Options > File > Import Options

Use the Import Options page to control how FeatureCAM imports files. It contains the following options:

Import file as solids — Select to import files as solid models. Deselect to import files as surface models.

Include

• PMI — Select to import product manufacturing information, such as dimensions, annotations, and tolerances.
  Note: Applies when importing NX, Catia V5, STEP, and Inventor files using the Autodesk Translation Framework.
• Work planes — Select to import planar surfaces in solids. Deselect to ignore planar surfaces in solids.
• Hidden objects — Select to import all parts contained in the file even if those parts are hidden.

Always replace object on import — Select to overwrite objects of the same name when you import. Deselect to prompt for every replacement. You can’t have two objects with the same name.

Center stock automatically — Select to automatically size and position the stock so it covers the imported data.

IGES - Native Only

• Keep import log file — Select to keep a log file containing details of the import process. This can be useful for troubleshooting if there are problems importing.
• Log file name — Enter the path and filename for the log.
• Logically dependent — Select if the entity can exist by itself but is also referenced by another entity (case of groups or grouping situation).
• Physically dependent — If you are having trouble with your IGES file and it is not importing properly, try selecting this option and reimporting. Deselect if you do not want physically dependent entities to be imported.

  Entities in an IGES file are marked to be either physically dependent or not. Those that are marked to be physically dependent are entities that are used in the construction of other entities. For example, a trimming loop is physically dependent upon the trimmed surface that uses it. The trimming loop is not important all by itself, but is instead a building block of something else. The trimmed surface is in turn marked physically dependent to indicate that it is a building block of a parent entity, a solid. By selecting Physically dependent, you cause FeatureCAM to show everything in the IGES file - not just the top-level entities that are shown, but also all of the lower-level building blocks. This is not what you want. Generally you want only the top-level entity, for example the solid.

• Both physically and logically dependent — Select if the entity meets both logically and physically dependent criteria (is referenced by at least two other entities — the parent for the logical link cannot be the parent for the physical as well).
• Export decimal places — Enter a value to determine how finely data is exported to the IGES format.
• Stitch surfaces into solids/sheets (computer intensive) — Select to try to create one or more solids or sheets from an IGES file. If an IGES file contains more than one solid or sheet, this is the most efficient way to create the multiple objects from the file.

EZ-MILL

• Smooth curves — Select to improve EZ-MILL curves on import because FeatureCAM has a higher resolution curve format.