I was given a STEP file 3D model of a HVAC vessel. I am considering 2 different ways to bring it into Ram Elements. There are straight channels, angles, wide flanges and steel plates that I will need to analyze. There is some equipment that I will replace with loads. I was able to import the STEP file to AutoCad and there are 136 numbered layers. There are a lot of nested blocks in the DWG file.
1. I think that I could explode the blocks completely to lines and export to a 3D DXF. I am not sure how to identify these lines as objects that are members and shell elements. Page 183 in the manual did not give much detail how to figure out what is what and put it in a layer. It could be a lot of work here before importing the DXF file into Ram Elements???
OR
2. I think that I could import the 3D AutoCad file into Revit. Then I could use the ISM-Revit plugin to make an ISM file before bringing it into Ram Elements. I would still have the same questions about identifying the parts of the model and the nested blocks in the DWG file. Would I need to explode any or all of the blocks before importing to Revit? Should I identify objects in Revit, AutoCad, or Structural Synchronizer or wait until it is in Ram?
Which approach will work better or with fewer chances of screwups?
Thanks
I think that converting from STEP to ISM and from ISM to Ram Elements is your best bet. The DXF import in Ram Elements if intended for importing a single line wire-frame type of drawing.
As for getting STEP into ISM, Revit should work, various other ISM enabled applications like OpenBuildingsDesigner or STAAD.Pro could also work
For that matter, if STAAD.pro is an option they have a CIS/2 (STEP) import directly and can analyze anything Ram Elements can.
For STEP > AutoCad > Revit > ISM > Ram Elements workflow, should I explode all or none of the autocad nested blocks down to straight lines? Which step should I identify the member elements and the shell elements? Tips?
No, Since ISM works with physical 3D members, I assume you would not be exploding anything, but there are a lot of different ways to defined things in STEP, so I really don't know without reviewing the specific file.
The STEP file is about 20 MB (ASCII text file). The Autocad imports it as one big block and is 6 MB. Could I upload these to you?
Sure, upload it. Secure File Upload
It's all one big blob/cell in OpenBuidlingsDesigner too.
Not sure what can be done with it. If the object is exploded, then the structural objects in there won't be recognized in ISM.
Perhaps the best thing to do is trace a wire frame over it (in any CAD program), and import that wireframe as DXF.