Pro/ENGINEER TO
ABAQUS/CAE
GEOMETRY TRANSLATOR
USER’S GUIDE
LAST UPDATED JANUARY 2005
ABAQUS ID:tra-proe
Printed on: Mon January 17 -- 15:28:42 2005
This User’s Guide was prepared by ABAQUS, Inc., and is intended to provide additional assistance to the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS/CAE Geometry
Translator which is a product of, and may be licensed from, Elysium, Inc., 2150 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 770, Torrance, California 90503.
CAUTIONARY NOTICE TO USERS:
This manual is intended for qualified users who will exercise sound engineering judgment and expertise in the use of the ABAQUS Software. The ABAQUS
Software is inherently complex, and the examples and procedures in this manual are not intended to be exhaustive or to apply to any particular situation.
Users are cautioned to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy and results of their analyses.
ABAQUS, Inc. will not be responsible for the accuracy or usefulness of any analysis performed using the ABAQUS Software or the procedures, examples,
or explanations in this manual. ABAQUS, Inc. shall not be responsible for the consequences of any errors or omissions that may appear in this manual.
ABAQUS, INC. DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS ANDWARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIEDWARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS MANUAL.
IN NO EVENT SHALL ABAQUS, INC. OR ITS THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE,
SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS,
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION) EVEN IF ABAQUS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGES.
The ABAQUS Software described in this manual is available only under license from ABAQUS, Inc. and may be used or reproduced only in accordance
with the terms of such license.
This manual and the software described in this manual are subject to change without prior notice.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior written permission of ABAQUS, Inc.
ABAQUS, Inc. 2004. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
U.S. GOVERNMENT USERS: The ABAQUS Software and its documentation are “commercial items,” specifically “commercial computer software” and
“commercial computer software documentation,” and consistent with FAR 12.212 and DFARS 227.7202, as applicable, are provided with restricted rights
in accordance with license terms.
TRADEMARKS
The trademarks and service marks (“trademarks) in this manual are the property of ABAQUS, Inc. or third parties. You are not permitted to use these
trademarks without the prior written consent of ABAQUS, Inc. or such third parties.
The following are trademarks or registered trademarks of ABAQUS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries: ABAQUS,
ABAQUS/Standard, ABAQUS/Explicit, ABAQUS/CAE, ABAQUS/Viewer, ABAQUS/Aqua, ABAQUS/Design, ABAQUS/Foundation, and the
ABAQUS Logo.
Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. For additional information, see the Trademark
and License Notices in the ABAQUS Release Notes.
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PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS/CAE GEOMETRY TRANSLATOR USER’S GUIDE
1. PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS/CAE GEOMETRY
TRANSLATOR USER’S GUIDE
1.1 About this manual
This manual provides information for systems administrators on how to install and configure the
Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator. The installation instructions require some
familiarity with basic UNIX or Windows systems administration. The manual also provides information
for end-users on how to create an ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File from Pro/ENGINEER and how to
import that file into ABAQUS/CAE.
1.2 About the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS/CAE Geometry Translator
The Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator allows you to transfer the geometry of a
Pro/ENGINEER model to ABAQUS/CAE. The translator consists of the following two components, as
shown in Figure 1.2–1:
• The Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer. The Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS
Elysium Neutral File writer is a Pro/ENGINEER plug-in that creates an ABAQUS Elysium Neutral
File (.enf_abq). The plug-in is available at no cost from the Elysium web site. You must have
Pro/ENGINEER installed and licensed to run the plug-in.
• The ABAQUS/CAE reader. The ABAQUS/CAE reader imports an Elysium Neutral File generated
by the Pro/ENGINEER plug-in. The reader can be purchased from your local ABAQUS sales office.
Figure 1.2–1 The Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator.
1.2–1
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GETTING STARTED WITH THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS/CAE GEOMETRY TRANSLATOR
2. GETTING STARTED WITH THE PRO/ENGINEER TO
ABAQUS/CAE GEOMETRY TRANSLATOR
2.1 Support for the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer
The Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer works with the following versions of
Pro/ENGINEER:
• 2000i2
• 2001
• Pro/Engineer Wildfire
• Pro/Engineer Wildfire 2
The writer plug-in is supported on Pro/ENGINEER on the following platforms:
• Windows XP and 2000 (Intel)
• Linux
• HP-RISC/HP-UX
• SGI/Irix
For the latest information about which versions of Pro/ENGINEER and which platforms are
supported by the writer plug-in, see the Systems Information page under Support and Services on the
ABAQUS web site (www.abaqus.com).
2.1.1 Support for the ABAQUS/CAE reader
The Elysium Neutral File reader is supported on ABAQUS/CAE on the following platforms:
• Windows XP (ABAQUS Version 6.4 and 6.5)
• Windows 2000 (ABAQUS Version 6.4)
• HP-RISC/HP-UX (ABAQUS Version 6.4)
• SGI/Irix (ABAQUS Version 6.4)
• Linux (ABAQUS Version 6.4 and 6.5)
2.1.1–1
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UNITS
3. UNITS
The Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator uses millimeters (mm) as the default units.
3–1
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INSTALLING THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE WRITER
4. INSTALLING THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS
ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE WRITER
4.1 Installing the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer
on Windows systems
The following procedure describes how you install the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral
File writer on Windows systems. You need administrator privileges to install the writer.
1. Download the ZIP file from the ABAQUS web site (www.abaqus.com).
• ABAQUS Version 6.5 (www.abaqus.com/products/ElysiumPlugIns.html)
• ABAQUS Version 6.4 (www.abaqus.com/products/ElysiumPlugInsV64.html)
2. Extract the contents of the ZIP file to a new directory.
3. Make the new directory the current directory, and enter setup to execute the writer setup program.
By default, the install script copies files and subdirectories into the current directory; however, you
can specify an alternative destination directory.
During the installation, you will be asked to supply the following information:
– If the setup program detects any Elysium Pro/ENGINEER writers on your system, you should
delete them before continuing.
– If the setup program detects more than one version of Pro/ENGINEER, it asks you to choose
the version with which you will install the writer.
– Your user and company name.
– The destination folder, as shown in Figure 4.1–1.
4.1–1
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INSTALLING THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE WRITER
Figure 4.1–1 The Windows installation procedure asks you to enter the destination folder.
You can install the plug-in anywhere on your hard drive; it does not have to be associated with
the I-DEAS directory tree.
– The components to install.
Click Pro/ENGINEER to/from ABAQUS, as shown in Figure 4.1–2.
Figure 4.1–2 The Windows installation procedure asks you to select the components to install.
– A program folder, as shown in Figure 4.1–3.
This is the item that will appear in the Windows Start→Programs menu. You use this menu
item to start the version of Pro/ENGINEER with the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer
installed.
4.1–2
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INSTALLING THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE WRITER
Figure 4.1–3 The Windows installation procedure asks you to enter the program folder.
4. The setup program copies files to the destination folder.
4.2 Installing the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer
on Linux systems
The following procedure describes how you install the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral
File writer on Linux systems. (Linux systems support only Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire; Pro/ENGINEER
2001 is not available on Linux.) You need super-user privileges to install the writer.
1. Download the ZIP file from the ABAQUS (www.abaqus.com/products/ElysiumPlugIns.html) web
site.
2. Expand the contents of the ZIP file, and use the tar –xvf command to extract the installation
files to a new directory.
3. Make the new directory the current directory, and start the installation script with the absolute path
to the setup command:
/absolute path to directory/linux/install/setup
4. The installation script indicates that existing files in the current directory will be overwritten. The
script then asks the following questions:
a. The script displays the current directory and asks if you wish to continue installing files in this
directory. Enter c to continue with the installation.
b. The next prompt asks you to Choose the base CAD system. Enter the number corresponding
to Pro/ENGINEER.
4.2–3
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INSTALLING THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE WRITER
c. You are then asked to Select Translators. Enter the number that appears in parentheses before
Pro/ENGINEER/ABAQUS Data Translator.
d. The installation script indicates that it is installing the Pro/ENGINEER/ABAQUS Data
Translator. Enter c to continue.
e. Enter n to indicate you have finished selecting products to install.
f. Enter y to confirm that the list of selected products is correct.
g. Enter Wildfire2 to indicate the version of Pro/Engineer on your system.
The installation script installs the plug-in files in the ProETrans subdirectory under the directory
in which Pro/ENGINEERWildfire2 was installed. Follow the instructions in “Configuring the files
required to run the writer,” Section 4.4, to complete the installation.
4.3 Installing the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer
on Unix sytems
The following procedure describes how you install the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral
File writer on Unix systems. You need super-user privileges to install the writer.
1. Download the ZIP file from the ABAQUS (www.abaqus.com/products/ElysiumPlugIns.html) web
site.
2. Expand the contents of the ZIP file, and use the tar –xvf command to extract the installation
files to a new directory.
3. Make the new directory the current directory, and start the installation script with the absolute path
to the setup command:
HP: /absolute path to directory/hp/install/setupIRIX: /absolue path to directory/sgi/install/setup
4. The installation script indicates that existing files in the current directory will be overwritten. The
script then asks the following questions:
a. The script displays the current directory and asks if you wish to continue installing files in this
directory. Enter c to continue with the installation.
b. The next prompt asks you to Choose the base CAD system. Enter the number corresponding
to Pro/ENGINEER.
c. You are then asked to Select Translators. Enter the number that appears in parentheses before
Pro/ENGINEER/ABAQUS Data Translator.
d. The installation script indicates that it is installing the Pro/ENGINEER/ABAQUS Data
Translator. Enter c to continue.
e. Enter n to indicate you have finished selecting products to install.
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INSTALLING THE PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE WRITER
f. Enter y to confirm that the list of selected products is correct.
g. Enter Wildfire2 to indicate the version of Pro/Engineer on your system.
The installation script installs the plug-in files in the ProETrans subdirectory under the directory
in which Pro/ENGINEERWildfire2 was installed. Follow the instructions in “Configuring the files
required to run the writer,” Section 4.4, to complete the installation.
4.4 Configuring the files required to run the writer
To complete the installation of the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer, you must
copy one of the following files (depending on the version of Pro/ENGINEER that you are using) from
the installation directory to your Pro/ENGINEER startup directory.
• protkwildfire2.dat
In addition, you must rename the copy of the file in your Pro/ENGINEER startup directory to the
following:
• protk.dat
If the file protk.dat already exists in your Pro/ENGINEER start-up directory, you must merge
the contents of the file in the installation directory (protkwildfire.dat, protk2000i2.dat, orprotk2001.dat) with the contents of protk.dat.
The lines in protk.dat that need to be merged will look similar to the following:
NAME ELY_TO_ABAQUSEXEC_FILE INSTALLDIR/ProETrans/prid/<proe_version>/pro2nut.exeTEXT_DIR INSTALLDIR/ProETrans/text/text_pronutREVISION 23ENDNAME ELY_FROM_ABAQUSEXEC_FILE INSTALLDIR/ProETrans/idpr/<proe_version>/nut2pro.exeTEXT_DIR INSTALLDIR/ProETrans/text/text_nutproREVISION 23END
If you have more than one Elysium writer installed, you should position lines from the most recent
Elysium writer at the top of the protk.dat file. If a line that refers to an older version of an Elysium
writer is placed before a line that refers to a newer version, you may not see the newer writer on the
Pro/ENGINEER menu.
4.4–5
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EXPORTING A PART FROM PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS/CAE
5. EXPORTING A PART FROM PRO/ENGINEER TO
ABAQUS/CAE
5.1 Running the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer from Pro/ENGINEER
Follow the instructions given below to run the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUSElysium Neutral File writer:
1. Start Pro/ENGINEER, and load the part to be exported.
Pro/ENGINEER displays messages in the command window while it reads in the information for
the plug-in writer from the protk.dat file. For example:
>>>Exec file:/home/proe/SHIP200305/proe_import/200305/sun/nut2pro.exe>>>Text dir :/home/proe/SHIP200305/proe_import/text_nutpro---------------------------------------------------------
Elysium Direct Data TranslatorsImporting to Pro/ENGINEER
...
From the pulldown menu in Pro/ENGINEER, select File→Export to ABAQUS. Pro/ENGINEER
displays the Menu Manager dialog box, as shown in Figure 5.1–1.
2. From the Exchange Level options, toggle on the desired types of entities to export to the ABAQUS
Elysium Neutral File.
3. Click Done Select.
4. Pro/ENGINEER displays the following prompt:
Enter output file Name [./partname.enf_abq]
5. Enter the name of the part to export.
Pro/ENGINEER tries to create a file called partname.enf_abq in the current directory.
6. Enter Y when Pro/ENGINEER asks if you wish to create a new file called partname.enf_abq or
to overwite an existing file called partname.enf_abq.
7. Enter Y when Pro/ENGINEER asks if you wish to continue.
When Pro/ENGINEER finishes exporting the part, it displays a summary in the InformationWindow
dialog box of the entities converted along with the total processing time.
5.1–1
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EXPORTING A PART FROM PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS/CAE
Figure 5.1–1 The Menu Manager dialog box.
5.2 Importing the ELYSIUM Neutral File into ABAQUS/CAE
1. Start ABAQUS/CAE.
2. From the main menu bar, select File→Import→part.
The Import Part dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 5.2–2.
3. From the File Type menu, select Pro/E Elysium Neutral (*.enf*).
4. Select the file to import, and click OK. For more information, see the ABAQUS/CAE User’s
Manual.
5.2–2
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EXPORTING A PART FROM PRO/ENGINEER TO ABAQUS/CAE
Figure 5.2–2 The Import Part dialog box.
5.2–3
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TROUBLESHOOTING
6. TROUBLESHOOTING
6.1 UNIX startup problems
Problem:
Pro/ENGINEER fails to run from the directory where the protk.dat file is installed.
Solution:
The translator version specified in the protk.dat file might not match the version of
Pro/ENGINEER you are running. Check the version of the nut2pro.exe executable using the
UNIX what command. If the versions do not match, reinstall the correct translator version.
Problem:
The translator logo messages do not display when Pro/ENGINEER starts.
Solution:
Reinstall the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File translator.
Problem:
Elysium Export is not listed in the Pro/ENGINEER Import menu.
Solution:
Reinstall the Pro/ENGINEER to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File translator.
6.2 Modifying the model in Pro/ENGINEER prior to exporting
Problem:
ABAQUS/CAE detects invalid entities.
Solution:
Invalid data (faces, volumes) in Pro/ENGINEER can often be fixed using the following
Pro/ENGINEER functions:
– Feature/Redefine/Heal Geometry/Manual/Fix Bndries/Zip Gaps
– Feature/Redefine/Heal Geometry/Manual/Fix Bndries/Edit Bndry
– Feature/Redefine/Attribute
6.2–1
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TROUBLESHOOTING
6.3 Using the Elysium translator with another third-party product
Problem:
Cannot run both the Elysium translator and a third-party product.
Solution:
After you install the Elysium translator, modify the shell script that starts the translator and modify
the environment file for the third-party product as follows. Add the following line to the translator
shell script:
SET ENVNAME=<third-party product environment file>
6.3–2
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