Suggested Technique for Creating A Surface Feature Using the Advanced, From File Command

This procedure illustrates the creation of a surface feature using the Advanced, From File command. This command allows data points in an ASCII file to be read in and used for blend sections using Pro/ENGINEER's blend file format. The optional module Pro/SURFACE is required. Refer to chapter 4 of the Part Modeling User's Guide for more detailed information.

The goal of this procedure is to create the nozzle part illustrated in Figure 1. The key feature is the tip of the nozzle, indicated by the red mesh, which will be created using data from an ASCII file. This data may have been generated by a measuring device or other tools external to Pro/ENGINEER.

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Figure 1

Procedure
  1. Prior to starting the procedure, the base features of the nozzle were created. They consist of default datum planes and an extruded thin protrusion. The first step of this procedure for importing a blend from file is to create a datum coordinate system as a reference for the imported data. Figure 2 illustrates these base features.

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    Figure 2

  2. Now the data in the ASCII file should be verified to conform to Pro/ENGINEER's blend file format, as outlined in chapter 4 of the Part Modeling User's Guide. The file should have the extension ".ibl". In this part the x,y,z data has been modified as follows (only a portion of the file is displayed):

    Closed Arclength Begin Section !1 Begin Curve !1 1 5 0 0 2 4.9039 0 0.9754 3 4.6193 0 1.9134 ... 16 -4.9039 0 0.9754 17 -5 0 0 Begin Curve !2 1 -5 0 0 2 -4.9039 0 -0.9754 ... 16 4.9039 0 -0.9754 17 5 0 0 Begin Section !2 Begin Curve !1 ...

    In this example, "..." represents several lines of data.

    Select here to see the complete .ibl file.

  3. Now the surface blend from file can be created. Choose Feature, Create, Surface, Advanced, Done, From File, Done, and select the coordinate system created in Step 1. The message window will display the prompt:

    Enter imported blend file name [quit]:

    Enter in the name of the ASCII file. The ".ibl" extension does not need to be specified. Once entered, the sections of the blend will be displayed in cyan as shown in Figure 3.

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    Figure 3

    When prompted, choose Okay from the DIRECTION menu. Direction is applicable for solid blends from file, but does not effect surface blends from file. Finally, choose Done to create the surface feature. Figure 4 shows the completed surface feature, which is displayed in magenta and yellow (the datum planes have been blanked.)

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    Figure 4

  4. Additional geometry may be created directly from the surface blend from file, which may also be subsequently modified. Figure 1, at the beginning of the procedure, shows the final part. In this part, a Boundaries surface feature has been created using the edges of the surface blend from file and the base protrusion, and a thin Use Quilt protrusion created from the merge of these surfaces. At this stage modifications may be made to the From File surface feature by choosing Modify, picking the From File feature, and editing the data internally stored with the part file.

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