About Geometrical Sets

Below is explained how Geometrical Sets are mapped (PartBodies and Hybrid Bodies are not kept). This applies to exact geometry only, and to exchanges between 3DEXPERIENCE and STEP.

In 3DEXPERIENCE, a geometrical entity always belongs to a body and only one. A body can be:

  • A PartBody (for solid entities)
  • A Geometrical Set (for wireframe entities
  • An Ordered Geometrical Set (for wireframe entities)
  • An Hybrid Body (for solid and wireframe entities).

Geometrical Sets and Hybrid Bodies can be nested.

This page discusses:

Geometrical Sets can be activated under General, in the STEP Exchange section of the Preferences.

Structure in STEP File

STEP entities representing a 3DEXPERIENCE Geometrical Set:

STEP Entities representing a 3DEXPERIENCE Geometric Set inclusion:

Limitations

Only Geometrical Sets are preserved during the STEP exchange.

  • PartBodies are not nested and generally contain only one solid, making them meaningless as Geometrical Sets.
  • If a Geometrical Set is inside a PartBody, the Geometrical Set is created at the top level.
  • Hybrid Bodies are not kept: For each solid, a new body is created.
  • Geometrical Sets found under a feature are imported at the top level.
  • Validation Properties are not available.
  • Knowledge parameters possibly associated to a Geometrical Set are not taken into account.
  • Multi-representations are not supported.
  • Visibility is never attached to the Geometrical Set. When the option Export also NoShow Entities is selected, the visibility of the Geometrical Set is attached to the geometry. At import, the result is visually identical.

At Export

The 3DEXPERIENCE body organization structure is mapped with STEP according to the STEP data model above. The type of the body is not kept.

At Import

When a STEP Shape_aspect structure is found in the STEP file, according to the data model presented above, this structure is mapped with 3DEXPERIENCE bodies. A Geometrical Set is created when the description of the Shape_aspect is "CATIA Geometric Set".

When the STEP file does not contain a Shape_aspect structure or when this structure is incomplete, the geometrical entities are created in a default Geometrical Set (for wireframe entities) or in a PartBody.