Working with CAD Files

If you have purchased a third-party CAD integration tool, you can use it to attach native CAD and viewable files to a Part using the CAD authoring tool. This subscription also enables you to view and work with CAD File representations in Aras Innovator directly from the corresponding CAD Document.

Once the integration license is obtained, and files are imported into Aras Innovator, the CAD Document displays the Sidebar viewer icon on its left side.

Figure 126.

The Sidebar hosts tabs that provide access to tools for viewing and working with CAD Models, PDF files and images attached to the CAD Document. The Sidebar contents depend on your license, CAD authoring tool, CAD and other Files attached to a CAD Document. The most used tabs are as follows:

• Form shows the CAD Document view.

Figure 127.

• Monolithic Viewer is a simple tool for viewing and working with 3D CAD models.

Figure 128.

• PDF Viewer displays the PDF file.

Figure 129.

Alternatively, you can view the list of all possible navigation options within the sidebar by selecting the arrow at the bottom of the sidebar and making your selection for the viewer you wish to view. This list includes the CAD Document Form view. It is possible to view Files attached to the CAD Document. The blue circle marks the currently selected viewer.

Figure 130.

When the viewer is selected, the CAD Model appears as follows:

Figure 131.
The view includes the following functionality:

1. The View toolbar button
2. The Markup toolbar button
3. The Model Orientation indicator
4. The Discussion button
   
   Note

   As the Discussion button is on the CAD Document toolbar, it can be accessed from anywhere in the CAD Document. However, it is most convenient to use it from the CAD Files view because you can add snapshots of the CAD Model.

You can view a CAD Model from different sides by clicking and dragging at any place on the Model canvas. The Model Orientation indicator tells you which side is toward you and where the other sides are.

Figure 132.
Use the Viewing toolbar and Model context menu for advanced viewing.

Click the View toolbar button to launch the viewing mode and to access the Basic Viewing toolbar:

Figure 133.

1. Zoom Up increases the CAD Model size on the screen.
2. Zoom Down decreases the CAD Model size on the screen.
3. Reset View sets the default CAD Model orientation and size on the screen.

4. Switch To Standard Toolbar shows the StandardViewing toolbar.
   The Standard Viewing toolbar includes the same buttons with the exception of the Switch To Standard Toolbar button. The Switch To Basic Toolbar button appears instead. There are additional features on the Standard Viewing toolbar:

   

   

   Figure 134.
   

5. Orient to Face shows the CAD Model oriented to you with the surface (part) selected.
6. Set Display Style shows/hides a toolbar with options on how to display the CAD Model.
7. Measure shows/hides a toolbar with options for measuring the CAD Model.
8. Exploded View shows/hides the toolbar with the exploding slider.
9. Cross Section shows/hides a toolbar with options for cross-section viewing of the CAD Model.
10. Model Browser shows/hides viewing options as trees.
11. Product Manufacturer Information displays annotations and attributes contained in a 3D solid model that complement the geometric definition and complete the digital data set.
12. Configurations is the list of configurations available within the CAD Model.
13. Switch to Basic Toolbar shows the Basic Viewing toolbar.
    

When viewing a CAD Model, right-click the CAD Model to access its context menu:

Figure 135.

• Fit All sets the CAD Model size so that all parts are shown on the screen.
• Reset View sets the default CAD Model orientation and size on the screen.
• Display All shows all the Model parts.

Click an individual part to select it and then right-click to access the part context menu:

Figure 136.

• Open opens the CAD Document view of the selected part.
• Fit All sets the CAD Model size so that all parts are shown on the screen.
• Hide hides the selected part from showing on the screen.
• Hide All Other hides everything appearing on the screen except the selected part.
• Isolate makes everything transparent except the selected part.
• Reset View sets the default CAD Model orientation and size on the screen.
• Display All shows all the Model parts.

The Display Style toolbar provides the following display options for the CAD Model. Refer to section 9.8.2.1 Using the Viewing Toolbars to access the button.

Figure 137.

1. Wireframe displays wireframes of the CAD Model assembly and all its parts. Surfaces are transparent.
   

   

   

   Figure 138.
   

2. Hidden Line displays the white surfaces and black edges of the CAD Model assembly.

   

   

   Figure 139.
   

3. Shaded displays the CAD Model assembly surfaces in color.

   

   

   Figure 140.
   

4. WireframeonShaded displays the CAD Model assembly with both wireframes and colored surfaces. This is the default display style.

Figure 141.

The Measure toolbar enables you to specify the type of measurement to use for the CAD Model. Measurements are displayed in the CAD Model authored units. Refer to section Using the Viewing Toolbars to access the button.

Figure 142.

1. Measure Point to Point shows the distance between two arbitrary points. Click this button and then click the CAD Model to set these points and measure the distance between them.

   

   

   Figure 143.
   

2. Measure Edges shows the length or radius of an arbitrary edge depending on the edge type. Click this button and then click an edge to measure it. The measured edges are bolded.

   

   

   Figure 144.
   

3. Measure Angle Between Faces shows the angle in grades between two arbitrary surfaces of the CAD Model assembly. Click this button and then click the appropriate surfaces to measure them.

   

   

   Figure 145.
   

4. Measure Distance Between Faces shows the distance between two arbitrary surfaces of the CAD Model assembly. Click this button and then click the appropriate surfaces to measure the distance between them.

   

   

   Figure 146.
   

5. Click Delete All to clear all measurements from the CAD Model.

The Exploded View toolbar enables you to view assemblies as a set of separated parts to be fitted. Drag the slider.As you move it to the right, the more separated the parts become. Refer to section Using the Viewing Toolbars You can use other viewing and markup features, like measure or labels, in the exploded view. To quit the exploded view, you can click the Reset View button on the viewing toolbar or context menu.

Figure 147.

The Cross Section toolbar enables you to view the CAD Model in sections providing the following features. Refer to section Using the Viewing Toolbars to access the button.

Figure 148.

1. Use the set of plane buttons to specify cutting planes for the CAD Model. The X, Y, and Z buttons set the cutting planes according to the Model coordinate system. The Pick Plane button sets an arbitrary cutting plane: click a surface and then click this button. To cut the CAD Model in sections, drag the cutting planes.

   

   

   Figure 149.

2. Each plane button includes an Invert Section button. Click this button to determine which of the cut sections is visible.

   

   

   Figure 150.

3. Click the Capped Geometry check box to display the cut section in green.

   

   

   Figure 151.

   If you do not select the checkbox, the cut section is hollow.

   

   

   Figure 152
   

4. Click the Toggle Cutting Plane Display button to hide/show the cutting planes.

   

   

   Figure 153.

5. When using several cutting planes, the Toggle Cross Section button becomes available, enabling you to select which sides of the planes can cut.

   

   

   Figure 154
   

6. Click the Toggle Cross Section button to toggle the cutting sides of the planes. You can combine this button with the Invert Section buttons of these planes.
   

Figure 155.

To enable other viewing and markup functionality in the exploded view, hide the cutting planes.

Figure 156.

To quit the cross-section view of a Model, close the Cross Section toolbar.

Figure 157.

You can use the Model Browser to switch quickly between CAD Model viewing positions. The Model Browser appears at the left side with the Views tab. It displays viewing position options specific to the CAD Model. Click an option to apply its view. Refer to section Using the Viewing Toolbars to access the button.

Figure 158.

For assemblies, the Model Browser provides the Model tab for quick navigation through the assembly structure. It appears as a tree of CAD Documents. Click a part on the CAD Model, and its CAD Document is highlighted in the tree. You can also click a CAD Document in the tree, and its part is highlighted on the CAD Model.

Figure 159.
Each CAD Document has the Toggle Part Display button that enables you to hide/show this part on the CAD Model. Hidden parts in the CAD Documents appear light grey in the tree.

Figure 160. The context menu is available for CAD Document in the tree.

Figure 161.

Click the Model Browser button on the Standard Viewing toolbar to quit the Model Browser.
To show hidden parts, click Display All in the context menu.

The CAD integration subscription enables you to mark areas of interest on CAD Models right in Aras Innovator. To do so, position the CAD Model appropriately and then use a Markup toolbar as described in the following subsections. The Model context menu and viewing functionality are not available in markup mode. To use them, launch viewing mode.

Click the Markup toolbar button to launch markup mode and access the Basic Markup toolbar. The following buttons appear:

Figure 162.

1. Scribble shows/hides a toolbar that enables you to draw arbitrary lines on the CAD Model.
2. Highlight shows/hides a toolbar that enables you to draw rectangular areas on the CAD Model.
3. Label shows/hides a toolbar that enables you to add labels to the CAD Model.
4. Delete removes selected markup items from the CAD Model.
5. Switch To Standard Toolbar displays the StandardMarkup toolbar.

The Standard Markup toolbar includes the same buttons with the exception of the Switch To Standard Toolbar button. The Switch To Basic Toolbar button appears instead. There are additional buttons on the Standard Markup toolbar:

Figure 163.

1. Select selects markups on the CAD Model.
2. Download File downloads a .jpg image of the CAD Model.
3. Print uses the standard browser print function for CAD Model images. Depending on the browser and your specific configuration, various print choices, such as printing to a printer or saving to PDF, are available.
4. Switch to Basic Toolbar shows the Basic Markup toolbar.

Unlike the Basic Markup toolbar, the Standard Markup toolbar is dynamic. The Standard Markup toolbar does not show/hide an additional toolbar containing functionality for a selected markup feature (buttons 1-3), it displays functionality for the selected markup feature. The selected feature and functionality options are enclosed by blue boxes. To hide the functionality options, click the selected feature.

Figure 164.
Markup features discussed in the following subsections assume that you have accessed the corresponding feature.

You can draw arbitrary lines on a CAD Model using the scribble feature. Refer to section Using the Markup Toolbars to access the button.

Figure 165.
When accessed from the Basic Markup toolbar, the scribble feature appears as the Scribble toolbar.

Figure 166. When accessed from the Standard Markup toolbar, the scribble feature is hosted on this toolbar.

Figure 167.

The scribble feature provides the following functionality:

1. Scribble draws arbitrary lines on the CAD Model.
2. Select selects markups on the CAD Model.
3. You can select one of the following line widths: Small, Medium, and Large.
4. You can select one of the colors displayed on the toolbar.

Click a feature or option to use it.
Click Select and then click a line to select it. When selected, the line has blue edges with circles. You cannot reposition selected lines.

Figure 168.

You can specify arbitrary rectangular areas on a CAD Model using the highlighting feature. Refer to section Using the Markup Toolbars to access the button.

Figure 169.
When accessed from the Basic Markup toolbar, the highlighting feature appears as the Highlight toolbar.

Figure 170.

When accessed from the Standard Markup toolbar, the highlighting feature is hosted on this toolbar.

Figure 171. The highlighting feature provides the following functionality:

1. Highlight draws arbitrary rectangles on the CAD Model.
2. Select selects markups on the CAD Model.
3. A set of rectangle colors.

Click a feature or option to use it.
Click Select and then click a rectangle area to select this area. When selected, the rectangle area has blue edges with circles.

Figure 172. Drag the blue circles on the selected rectangle edges to reposition the rectangle.

Figure 173.

You can label parts of a CAD Model using the label feature. Refer to section Using the Markup Toolbars to access the button.
When accessed from the Basic Markup toolbar, the label feature appears as the Label toolbar.

Figure 174. When accessed from the Standard Markup toolbar, the label feature appears on this toolbar.

Figure 175. The label feature provides the following functionality:

1. Label adds labels to the CAD Model.
2. Select selects markup items on the CAD Model.
3. A set of font sizes: Small, Medium, and Large.
4. A set of label frame colors.

Click a feature or option to use it. To create a label:

1. Click the Label button.
2. Click on the area of the CAD Model that you want to label.
3. Enter the appropriate text inside the label.
4. Click Select and then click a label to select it. When selected, the label has blue edges with a circle at the bottom.

Figure 176.

To reposition a label, select and drag its colored frame from right above the blue bottom circle to the appropriate position on the CAD model.

Figure 177. To change where a label points to, select the label, and drag the blue bottom circle.

Figure 178. To enter or change the label text, click inside the label, and edit the text.

Figure 179.

You can select a single or several markup items for further actions. Selected items have bold blue edges with circles. Further actions, position and number of the circles depend on the markup type of each item. To select a single markup item, click Select on a Markup toolbar and then click the item.
To select several markup items, click Select on a Markup toolbar and drag the cursor to specify the rectangular selecting area.

Figure 180.
All the markup items within the selected area become selected.

Figure 181.

To delete markup items, select them and then use one of the following options:

• Click Delete on a Markup toolbar.
• Press Delete on your keyboard.

Click Download File on the Standard Markup toolbar. The standard downloading process of your browser saves a .jpg image of the CAD Model representation on your local machine. Refer to section Using the Markup Toolbars to access the button.

Click Print on the Standard Markup toolbar. The standard print function of your browser starts. Depending on the browser and your specific configuration, various print choices, such as printing to a printer or saving to PDF, are available. Refer to section Using the Markup Toolbars to access the button.