Both function buttons will open the corresponding Import/Export Geometry dialog. The import function enables the user to build scenes filled with 3D models from different file formats. The export function, on the other hand, enables the user to share the created 3D scene with others in different formats.
Clicking Import will display the Import Geometry dialog, where the user can browse the 3D geometry to import. Upon selecting a 3D file, the Import File dialog will appear as shown below. In this dialog the user can set different options for 3D import, including; Up vector; Z axis is selected by default. The user can choose a different access depending on the design of the imported 3D geometry.
Scale and center; this option when checked will scale the imported geometry to fit into the 3D scene. It will also import it to the center of the scene.
Keep dynamic link: This option in SimLab Composer import function improves working with 3D design applications. It enables users to keep dynamic link/automatic update between the 3D model design application and SimLab Composer, when the ‘Keep dynamic link’ option is checked in the import dialog.
In the images shown below the house designed in Google SketchUp was imported into SimLab Composer, with the dynamic link checked. Different materials and texture were applied to the house model, in SimLab Composer and real time rendering was started.
In SketchUp the model has been changed/saved, where the garage area was made bigger. To keep the dynamic link, SimLab Composer issues a message informing the user about the model’s design change.
In this dialog the user can save the model in SimLab Composer with the old design. Then clicking Update, with the Retain scene materials option checked, will update the design model while keeping SimLab Composer materials and textures.
Supported import formats
SimLab Composer supports importing the following industry standards CAD/3D file formats.
xaml
Standard format
√
3dxml
CATIA
√
skp
SketchUp (up to ver 2018)
√
3dm
Rhino (up to ver 6)
√
sldprt, sldasm
SolidWorks (up to ver 2016)
√ (Windows only)
sat
ACIS
√ (Windows only)
STEP
Standard CAD format
√
IGES
Standard CAD format
√
U3D
Standard format
√
3D PDF
Adobe Acrobat (U3D Based)
√
DAE
Collada (Standard format)
√
FBX
(up to ver 2016)
√
3DS
3DS
√
OBJ
Wavefront
√
STL
Stereolithography
√
DWG
AutoCAD (Up to 2018)
√
DWF/DWFX
Autodesk Standard
√ (Windows only)
DXF
AutoCAD
√
OSG
Open Scene Graph
√
ipt, iam
Autodesk Inventor (up
to 2015)
√
X_T, X_P
Parasolid
√ (Windows only)
IFC
IFC
√
par, asm, psm
Solid Edge (up to ST6)
√ (Windows only)
Zim
SimLab Archive
√
Sim
SimLab Composer
√
PRC
Product Representation Compact
JT
√
PRC
Product Representation Compact
CTM
Compressed Triangle Mesh
GoZ
ZBrush
√
Gltf/glb
√
Json
√
vrpackage
SimLab VR Viewer, VR Application
Supported export formats
3D Scenes built using SimLab Composer can be exported in the following file formats.
