Options > Import

The Import items define the default import options. The dialog contains these options:

Split solids — Select to automatically split a solid model into a surface model on import into PowerMill. This is selected by default.

Create sets when splitting — When selected, PowerMill places all the surfaces associated with a solid in a set which has the name of the original solid. When deselected, all the surfaces are placed in a single set.

Note: To use this option the CAD data must be sent to PowerMill as solids and not surfaces. So, you must select the appropriate options in Autodesk Manufacturing Data Exchange Utility to import the model as a solid. By default Autodesk Manufacturing Data Exchange Utility splits solids into surfaces before importing into PowerMill.

Defer loading — Deselect to load the models associated with a project at the same time as the project. If you do not want the models to be loaded, then select the Defer loading option. This is deselected by default.

You have the option not to load a model on importing a project (select File tab> Options > Application Options > Import > Defer Loading).

The following shows the difference between a Deferred Model and a Model:

Deferred Model.

Model.

Click to load the deferred model:

Note: Calculating a toolpath or boundary also loads any deferred models.

Ignore workplanes — Select to import CAD models without their associated workplanes. This is useful for models that contain a large number of redundant workplanes, which have no effect on the machining process.

Calculated toolpaths and boundaries ignore new models — When selected, projects with existing toolpaths and boundaries treat new models as reference models. Models are considered new to a toolpath, or boundary, if they are added to the project chronologically after that toolpath or boundary. If deselected, new models are treated as machinable models.

Tip: This is useful if you are merging projects or adding large models with lots of surfaces to a project. This lets you recalculate existing toolpaths without having to manually specify the thickness sets of the new model surfaces to be ignored.

When importing one project into another, the following behaviour is observed:

Toolpath type	How models are affected
Existing calculated toolpaths	All models from the imported project are treated as reference models for the calculated toolpaths in the existing project.
Existing un-calculated toolpaths	The reference models from the imported project are treated as reference models for the un-calculated toolpaths in the existing project.
Imported calculated toolpaths	All models in the existing project are treated as reference models for the calculated toolpaths in the imported project.
Imported un-calculated toolpaths	The reference models from the existing project are treated as reference models for the un-calculated toolpaths in the imported project.

Note: Before merging projects with un-calculated toolpaths, check the lists of reference models for both projects is correct. Changing the active toolpath in a project changes the list of reference models in the Models node of the Explorer.

Reimport modified models — Select an item from the list to specify what happens when you load a project with models that have changed or are out of date. Choose:

• Ask to display a confirmation message before importing the modified models.
• Always to always import the modified models.
• Never to never import modified models.

Model import tolerance — Enter the tolerance used to translate from the import file format to a .dgk format. If, for example, the file is an IGES file, then it determines how closely the dgk model matches the original.

Recently used items — Enter the number of project and models that appear in File tab > Recent Projectsand File tab > Recent Models.

The default value of Recently used items is 8. The maximum value of Recently used items is 20.

Note: If you increase this, the number of displayed items is only increased when you open additional models or projects. You cannot use this option to try and find models or projects that have exceeded this number.