Advanced Conversion Options (IGES)

Use the Advanced Conversion Options (IGES) dialog box to set options when exporting part or assembly documents as IGES files.

To display this dialog box:

  • When configuring a conversion task, on the Conversions Settings page of the Convert - Properties dialog box, for Output file format, select IGES (*.igs) and click Conversion Options.
  • When initiating a conversion task, in the Convert dialog box, for Output file format, select IGES (*.igs) and click Conversion Options.

Solid/Surface features

Output as
IGES solid/surface entities

Exports the data as solid or surface entities.

Select one:
  • Trimmed Surface (type 144) - converts the faces of the part, assembly, or the selected surfaces to trimmed surfaces in the IGES file.
  • Manifold Solid (type 186) - exports boundary representation (BREP) data to the IGES file.
  • Bounded Surface (type 143) - converts the faces of the part, assembly, or the selected surfaces and its boundaries defined by other IGES entities, for example, curves and edges.
IGES wireframe (3D curves)

Converts the solid body to a 3D wireframe representation in the IGES file. Unlike surfaces or faces, you cannot export individually selected model edges to an IGES file.

Select one, depending on the entity types required by the target system:
  • B-Splines (Entity type 126)
  • Parametric Splines (Entity type 112)

For more information, see the IGES 3D Curves table.
If you select both of the above options, the model is exported as both trimmed surfaces and 3D curves. When you export an assembly as separate files in ALIAS IGES, the origin in the part files is at the coordinates of the assembly origin.
Surface representation /System preferences IGES entity types that compose the trimmed surfaces depend on the export format chosen.

The Surface Representation table shows the IGES entity types that compose the trimmed surfaces.
Export 3D curve features Includes 3D curve features in the exported file.
Export sketch entities Includes sketch entities in the exported file. All 2D and 3D sketch entities are included.
Use high trim curve accuracy Exports using high trim curve accuracy; the file size is larger than if the check box is cleared. This setting affects files exported both with Trimmed surfaces and with 3D curves. High trim curve accuracy can sometimes help if the target system has trouble importing the IGES file, or cannot knit the surfaces into a useful solid.

IGES assembly structure

Assemblies only

Save all components of an assembly in one file Saves all assembly components, subassemblies, and subassembly components in one file. Otherwise, the assembly components and the subassembly components are saved as individual IGES files in the same directory.
Flatten assembly hierarchy Flattens the assembly to one level of only part bodies. A flattened file contains a top-level assembly and a series of parts that contain imported features.