T-FLEX Parametric CAD. Fundamentals. 2D Design

Fundamentals. Two-Dimensional Design
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Before starting the conversion, you can additionally specify the
process options. The button [Parameters] brings up the export
parameters setup window:
Simplify Model (recommended). Simplifies model geometry (for
example, by merging edges and surfaces).
Convert all non-analytic surfaces to splines. Setting this option
forces conversion of all non-analytical surfaces into B-spline
surfaces. This might improve the resulting export in some systems,
as, for example, in CATIA and SolidWorks, but increases the size
of the resulting file.
Disable quick conversion. Setting this option helps more accurate
representation of edge geometry. This might improve the resulting
export to other systems, but makes the conversion process longer.
Export all bodies as sheet bodies. Setting this option forces all
bodies to be exported as surfaces. This could be helpful for
interoperating with surface modeling systems that do not support
solid body processing.
Export curves. When this parameter is set on, in addition to bodies of the model, the wire geometry will
be exported as well (3D paths and 3D profiles).
The next group of options defines the method of converting Periodic geometry present in the model:
“Do not split”, “Split if necessary”, “Split all”.
By periodic geometry, we mean various single-piece cylindrical, toroidal, spherical surfaces and their
counterpart spline surfaces, as well as various periodical curves. When converting a model into the
STEP format, such surfaces and curves can be broken into pieces for better export results. If the first
mode is selected, periodical surfaces and curves are exported “as is”. If selecting the second mode, then
only B-spline surfaces and curves will be split. Meanwhile, this would increase the conversion time and
the size of the resulting file. If the third mode is used, then any encountered periodical geometry is
subjected to splitting. This increases probability of correct model reading by some systems, such as
CATIA and SolidWorks. The export time and file size increase in this method as well.
As an example, a cylinder can be exported as a cylindrical surface with two edges - circles, or
additionally with an extra edge connecting these circles. The second case is an example of splitting a
periodical surface. Splitting usually occurs along the end-of-period parameter line on the surface (for a
common cylinder, this would be the parameter line at 0 or 2π).
The last group of options sets the mode of exporting a multiple-solid model as:
Assembly with transformation (this mode is set by default). The resulting file gets the information not
only about the bodies of the model being converted, but also about the assembly structure. If some body
enters the model multiple times (as identical fragments or copies of the same body), then it will be saved
just once in the export, with appropriate transformations defined for each copy. For example, if an
assembly contains several identical bolts, then the resulting STEP file will keep one body (bolt) and
several transformations for it.
Assembly. Just like in the previous mode, the model being exported is converted as an assembly and is
stored together with the assembly structure. However, all bodies contained in the model are exported
separately. Using this mode (instead of the “assembly with transformation” mode) increases the size of