Difference between Part Import CAD and File>Import

[drmacro]

...
STEP is a real white rabbit hole

As are most, if not all, exchange formats. To one degree or another.

[karlp]

I'm the "chat user" drmarco refers to, and here's the full version info for me, as had been requested.

Code: Select all

OS: Fedora Linux 36 (Workstation Edition) (GNOME/gnome-xorg)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.20.1.29410 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: (HEAD detached at 0.20.1)
Hash: f5d13554ecc7a456fb6e970568ae5c74ba727563
Python 3.10.5, Qt 5.15.4, Coin 4.0.0, Vtk 9.1.0, OCC 7.6.2
Locale: English/Denmark (en_DK)
Installed mods: 
  * kicadStepUpMod 10.15.2

[onekk]

There is a post in another forum that explain different settings, and propose to unifirm them as it is done in the CADA (OCCT CAD Assistant) that use same libraries as FreeCAD. (probably searching CADA will give some resultl

it is a matter of grouping things and some other option in the importer.

Being STEP an exchange format and being more than one version specification sometimes it is all about to know what format the STEP file use.

Even in DXF there are many versions, so as usual is simply knowing how it works.

Sadly I'm on mobile so no link available.

Regards

Carlo D.

[easyw-fc]

I'm the "chat user" drmarco refers to, and here's the full version info for me, as had been requested.

Hi Karl,

this specific STEP file is created as two 'compound' of 'faces' instead of two 'solid' objects.
FreeCAD STEP importer is ATM more reliable on solids instead of shells of faces...

FreeCAD LinkBranch is more advanced on STEP import/export and can load the file correctly...
here the analysis of the imported file which displays a 'compound' made of 'faces'
-

FCLinkBranch-STEP-import.png (438.98 KiB) Viewed 306 times

You have two options ATM with this file:
1) load it in FC LB and export it as a new STEP file, which will be loaded correctly by FC Main Branch
or
2) load it in CADAssistant and export it as a new STEP file, which will be loaded correctly by FC Main Branch

after the import/export process, in both cases, your file would be readable in FC main branch. Here the files:
-

qgt-shells-issue-loading.zip

(635.5 KiB) Downloaded 11 times

qgt-exp-FCLB.zip

(478.3 KiB) Downloaded 11 times

qgt-exp-CADA.zip

(471.8 KiB) Downloaded 13 times

[onekk]

Ok I agree with you, but as you have already discussed this thing with FC developer, I can't add anything to the discussion.

The only thing I think that will be interesting to see is how RT in his LinkBranch has managed differently in respect to stock FC.

Do you know if RT has used a different STEP importer?

Regards

Carlo D.

[easyw-fc]

The only thing I think that will be interesting to see is how RT in his LinkBranch has managed differently in respect to stock FC.

Do you know if RT has used a different STEP importer?

yes, I was the one that tried to point out user cases with issues ...
some of the code has been ported to main branch, some is still pending and maybe some needs to rely on TNP