility tool. In V5, joints use only the existing supporting geometries, thus no additional geometries are created.