Export SLC

Output Units

Indicates in which units you want to output the SLC data. This choice (millimeters or inches) will be reflected in the output .slc file’s header’s keyword “-UNIT”. By default the value will be inches.

Model Type

Specifies the StereoLithography model type.

• Part or Support – Must be closed contours (polylines). By default, the model type is Part.
• Web type – Can be open polylines or line segments. Typically used to support cantilever regions on parts.

The choice will be reflected in the output .slc file’s header’s keyword “TYPE”.

Auto Range

If toggled ON (default) this option uses the bounding box of the object to determine where to compute the slices (contour data). The slices will be produced for the entire object, no matter what its position is in space, If toggled OFF, two extra sliders are displayed.

Thickness

Specifies the spacing (in mm) of the slices (contoured layers). By default the value is 0.01 mm.

The Header Section

The header section of the .slc file is an ASCII character string (up to 2048 bytes) containing global information about the model.

The output in the header provides the following information:

• SLC file format version number (-SLCVER2.0)
• Output units (-UNITS<INCH/MM>)
• Type of model (-TYPE<PART/SUPPORT/WEB>)
• Vender package and version number (which produce the SLC file (-PACKAGE Autodesk Automotive for Windows V2013))
• Calculations and sets from SLC output x,y,z extends of the model (-EXTENTS mx,Mx,my,My,mz,Mz)
• Header keywords (CHORDDEV, ARCRES, SURFTOL, GAPTOL, MAXGAPFOUNS, EXTLWC, STHICK, STARD, and ENDD) are set to 0.0.

Solid Imaging is a component of Rapid Prototyping which uses a database to translate three-dimensional geometry into physical models or parts using a variety of resins and other materials. The file formats used by Alias to output files for Rapid Prototyping are the STL and SLC.

Solid Imaging Requirements

NURBS surfaces must be translated into either the .stl or .slc format before reading the file into the solid imaging machine software.

Workflow

Alias wire files exist as NURBS data. To use that data to create physical models using solid imaging technologies, you must translate the NURBS to either the .stl or .slc format so that the geometry can be read by the solid imaging machine’s software. Included in the list of solid imaging technologies is SLA (Stereolithography), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), LOM (Laminated Object Manufacturing), SGC (Solid Ground Curing), FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) and others.

Converting the Alias geometry to the .stl format or the .slc format can be done from within Alias.

SLC format

An .slc file (StereoLithography Contour) cuts 2D contours of the 3D data base. These contour lines are polylines. The advantage to using this file format is that the NURBs geometry description in Alias is directly sliced and therefore fewer iterations are required between the original geometry and the data sent to the Solid Imaging machine to be built.

SLC header information

The header section of the .slc file is an ASCII character string (up to 2048 bytes) containing global information about the model.

The output in the header provides the following information:

• SLC file format version number (-SLCVER2.0)
• Output units (-UNITS<INCH/MM>)
• Type of model (-TYPE<PART/SUPPORT/WEB>)
• Vendor package and version number, which produce the SLC file (-PACKAGE ALIAS V2010)
• Calculations and sets from SLC output x,y,z extends of the model (-EXTENTS mx,Mx,my,My, mz,Mz)

Header keywords (CHORDDEV, ARCRES, SURFTOL, GAPTOL, MAXGAPFOUNS, EXTLWC, STHICK, STARD and ENDD) are set to 0.0.

SAT ACIS

Save ACIS Text (SAT) allows you to import and export ACIS options of curves, surfaces, and shells data from and to Spatial's ACIS 3D toolkit SAT format.

SAT Requirements

• Export all surfaces as NURBS.
• Alias.

SAT Workflow

1. Choose File > Save > Save as to open the Save All Options window.

   Or choose File > Save > Active as to open the Save Active Options window.

2. Set File Formats to SAT, and then set the SAT Options.

3. Click Save and enter a filename in the File Browser.

Functionality of TC VisProducts

The following sections provide detailed descriptions of the functionality available in Alias's TC Direct Connect translator. At a high level, there are two interfaces available in TC Direct Connect. The software is offered either as a stand-alone command-line driven tool, or it can be launched from within Alias via the File > Save As > TC VisProducts menu. The TC software is designed to operate in one direction, converting Alias data to TC DirectModel files. (For import into Alias, please see the JT import translator.)

How the TC translator works

Hierarchy in Alias is represented by DAG node objects. The basic parent/child relationship is reflected through the group node, which refers to a list of child DAG nodes. This type of DAG node allows the hierarchical grouping of DAG nodes. A group node can share its list of children with another sibling group node.

The translator works by converting each DAG node object into the equivalent DirectModel node object. DirectModel can represent many of the same types of nodes that Alias supports. For example, Alias surfaces are individually tessellated into unique DirectModel parts. There should be a 1:1 correspondence between Alias surface names and DirectModel part names. If surfaces are grouped in Alias, they will also be grouped in DirectModel.

The TC translator is controlled through several possible methods. You have the choice of either an Alias plug-in, accessed within the File > Save As > TC VisProducts menu, or batch mode driven by a command-line. This gives you control over various tessellation parameters and other important options.