| Author |
Message |
Mike Lambert
Guest
|
 Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:49 pm Post subject:
Wildfire Questions |
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Hi,
We are a small company that has been doing work for one company that
uses Wildfire. Since we do not have Wildfire or any system that can read
the files in native, we have been getting IGES files from them. Recently,
this company has made a new policy that they will only send us native files.
Since we still want to work with them we are looking at software that would
allow us to translate these files. Since I don't have any experience with
Wildfire, I was hoping someone here could answer a few questions. First,
when you make drawing files are these files "imbedded" into the part file,
or are they saved as a different file. We need to be able to convert the
solid model into something our shop can use, and view and print any drawings
files. And if there are assembly files, we need to be able to work with
them also. Does anybody know of any software that can do this short of
purchasing a seat of Wildfire? Thanks for any and all help you can provide.
Mike Lambert
MPM
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Jeff Howard
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:48 pm Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
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| Quote: | Since we still want to work with them we
are looking at software that would
allow us to translate these files.
|
Among other things, you might consider Pro/Desktop?
------------------------
| Quote: | when you make drawing files are
these files "imbedded" into the part file,
or are they saved as a different file.
|
*.prt = part, *.asm = assembly, *.drw = drawing
------------------------
| Quote: | We need to be able to convert the solid model into
something our shop can use, and view and print any
drawings files.
|
Wonder if Product View Express will do what you need? It's free.
| Quote: | And if there are assembly files, we need to be able to work with
them also.....
|
What's "work with"? I don't know exactly what the specifics are, but
Pro/Desktop (at about a grand) offers at least some level of
(bi-directional?) interoperability with Pro/E. You might post to
pro-desktop.net (I think it is) and ask for opinions to go along with what
you get here.
------------------------
Just as a matter of curiosity, why were you using IGES vs. STEP? Was a
lack of translation reliability a factor in their decision to only send out
native files?
============================ |
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Alex Sh.
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 10:18 am Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
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"Mike Lambert" <mikel@mpmonline.com> wrote in message
news:10qmkpjht3cic3f@corp.supernews.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
We are a small company that has been doing work for one company that
uses Wildfire. Since we do not have Wildfire or any system that can read
the files in native, we have been getting IGES files from them. Recently,
this company has made a new policy that they will only send us native
files.
Since we still want to work with them we are looking at software that
would
allow us to translate these files. Since I don't have any experience with
Wildfire, I was hoping someone here could answer a few questions. First,
when you make drawing files are these files "imbedded" into the part file,
or are they saved as a different file. We need to be able to convert the
solid model into something our shop can use, and view and print any
drawings
files. And if there are assembly files, we need to be able to work with
them also. Does anybody know of any software that can do this short of
purchasing a seat of Wildfire? Thanks for any and all help you can
provide.
Mike Lambert
MPM
|
Mike, I don't think you'll like the answers to your questions, but here they
are, anyway.
1. Wildfire, like all releases of Pro/E prior to it and like most other
popular solid modeling CAD packages, stores design information in 3 major
file types. The basis of everything is the model file (extension .prt). It
contains the information about the solid model of the part. If your customer
builds assemblies out of the individual parts, they will also have assembly
files (extension .asm). To open the assembly file you need to also have
files for all the parts the assembly consists of. The assembly file itself
contains only information about what parts have been assembled, how they
have been mated together, and what features were created in the assembly
(such as cuts going through multiple assembly members at once). Lastly,
there is a drawing file (extension .drw). It can be a drawing of an
individual part or assembly. It contains a reference to the model (or
assembly) file, information about the views of this model (or assembly) - in
what orientation have they been placed on the drawing sheet, at what scale,
etc., and auxiliary drawing information - title block, drawing symbols (like
revision symbols and any custom symbols that your customer might be using).
There are numerous other files in which Wildfire stores certain data, but
these three should be your primary concern.
The IGES (or STEP) 3D data used for NC programming is derived from the model
file, or, when some features have been made inside the assembly, from the
assembly file. The drawing file is useless without the model or assembly
files it represents.
2. Now to your second question. First of all, are you sure you want to read
your customer files with something other than Wildfire? The basic Wildfire
configuration can be had from some PTC VARs for about $3,500 (1 year
maintenance included). If you are interested I can give you a lead to one we
bought our licenses from for this exact amount. Just don't tell them where
you got the information and be prepared to haggle. Regardless of how
expensive the Wildfire configuration at your customer's site is, you still
will be able to open any file created by any commercial configuration of
Wildfire with the basic package. You will also be able to open drawings, and
to export IGES or STEP data from the models. If your customer does some
extremely complex surfacing using Wildfire's 'Style' module you will not be
able to modify them, but you will still be able to open, view, measure them
and print their drawings.
Now, if $3,500 is too expensive there are several options. First, there is
PTC's ProductView (I believe they now call it Windchill ProductView). In its
free incarnation, ProductView Express, it is a plugin for Microsoft Internet
Explorer that allows you to view part, assembly, and drawing files. No
measuring, no printing, no exporting to IGES or STEP. The free version is
also extremely buggy. I have no idea what the price of the commercial
version is, but it allows you to view, measure, print and mark up part,
assembly and drawing files. I don't know if it does STEP and/or IGES export,
but it might be worth investigating.
The Pro/Desktop mentioned by Jeff Howard is a partial solution. For about
$1,000 you get a very capable solid modeler that can read Wildfire part and
(I think) assembly files. As far as I know, it will not read the Wildfire
drawing files. It will, however, export the solids to STEP or IGES for NC
programming.
One more thing you might investigate is Wildfire 'rentals'. If you only need
to work with this customer's files several hours per month, PTC will rent
you a license of Wildfire on a pay-per-hour basis: You will have the program
installed on one of your computers, but it will only be functional for the
duration of time you have paid for.
And lastly, there are pay-per-file conversion services around that will
convert Wildfire parts into STEP, IGES, or some popular 3D CAD formats.
However, as far as I know they do not convert the drawings.
If you want to investigate some of these options, a good place to start is
www.ptc.com, the website of the company that makes and markets Wildfire.
However, if you decide to buy some of their products, make sure to talk to
their resellers, because you can usually get a better deal from them than
from PTC directly.
Good luck.
Alex Shishkin
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Mike Lambert
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:31 pm Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
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Alex,
Thanks a lot for your help. I will take a look at your suggestions. My
feeling is that I would prefer to buy the basic Wildfire. First, I don't
have to worry about some parts not coming thru clean in some other system
and so that I can do everything that I need in one package instead of having
part files converted by one system and drawing files from another. I also
like to keep my eye open for design packages. We currently use Solidworks
and Mastercam for design but I have been pushing management to step up and
go to Pro-e or UG. This would give me a chance to learn more about PTC and
there products. Thanks again!!
Mike
"Alex Sh." <remove.alex.shishkin@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:XoTqd.26731$zx1.6932@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: |
"Mike Lambert" <mikel@mpmonline.com> wrote in message
news:10qmkpjht3cic3f@corp.supernews.com...
Hi,
We are a small company that has been doing work for one company that
uses Wildfire. Since we do not have Wildfire or any system that can read
the files in native, we have been getting IGES files from them.
Recently,
this company has made a new policy that they will only send us native
files.
Since we still want to work with them we are looking at software that
would
allow us to translate these files. Since I don't have any experience
with
Wildfire, I was hoping someone here could answer a few questions. First,
when you make drawing files are these files "imbedded" into the part
file,
or are they saved as a different file. We need to be able to convert the
solid model into something our shop can use, and view and print any
drawings
files. And if there are assembly files, we need to be able to work with
them also. Does anybody know of any software that can do this short of
purchasing a seat of Wildfire? Thanks for any and all help you can
provide.
Mike Lambert
MPM
Mike, I don't think you'll like the answers to your questions, but here
they
are, anyway.
1. Wildfire, like all releases of Pro/E prior to it and like most other
popular solid modeling CAD packages, stores design information in 3 major
file types. The basis of everything is the model file (extension .prt). It
contains the information about the solid model of the part. If your
customer
builds assemblies out of the individual parts, they will also have
assembly
files (extension .asm). To open the assembly file you need to also have
files for all the parts the assembly consists of. The assembly file itself
contains only information about what parts have been assembled, how they
have been mated together, and what features were created in the assembly
(such as cuts going through multiple assembly members at once). Lastly,
there is a drawing file (extension .drw). It can be a drawing of an
individual part or assembly. It contains a reference to the model (or
assembly) file, information about the views of this model (or assembly) -
in
what orientation have they been placed on the drawing sheet, at what
scale,
etc., and auxiliary drawing information - title block, drawing symbols
(like
revision symbols and any custom symbols that your customer might be
using).
There are numerous other files in which Wildfire stores certain data, but
these three should be your primary concern.
The IGES (or STEP) 3D data used for NC programming is derived from the
model
file, or, when some features have been made inside the assembly, from the
assembly file. The drawing file is useless without the model or assembly
files it represents.
2. Now to your second question. First of all, are you sure you want to
read
your customer files with something other than Wildfire? The basic Wildfire
configuration can be had from some PTC VARs for about $3,500 (1 year
maintenance included). If you are interested I can give you a lead to one
we
bought our licenses from for this exact amount. Just don't tell them where
you got the information and be prepared to haggle. Regardless of how
expensive the Wildfire configuration at your customer's site is, you still
will be able to open any file created by any commercial configuration of
Wildfire with the basic package. You will also be able to open drawings,
and
to export IGES or STEP data from the models. If your customer does some
extremely complex surfacing using Wildfire's 'Style' module you will not
be
able to modify them, but you will still be able to open, view, measure
them
and print their drawings.
Now, if $3,500 is too expensive there are several options. First, there is
PTC's ProductView (I believe they now call it Windchill ProductView). In
its
free incarnation, ProductView Express, it is a plugin for Microsoft
Internet
Explorer that allows you to view part, assembly, and drawing files. No
measuring, no printing, no exporting to IGES or STEP. The free version is
also extremely buggy. I have no idea what the price of the commercial
version is, but it allows you to view, measure, print and mark up part,
assembly and drawing files. I don't know if it does STEP and/or IGES
export,
but it might be worth investigating.
The Pro/Desktop mentioned by Jeff Howard is a partial solution. For about
$1,000 you get a very capable solid modeler that can read Wildfire part
and
(I think) assembly files. As far as I know, it will not read the Wildfire
drawing files. It will, however, export the solids to STEP or IGES for NC
programming.
One more thing you might investigate is Wildfire 'rentals'. If you only
need
to work with this customer's files several hours per month, PTC will rent
you a license of Wildfire on a pay-per-hour basis: You will have the
program
installed on one of your computers, but it will only be functional for the
duration of time you have paid for.
And lastly, there are pay-per-file conversion services around that will
convert Wildfire parts into STEP, IGES, or some popular 3D CAD formats.
However, as far as I know they do not convert the drawings.
If you want to investigate some of these options, a good place to start is
www.ptc.com, the website of the company that makes and markets Wildfire.
However, if you decide to buy some of their products, make sure to talk to
their resellers, because you can usually get a better deal from them than
from PTC directly.
Good luck.
Alex Shishkin
|
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Jeff Howard
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:14 pm Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
|
|
| Quote: | .... The basic Wildfire configuration can be
had from some PTC VARs for about...
|
For real? Foundation Advantage? That's a good deal.
| Quote: | ... Just don't tell them where you
got the information ...
|
They don't waste their time scanning news groups? 8~)
Seriously, thanks for the info. It's a very good overview of available
options. If you don't mind, would you email me the VAR's contact info
(ignore the spam trap reply, I'll fish it out)? |
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Pete
Guest
|
| Posted:
Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
|
|
Regarding Pro/DESKTOP, it will work if the files are from Wildfire 1
but not from Wildfire 2.0. PTC has not yet released a compatible
version of ProD for that version of Granite.
Also, Desktop will be able to open part and assembly files, but not
drawing files - though it can create its own.
It also only reads the generic of family table parts.
Regards. |
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meld_b
Guest
|
| Posted:
Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:20 am Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
|
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| Quote: | Wonder if Product View Express will do what you need? It's free.
|
I'd doubt it... you can't even measure anything! Anyone know how much a
real version of Product View costs? Anyone got the fly-through to work?
Pretty nasty policy if you ask me ... we only ship native files. I'd say
someone rather clueless just took over. IGES has been a way of life for
building things for YEARS!
-meld |
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PS
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:09 pm Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
|
|
Mike-
Did you check this out yet? free GraniteT HOOPS 3D Part Viewers
Users of Granite based applications such as Pro/ENGINEER®, Pro/DESKTOP®, and
IronCAD may now freely view and navigate their models and assemblies as well
as publish them in the popular HSF streaming format and thereby exchange
visual models with the many other applications supporting the OpenHSF
Initiative. these viewers are intended for private, non-commercial use.
http://hoops3d.com/downloads/part_viewers.htmlGood luck!PS"Mike Lambert"
<mikel@mpmonline.com> wrote in message
news:10qmkpjht3cic3f@corp.supernews.com...
| Quote: | Hi,
We are a small company that has been doing work for one company that
uses Wildfire. Since we do not have Wildfire or any system that can read
the files in native, we have been getting IGES files from them. Recently,
this company has made a new policy that they will only send us native
files. Since we still want to work with them we are looking at software
that would allow us to translate these files. Since I don't have any
experience with Wildfire, I was hoping someone here could answer a few
questions. First, when you make drawing files are these files "imbedded"
into the part file, or are they saved as a different file. We need to be
able to convert the solid model into something our shop can use, and view
and print any drawings files. And if there are assembly files, we need to
be able to work with them also. Does anybody know of any software that
can do this short of purchasing a seat of Wildfire? Thanks for any and
all help you can provide.
Mike Lambert
MPM
|
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|
| Back to top |
|
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PS
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 03, 2004 8:11 pm Post subject:
Re: Wildfire Questions |
|
|
Mike-
Did you check this out yet? free GraniteT HOOPS 3D Part Viewers
Users of Granite based applications such as Pro/ENGINEER®, Pro/DESKTOP®, and
IronCAD may now freely view and navigate their models and assemblies as well
as publish them in the popular HSF streaming format and thereby exchange
visual models with the many other applications supporting the OpenHSF
Initiative. these viewers are intended for private, non-commercial use.
http://hoops3d.com/downloads/part_viewers.html
Good luck!PS
"Mike Lambert"
"PS" <reply2ng@thankyou.net> wrote in message news:Rk%rd.5$mS4.0@trndny04...
| Quote: | Mike-
Did you check this out yet? free GraniteT HOOPS 3D Part Viewers
Users of Granite based applications such as Pro/ENGINEER®, Pro/DESKTOP®,
and
IronCAD may now freely view and navigate their models and assemblies as
well
as publish them in the popular HSF streaming format and thereby exchange
visual models with the many other applications supporting the OpenHSF
Initiative. these viewers are intended for private, non-commercial use.
http://hoops3d.com/downloads/part_viewers.htmlGood luck!PS"Mike Lambert"
mikel@mpmonline.com> wrote in message
news:10qmkpjht3cic3f@corp.supernews.com...
Hi,
We are a small company that has been doing work for one company that
uses Wildfire. Since we do not have Wildfire or any system that can read
the files in native, we have been getting IGES files from them.
Recently, this company has made a new policy that they will only send us
native files. Since we still want to work with them we are looking at
software that would allow us to translate these files. Since I don't
have any experience with Wildfire, I was hoping someone here could answer
a few questions. First, when you make drawing files are these files
"imbedded" into the part file, or are they saved as a different file. We
need to be able to convert the solid model into something our shop can
use, and view and print any drawings files. And if there are assembly
files, we need to be able to work with them also. Does anybody know of
any software that can do this short of purchasing a seat of Wildfire?
Thanks for any and all help you can provide.
Mike Lambert
MPM
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