About Tessellated and Exact Geometry

You can define the options to import and export of tessellated or exact geometry.

In the STEP Exchange section of the Preferences:

  • Tessellated geometry can be activated under Import.
  • The export method for exact geometry can be selected under Export.

Check recommended practices, licensing and application protocol requirements in Requirements.

This page discusses:

General Information

Transparency is supported by tessellated geometry at import and export.

Import

The STEP Tessellated or exact geometry is linked to a STEP product. For a given STEP product, we can find both exact and tessellated geometry linked to it; in this case, these representations are considered as alternatives.

For each STEP product, a product is imported.

The STEP 3D Exact Geometry of a product is imported as a 3D Shape representation instantiated under a product.

The STEP 3D Tessellated Geometry of a product is imported as a visualization representation instantiated under a product.

When both tessellated and exact geometry are linked to a product, the exact geometry only is imported by default. When Tessellated is selected, the tessellated representation only is imported.

When requested, validation properties are taken into account

Export

By default exact geometry is exported as B-rep exact geometry. With AP242 it is also possible to export exact geometry as tessellated geometry.

Select the option corresponding to your needs

  • Exact to force the export as exact geometry,
  • Tessellated to force the export as tessellated geometry,
  • Exact and Tessellated to keep both formats.

Export the B-Rep of exact solids and shells and the wireframe geometry.

Import of Tessellated Geometry

Tessellated parts are imported as follows.

  • The STEP 3D Tessellated Geometry is imported as a product with a visualization representation.
  • When both a tessellated and an exact representation exists in a STEP file, and when Tessellated geometry is selected, the tessellated representation is imported.
  • When requested, validation properties are supported.

Export of Exact Geometry

When the geometry is exported to STEP (all Assemblies options) the visualization representation referenced by a product are exported as STEP Tessellated Geometry. Select the option corresponding to your needs:

  • Exact to force the export as exact geometry,
  • Tessellated to force the export as tessellated geometry,
  • Exact and Tessellated to keep both formats.

Note: Validation properties are supported when requested.

Export of Tessellated Geometry

Export also edges applies to the tessellated geometry created in the STEP file, either because it was present in the content to export, or because Tessellated or Exact and Tessellated is selected (see above). Select this option to export edges too.

Notes:
  • This option may be time consuming, and increases the size of the export file.
  • Select this option to keep the link between 3D annotations pointing to those edges and the geometry.