www.spacymen.com

How to modify a STEP file in DesignSpark Mechanical (tutorial)

By Anar on 22/10/2013, 19:10 - Tutorials - Permalink

On the DesignSpark forum many people are asking why a STEP file is locked and can't be updated when imported in DSMech.
And they are right to think that this is a very bad point !
I completely agree and I hope the developers will allow STEP modifications in future versions. DSMech will gain popularity if they do so !

But there's a solution and it's called SketchUp...

Edited 29/04/2014 : there's a much easier way as mentioned by Didier in the comments. Thanks Didier !

Tutorial

EDITED

The old DesignSpark Mechanical forum where I posted quiet a few "Tips and Tricks" has completely disappeared.
It seems that this company doesn't care of their customers and have no respect to the people that contributed there, which is a BIG SHAME !
Because of such an inacceptable attitude, I won't write anymore tutorials about DS Mechanical and invite you to use other softwares.
I will let you know which other alternatives you have.

In this little tutorial I'm gonna show you how to import a STEP file in DSMech for further modifications.

You will need to have the following apps installed :

And for the SketchUp part of that tut you will also need Jim Foltz's STL import/export plugin.

Let's start...

You have a STEP file that you would like to import in DSMech for further improvement or modifications.
DSMech can import STEP files but unfortunately the imported geometry is locked and can't be modified...
But DSMech can also import SketchUp files (.skp) and deals very well with them. They are seen as "solids" and can be modified with the DSMech's powerful tools.
So the idea is to make a SketchUp file out of your STEP file.

SU doesn't import STEP files but can import STL files with the help of a plugin.

For that tutorial I downloaded a STEP file from www.te.com and I choose this one.

Part 1 : making an STL out of your STEP (FreeCAD)

There's several apps that will eat a STEP and shit out an STL. One of them is FreeCAD.

1 - Open your STEP file in FreeCAD
Tutorial

2 - Convert your solid into a mesh
Tutorial

3 - Choose your tesselation settings
Tutorial

4 - Export as STL
Tutorial

Part 2 : making an SKP out of your STL (SketchUp)

5 - Import your STL in SU (you will need Jim Foltz's plugin)
Tutorial

6 - Select all (CTRL+A) and Make Group
Tutorial

7 - Check it's a solid and Smooth Edges
Tutorial

8 - Save as a SketchUp file (.skp)
Tutorial

Part 3 : modify your model (DSMech)

9 - Open the SKP file
Tutorial

It is now seen as a "solid" which means you can now modify the design...

10 - Bring your modifications to the design
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial
Tutorial

Et voilà !

I hope you liked this tutorial...

Edited 29/04/2014

As mentioned by Didier in the comments, there's a much easier way !

  • import your step design in DSMech
  • create a new solid (a cylinder for ex.)
  • right-click on the top-most assembly name in the tree
  • unlock

You should now be able to modify your imported step geometry !

Thanks for this tip goes to Didier from Tours's Funlab (France).

Comments

1. On 29/04/2014, 09:19 by Didier (Funlab Tours)

Je suis tombé sur votre article : How to modify a STEP file in DesignSpark Mechanical (tutorial) que j'ai tenté de suivre sans trop de succès (formes trop complexes sans doutes, d'ou résultat mitigé..) Puis j'ai découvert que dans Design Spark Mechanical si on ajoute un cube par exemple à la racine de l'arborescence de la structure que l'on a importée, les options de verrouillage/déverrouillage redeviennent accessibles est ont un effet y compris sur les parties STEP importées.
Voila, je ne sais si j'ai été bien clair, mais c'était pour partager !!!
Au passage, Merci pour le partage du superbe travail sur la transposition en fichier CAD de INMOOV ! ça me sert beaucoup !
Bonne continuation !