Fundamentals

Application

CAD-Viewer allows you to open the following standardized file types directly on the control:

File type

Extension

Format

STEP

*.stp and *.step

  • AP 203
  • AP 214

IGES

*.igs and *.iges

  • Version 5.3

DXF

*.dxf

  • R10 to 2015

STL

*.stl

  • Binary
  • ASCII

The CAD-Viewer runs as a separate application on the third desktop of the control.

Description of function

Screen layout

dxf_Bildschirmanzeige
CAD file open in CAD-Viewer

CAD Viewer consists of the following areas:

1

2

Graphics window

The CAD model is displayed in the graphics window.

3

List View window

The List View window displays information on the active function (e.g., available layers or the position of the workpiece preset).

4

Element Information window

Element Information window

5

Status bar

The status bar contains the active settings.

Menu bar icons

The menu bar contains the following icons:

Icon

Function

Sidebar

Show sidebar

Show, enlarge, or hide the List view window

layer

Display the layer

Display the layer(s) in the List View window

Layer

Origin
OriginColored
ResetOrigin

Preset

Define the workpiece preset

Workpiece preset has been defined

Delete the defined workpiece preset

Workpiece preset in the CAD model

Plane
PlaneColored

Datum

Set the datum

Datum has been set

Workpiece datum in the CAD model

outline
position
Oberflaechennetz

3D mesh

Create a 3D mesh (option 152)

Generating STL files with 3D mesh (option 152)

FullSize

Show all

Set the zoom to the largest possible view of the complete graphics

Invers

Inverted colors

Change the background color (black or white)

2D

Toggle between 2D and 3D modes

MmInch1

Set mm or inches as the unit of measure

Internally, CAD-Viewer always uses mm for its calculations. If you select inches as the unit of measure, CAD-Viewer will convert all values to inches.

Applying contours and positions to NC programs with CAD Import (option 42)

Accuracy

Number of decimal places

Select the resolution. The resolution defines the number of decimal places and the number of positions for linearization.

Applying contours and positions to NC programs with CAD Import (option 42)

Default setting: 4 decimal places with mm, and 5 decimal places with inch as the unit of measure

top

Set perspective

Switch between various views of the model (e.g., Top)

XyEbene

Axes

  • Select the working plane:
  • XY
  • YZ
  • ZX
  • ZXØ
  • In the ZXØ working plane, you can select turning contours (option 50).

If you take over a contour or position, the control outputs the NC program in the selected working plane.

Applying contours and positions to NC programs with CAD Import (option 42)

ShadedMode

Toggle a 3D model between a solid model and a wire-frame model.

OpNeutral
expand
collapse

"Select, add, or remove contour elements" mode

 
Tip

The icon shows the current mode. Clicking the icon activates the next mode.

Applying contours and positions to NC programs with CAD Import (option 42)

edit-undo

Undo

edit-delete

Delete entire list

document-save

Save entire list content to a file

edit-copy

Copy entire list contents to clipboard

The control maintains the contents of the clipboard only as long as CAD-Viewer is open.

Element Information window

  • In the Element Information window, the following information is displayed for the selected element of the CAD file:
  • Associated layer
  • Element type
  • Point type:
    • Point coordinates
  • Line type:
    • Coordinates of the starting point
    • Coordinates of the end point
  • Circular arc or circle type:
    • Coordinates of the starting point
    • Coordinates of the end point
    • Coordinates of the center point
    • Radius

The control always shows the X, Y, and Z coordinates. In 2D mode, the Z coordinate is dimmed.

Layer

CAD files usually contain multiple layers. The designer uses these layers to create groups of various types of elements, such as the actual workpiece contour, dimensions, auxiliary and design lines, hatching, and texts.

The CAD file to be processed must contain at least one layer. The control automatically moves all elements not assigned to a layer to the "anonymous" layer.

If the name of the layer is not shown completely in the window, you can use the Show sidebar icon to enlarge this window.

With the Display the layer icon, the control shows all the layers of the file in the List view window. Use the checkbox in front of the name to show and hide the individual layers.

When you open a CAD file in CAD-Viewer, all available layers are shown.

If you hide unnecessary layers, the graphic becomes clearer.

Notes

  • The control does not support binary DXF format. Save the DXF file in ASCII format in the CAD or drawing program.
  • Before loading the file into the control, ensure that the name of the file contains only permitted characters.
  • Permitted characters

  • When you select a layer in the list view window, you can use the space bar to show and hide the layer.
  • CAD-Viewer allows you to open CAD models consisting of any number of triangles.