Model CAD to ROBOT

[aw.265109]

Hello everybody.

I am looking for some help in the best workflow to make models.
I have the following software : Autocad 2011, Revit Structure 2011, Structural Detailing 2011 and Robot 2011.

Basically i am looking to model some box girders (for example) made up of 4 welded plates of different sizes. I would then like to be able to open this in Robot with the plates recognised for what they are, in order to do analysis.

Is this possible? what file formats are recognisable in robot (that still retain its properties)
what is the best way to do this?

any help is much appreciated.

kind regards


andy

[length zero]

If they are geometrical complicated i prefer to use dxf and than import into robot,
If they have simple geometry you can model direct in robot.

Hope this help
Regards

[aw.265109]

Thanks for the reply, i do sometimes model in Robot however there are a few cad techs who cannot use Robot and i would like them all to be able to produce 3d drawings that can then be analaysed by myself or one of the engineers.

When i bought the Structure Suite i had hoped for a BIM soloution between our CAD techs and engineers.... the problem is that we produce lots of steel plate welded objects as well as random concrete structures that revit does not seem to be able to draw. (we do use the steel frame alot to tho).

[aw.265109]

i tried to import a box drawn in autocad usig dxf or iges...with no sucess. it either wont open in robot or it does open but just as a background.

i need to be able to draw things like steel plates that are then recognised in robot.

ideally id like to draw them in revit or structural detailing steel... and then have robot recognise the plate and materials etc etc but.... if not id still like to be able to draw something in vanilla autocad 3d then transfer to robot (whilst it recognises the 3d shapes) and then be able to add materials and loads etc.

thanks again!

[length zero]

Import backgrounds is just to import drawings for backround modeling purpose.
If u want to import dxf drawings ( 2D and 3D) you must use open comand, and than select dxf extension.

[aw.265109]

sorry, for some reason i cant get that to work.....

i save something as a dxf in autocad...(a small 3d plate)
then i try to open it from dxf extention in robot but it takes me through some menus but the object does not appear in robot.

i dont know what i am doing wrong.


thanks
andy

[aw.265109]

lets start real simple.

if say i draw a 3d object such as a cube in autocad.

i have saved it as a 2010.dxf file..... i then open that dxf file via robot using the open command.

it presents me with a dialog box with some parmeters and another with some coordinates but no matter what i choose in these two boxes whenever i click ok...no object gets transferend in or opened.... my cube is not opening in robot...

what am i doing wrong?


many thanks

[length zero]

Dear

You must know what type of object in cad dxf is converted in what type of object in robot
For example
Lines will converted to bars ( but you must bee activate Explode elements into Bars option )
2D faces will be converted into panels ( you must deactivate options: Explode elements into finite elements and change of linear elements into bars)

For myself if geometry is simply, i use robot to model,
But if geometry is so complicated and structure is almost with bars, i make dxf model with lines,
If structure is geometrical complicated and almost with panels, i make model of dxf with faces ( edgesurf CAD comand).

Hope it help

[aw.265109]

ahhh thanks that does help..... managed to get it now. I see the workflow!

thanks for all your help

[aw.265109]

right, i have another question.

if i have a complex model made up of many different steel panels (so 3d objects in acad) all together, is it best to make it up in acad of just 2d faces then transfer it to robot to make panels and give a thickness?

if so.... should i model the 2d face to the centerline or to one particular side?

also do you no how to extract a 2d face centerline from existing solid objects in autocad.


i hope this makes sense!

thansk again