About Representation Mode of Solid-Shell, Surface and Wireframe

The representation mode is available in the IGES section of the Preferences.

• Surface: This is the default option.

  The solid decomposition is identical in both the original model and the resulting file. Only the surfacic decomposition of the original model is stored.

  The topology of solids and shells is lost during the export, resulting in a group of surfaces (geometrical set). At import, select the Join surfaces of the model option to import those surfaces as a closed model.

• Wireframe: The 3D visualization of solid edges is identical in both the original model and the resulting file. Only the wireframe decomposition of the original model is stored. This may be useful in cases where curves are the only form of input accepted.
• Solid-Shell: Solids, shells and faces are exported as IGES new entities as follows:

  3DEXPERIENCE	IGES
  Solid	Manifold Solid B-Rep Object Entity (Type 186, Form 0)
  Solid (Closed) Shell	Closed Shell Entity (Type 514, Form 1)
  Independent Shell	Open Shell Entity (Type 514, Form 2)
  Face in a Shell	Face Entity (Type 510, Form 1)
  Face Loop	Loop Entity (Type 508, Form 1)
  List of Loop Edges	Edge Entity (Type 504, Form 1)
  List of Start/End Loop Edges Vertices	Vertex Entity (Type 502, Form 1)
  Plane Surface (support of Face)	Plane Surface Entity (Type 190, Form 0)

  Exporting those entities requires:

  • IGES 5.3 or higher.
  • Representation mode option set to Solid - Shell.

  Warning: All those new IGES entities have not been "tested" (IGES Norm 5.3). The IGES/PDES Organization recommends that special consideration be given when implementing certain untested entities. If you do not know whether the receiver system recognizes those entities, we recommend that you do not use this option.