SAT and ACIS data

ACIS is a 3D solid and surface modeling library, published and marketed by Spatial Technology, Inc. It is used by a number of popular modeling programs as their primary modeling engine. The native file format of ACIS is called SAT and applications that incorporate ACIS can import and export it. ACIS data may also be embedded in DXF or DWG files. This is done by directly importing SAT files or by importing DXF or DWG files that contain ACIS entities.

 

The form•Z ACIS module is a library that contains the necessary functions for supporting smooth modeling and the SAT format.

 

ACIS supports two types of entities: solids/surfaces and wires. It represents its solids and surfaces by a boundary representation, using parametric surfaces. That is, objects are defined by a set of faces, whose surfaces may be planar, conical, cylindrical, spherical, toroidal, or spline based. Each face is delineated or “trimmed” by one or more curves, the first of which is the outer curve. The other curves are optional and represent holes. The edges which define the trimming curves may be straight lines, elliptical, or spline curves.

 

The ACIS wires are equivalent to the open or closed shapes (called surface objects) in form•Z. That is, they contain no surface information. The edges of wires may be straight lines, elliptical, or spline curves.

 

Importing SAT

export_dxf_version_dialog.png
The SAT specific import options.

 

SAT files are imported into form•Z in the standard manner. The Modeling Import Options: SAT dialog contains all common options and one format specific option:

 

Heal Corrupt Geometry: When this option is on, the translator detects and corrects accuracy/tolerance discrepancies that may be encountered in the imported data. This option is on by default.

 

Exporting ACIS entities

export_dxf_version_dialog.png
The SAT specific export options.

 

The content of a form•Z project is exported as an SAT file in the standard manner. The Modeling Export Options: SAT dialog, in addition to the common export options, it contains one format specific option:

 

Version: This pop up menu allows you to choose which version of ACIS you would like to export as. The Default option will export using the latest ACIS version.