Translators

IGES Translator plug-in

Overview of IGES Translator plug-in

The IGES file translator plug-in extends Maya to help address the needs of those customers familiar with files in the IGES format. This data translator is capable of both reading existing IGES files into Maya and exporting files from Maya to the IGES format.

Install IGES translator

This translator is installed with Maya.

Import/Export IGES files

To load the IGES file translator

1. Open Maya and select Window > Settings/Preferences > Plug-in Manager.
2. Click the loaded button for the IGES file translator.

To import a IGES file

• Select File > Import and select the IGES file you want to open from the file browser selection.

To export an IGES file

• Select File > Export All (or File > Export Selection), and select IGESExport from File type drop-down list.

IGES import options

To access these options, the IGES translator plug-in must be loaded, and you must change the File Type drop-down box to IGES.

Default Trim Curves

Select Parameter Space trimming (curves defined in the parameter space of the surface) or World Space trimming (curves defined in world space of the model). The default is to use parameter space trimming.

IGES Trim Flag. In IGES a trimmed surface can specify its preferred trimming method, either world space or parameter space. Choosing this option tells Maya to use whatever method is preferred in the file.

Scale Factor

Scales all imported geometry by a common factor. This allows very large scenes to be viewed more easily.

Note IGES files often contain geometry that is very large. In order to view this geometry properly, the Scale Factor can be used to scale it down. Otherwise, in the viewing window, select View > Frame All to frame your selection, and if the geometry does not appear, it is beyond the camera's rear clipping plane. Select View > Camera Attribute Editor and set the “Far Clip Plane” to a value sufficiently large such that the geometry is visible.

Level Mapping

Controls whether layers from a IGES file are imported. The default is to always import layers.

IGES export options

To access these options, the IGES translator plug-in must be loaded, and you must change the File Type drop-down box to IGES.

Scale Factor

Determines the factor by which the resulting geometry in the IGES file is scaled upon export (default: 1.0000).

Known Issues

• If there is IGES created geometry in the scene then the plugin cannot be unloaded. Delete all data and unload plugin.
• The 500 Series (BREP) entities are unsupported.

IGES entity support

IGES entities supported in Maya

Type	Form	IGES Entity
100	0	circular arc
102	0	composite curve
104	0-3	conic arc
106	1	copious data
106	2	copious data
106	11	copious data
106	12	copious data
106	63	closed area
108*	0*	plane
108	1	plane
110	0	line
112	0	parametric curve
114	0	parametric surface
118	0-1	ruled surface
120	0	surface of revolution
122	0	tabulated cylinder
124	0	transformation matrix
126	0-5	rational b-spline curve
128	0-9	rational b-spline surface
130	0	offset curve
140	0	offset surface
141	0	boundary entity
142	0	curve on surface
143	0	bounded surface
144	0	trimmed surface
308	0	subfigure definition
402	7,9	associativity instance
406	1	property - definition levels
408	0	singular subfigure instance
406	15	name