ACIS Files (*.sat)

The ACIS™ translator supports import and export of body and face colors, curves, and wireframe geometry.

You can export the entity attribute information of faces and edges to ACIS files, and this information is retained in the ACIS file. If you import that same ACIS file back into SOLIDWORKS, for entity attribute information of faces, you can select any import options and the faces retain the entity attribute information. However, if you import edges, you must select the B-Rep mapping check box in the Import Options dialog box to retain the entity attribute information for the edges.

Import

The ACIS translator imports ACIS part or assembly files as SOLIDWORKS part or assembly documents. If the units of length are not explicitly specified in the ACIS file, a dialog box gives you the opportunity to specify the units. Files created with early versions of the ACIS modeler do not contain information about the units of length. The default import mode is knitting.

SOLIDWORKS supports import of generic named attributes (integer, position, real, string, and vector) associated with bodies and faces from ACIS (.sat) files. These attributes are displayed as features in the FeatureManager design tree. Their values are accessible only through the SOLIDWORKS Application Programming Interface (API).

Export

The ACIS translator exports SOLIDWORKS part or assembly documents as ACIS files. When you export parts, you can export faces or bodies as separate ACIS files. You can select to export individual parts or subassemblies from an assembly tree, limiting export to only those parts or subassemblies. If you select a subassembly, all of its components are automatically selected. The ACIS translator does not support assembly hierarchy.

The ACIS translator supports all SAT versions up to and including version R22.

ACIS Export Options

Set options when exporting part or assembly documents as ACIS files.

To export models to ACIS format:

  1. In a model document, click File > Save As.
  2. Optional: 3DEXPERIENCE Users: If the Save As New dialog box appears, click Save to This PC.
  3. In the dialog box, set Save as type to ACIS (*.sat), then click Options.
  4. In the Export Options dialog box, select from the following options:
    Option Description
    Solid/Surface geometry  
    3D curves Exports the solid and surface bodies as wireframe entities. All 3D curves (composite curves, 3D wires, imported curves, and so on) are also saved.
    Export sketch entities Export all 2D and 3D sketches as 3D curves.
    Version Select the version supported by the target system.
    Units Select the default units of length. Meters (used internally by SOLIDWORKS) is recommended because the receiving system might convert small surfaces to even smaller surfaces and lose significant digits in measurements.
    Output coordinate system Select a coordinate system for export or -- default -- for no transformation matrix.
  5. Click OK, then click Save to export the document.