PiXYZ STUDIO

SOFTWARE OVERVIEW & GETTING STARTED TUTORIAL

Copyright © PiXYZ Software | Version 2018.2 - August 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Graphical interface
a. Overview 4 THIS TUTORIAL EXPLAINS HOW TO CONFORM YOUR 3D DATA TO
b. Custom toolbar & menus 5 VIRTUAL & AUGMENTED REALITY APPLICATIONS, PHYSIC & FLUID
TO PiXYZ STUDIO
c. Product structure and part selection 6
d. Properties 7
Following items are described :
e. Modifiers 8 ▪ GUI presentation
f. Viewer 9 ▪ Import Wizard
g. Visualization Tools ▪ Tessellation
a. Measurement tools 12 ▪ Remove Holes
b. Cutting plane 12 ▪ Hidden Removal
c. Exploded view 13 ▪ Decimation
h. Functions list 14
Definitions of words followed by * are given at the end of this tutorial.
i. Material Editor 15
j. Script Editor 16

Tutorial Part 1 17

Tutorial Part 2 22

Definitions 28

PiXYZ Software Overview 29

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 P I X Y Z S T U D I O D O C U M E N TAT I O N

G E N E R A L P R E S E N TAT I O N
 GENERAL INFORMATION PRODUCTS & PREREQUESITES

VERSION PiXYZ STUDIO comes in two different offers : PiXYZ STUDIO and PiXYZ STUDIO.batch

PIXYZ STUDIO FUNCTIONALITY PiXYZ STUDIO.batch

✓ ALL INPUT FORMATS

✓
✓ PiXYZ CORE ALGORITHMS FOR CAD DATA PREPARATION ✓
PiXYZ ✓ PiXYZ CORE ALGORITHMS FOR DATA OPTIMIZATION ✓ PiXYZ
S TU DIO .batch
S TU DIO
✓ PYTHON SCRIPTING EDITOR CAPABILITY ✓
ADDITIONAL IMPORT/EXPORT PYTHON FUNCTIONS
- FOR AUTOMATIC BATCH PROCESSING ✓

PREREQUISITES
RECOMMENDED FOR OPTIMAL DATA MINIMUM
PREPARATION Processor
Processor 86 dual-core 2GHz
Intel core i7 2 GHz or more RAM
RAM 4 GB
16 GB or more Graphics Hardware
Graphics Hardware OpenGL 4 compatible
nVidia Geforce GTX 980Ti or more Disk Space
Disk Space 200 MB
1 GB or more (with dynamic swap) Operating System
Operating System Windows XP, Seven, 10 64-bit
Windows 10, 64-bit

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 GENERAL INFORMATION COMPATIBLE FORMATS FORMAT PiXYZ STUDIO DETAILS

ACIS ✓
AutoCAD 3D ✓
FORMATS Compatibility with CAD file formats :
Autodesk Alias ✓
Autodesk FBX ✓ Version 2011 to 2017

Autodesk Inventor ✓
CATIA V4 – V5 ✓ CATProduct, CATPart
CATIA V5 [3DXML] ✓ 3DXML & CGR
MODEL
CATIA V6 [3DXML] ✓
Creo - Pro/E ✓
COLLADA ✓
CSB Deltagen ✓ Partial. Up to DG18

IFC ✓
IGES ✓
JT ✓ Mesh + NURBS | Includes PLMXML support

OBJ ✓
Parasolid ✓
PDF ✓
PLM XML ✓
PLY ✓
Point Cloud ✓ E57, PTS, PTX, XYZ

PRC ✓
Revit ✓ Beta

Rhino3D ✓
SketchUp ✓
Solid Edge ✓
SolidWorks ✓
STEP ✓
Stereo Lithography (STL) ✓
U3D ✓
Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software
P i X Y Z S T U D I O D O C U M E N TAT I O N

VIEWER & MENU BAR

GENERAL INFORMATION GRAPHICAL INTERFACE

- Menu Bar
- Main Toolbar
- Product structure
- Viewer
- Selected object properties
- Modifiers stack
- Log output
- Script

The entire user interface is customizable. The position and the size of each window can be adjusted and clipped on each corner of the
interface. The menu that appears by right-clicking on the toolbar or by pushing on the tab « Windows » allows to manage the windows
visibility, create custom GUI, reset default settings,
The viewer displays information regarding the loaded model : occurrences (parts) and triangles (polygons) number.
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 GRAPHICAL INTERFACE STANDARD MENU BAR

Details regarding the Menu bar and settings :

EDIT
• Fit : Fit camera-view to selection
• Show Hidden : Switch to no-show (hidden parts)
FILE management system • Take Screenshot : Save current viewer as an image
• Select All : Select all occurrences (parts)
• Open Project : Open .pxz project file
• Invert Selection : Switch selection
• Save Project : Save current project
• Find Selection In Tree : Identify selection in product hierarchy
• Save Project As : Save as new *.pxz project
• Show B-Reps : Display native CAD representation
• Import Wizard : Opens the Import Wizard window
• Show Wireframe : Display polygons
• Import Model : Import CAD file (all formats)
• Show Shaded : Display shaded mesh
• Export Model : Export geometry
• Show Outlines : Display lines and patches information
• Export Selection : Export selected geometry
• Show Points : Display Point Cloud
• Recent Project : List of the projects recently open
• Function List : Open PiXYZ Core Function List
• Reset Project : Reset PiXYZ scene
• Install Plugin : Install a PiXYZ STUDIO plugin (contact PiXYZ)
• Exit : Quit PiXYZ STUDIO
• Plugin List : Manage installed plugins (contact PiXYZ)
• Preferences : Open PiXYZ STUDIO settings

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GRAPHICAL INTERFACE STANDARD MENU BAR

Details regarding the Menu bar and settings :

SELECTION
• Select All : Select all occurrences (parts)
• Invert Selection : Switch selection
• Find Selection In Tree : Identify selection in product hierarchy

Advanced selection tools

• Select Small Parts : Automatically select parts based on geometrical property : bounding box max diagonal
distance
• Select Part from No Show: Automatically select parts with « Visibility » attribute set to false.
• Identify Multiple Occurrences : Select parts with numerous identical entities ( = occurrences = instances)
• Select Identical : Automatically scan the entire scene to identify similar part to current selection. Please
select a part before using.
NOTE : Following tools require tessellated models

• Select Duplicated Parts: Automatically select parts with similar size, polygon count, position and orientation.
• Hidden Selection : Automatically select parts, patches or polygons not viewed from a sphere around the
scene
• Smart Hidden Selection : Select parts, patches or polygons not viewed from a set of camera automatically

These advanced selection tools will definitely ease and accelerate your data preparation processes into PiXYZ STUDIO. Other « smart »
selection can be achieved through python scripting. Please contact PiXYZ Software for more information.

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GRAPHICAL INTERFACE STANDARD MENU BAR

Details regarding the Menu bar and settings :

MATERIALS : Handle all materials contained in the scene
SCENE management • Material Library : Open Material Library
• Merge Final Assemblies : Convert final assemblies • Texture Library : Open the Texture Library, containing all
(assemblies with only parts as children) into parts by textures used in the current scene
merging their children
• Merge Materials: Merge all equivalent materials (i.e. with same
• Merge Assemblies By Tree Level : Reduce the Tree depth visual appearance)
by merging together all parts located beyond the specified
• Clean Unused Materials: Remove unused materials in the scene
level
from the Material Library
• Merge Parts : Combine selected geometries
• Replace Material : Replace a material by another everywhere it
• Merge Parts By Material : Combine selected geometries is used in the scene
with one part by existing material
• Select By Materials : Select all occurrences with a given
• Compress Tree : Compress a sub-tree by removing material on scene node or occurrence property
assembly containing only one SceneNode or empty, and by
removing useless instances
• Rake Tree : Destroy hierarchy and flatten all transforms CAD : CAD data preparation dedicated features
• Apply Transformation : Change transformation matrix • Repair CAD : Start an automatic reparation of native CAD
• Create symmetry : Create planar symmetry from selection assemblies (Nurbs/B-REP files) : CAD patches combining, faces
automatic
• Make instance unique : Destroy connection between
• Assemble CAD : Combine disconnected CAD patches
instances
• Orient : Check patches orientation consistency
• Reset Transform : Set all transformation matrices to
identity • Explode Bodies : Explode part by bodies (see glossary)
• Delete Empty Parts : Delete parts with deactivate
• Tessellate: Generate a perfect an efficient mesh representation
• Delete Empty Assemblies : Delete assemblies without of your CAD file
children
• Rename Long Part Name : Automatically reduce long
character chains in assembly and part name attribute.
PiXYZ tessellation algorithm has been proven to be the most
efficient and performant algorithm available in CAD data
preparation software.

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GRAPHICAL INTERFACE STANDARD MENU BAR

Details regarding the Menu bar and settings :

MESH Mesh optimization features OPTIMIZE MESH Polygon optimization/reduction algorithms

• Repair Mesh : Start an automatic reparation of the • Decimate : Process existing mesh and reduce polygon count
existing mesh : connected meshes fusion, face
• Remove Holes : Remove holes features from geometry
• Hidden Removal : Automatically delete parts, patches or
• Create Normals : Create normals on polygons polygons not viewed from a sphere around the scene
• Orient Faces : Check faces and normals orientation • Smart Hidden Removal : Delete parts, patches or polygons
consistency not viewed from a set of camera automatically generated.
• Invert Orientation : Invert selection orientation
• Triangularize: Convert the entire mesh selection in • Replace By Box : Replace selected parts by their Bounding
triangles Box (Axis-Aligned BB or Oriented BB)
• Equilateralize : Force use of equilateral triangles • Bake Texture Maps: Create textures maps (Diffuse, Normal,
• Quadify: Force use of quads when possible MaterialID, PartID) out of the selected parts, providing they
have UVs.
• Identify Patches : Only for tessellated models : start
identification of former CAD information
• Explode Patches : Split geometry at patches level
• Explode Part y Materials : Create one part out of UV Manage texture coordinates
the selected part(s) by material applied on the • Generate UV by Projection : Automatically create Texture
patches coordinates by projection (cubic, BB, custom)
• Delete Patches : Remove all CAD information • Generate UV by Unwrapping : Automatically generate UV fit
by unwrapping
• Create Lines : Convert CAD information in free
edges • Repack UV : Automatically fit all UV islands to the [0,1] UV
• Delete Lines : Delete free edges. Improve FBX space
export. • Normalize UV: Automatically scale UV to the [0,1] UV space
• Explode Connected Meshes : Split combined • Swap UV Channel : Invert UV from 1 UV channel to another,
geometries in multiple unconnected entities when multiple UV channels exist on the selected part(s)
• Remove UV : Clean UV from selected channel
• UV Viewer : Open UV 2D representation

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GRAPHICAL INTERFACE STANDARD MENU BAR

Details regarding the Menu bar and settings :

WINDOWS Manage PiXYZ STUDIO GUI
• Workspace : Customize and arrange your workspace
SCENARIOS Apply high-end optimization processes (windows layout). Manage keyboard shortcuts.
• Show tabs : Set the windows to be displayed on the GUI,
• Run Generic Process:
amongst: Product Structure, Properties, Modifiers,
Automatically create optimized meshes out of any 3D Visualization, Measurement, Script, Output, Material On
model (mesh or CAD). Patches
Check the API documentation for more information
(HELP menu > API Documentation
• Generate LOD Chain:
Automatically generate 3 LODs for the current
selection.
Check the API documentation for more information
(HELP menu > API Documentation
• Generate Phantom Mesh:
Automatically generate one unique optimized mesh HELP menu
out of the models in the scene, with material(s). • Open Documentation: You are there!
Check the API documentation for more information
(HELP menu > API Documentation • API Documentation : Open embedded API documentation for
python scripting purposes and algorithms technical details
• Generate Proxy Mesh:
• Open Sample Scripts Directory : Start using python scripting
Automatically generate a proxy mesh out of the current in STUDIO using reference scripts
selection, with optional automatic texture maps
• Download 3D Model Samples: from PiXYZ website
generation.
Check the API documentation for more information • License Manager : Manage your license : license request,
(HELP menu > API Documentation
• Export log file: Access the log file automatically saved for
each session of PiXYZ STUDIO launched
• Release Note: Access the release note for the current version
of PiXYZ STUDIO
• Check For Update : Automatically check available update for
PiXYZ STUDIO

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GRAPHICAL INTERFACE FUNCTION LIST & CUSTOM MENUS

PiXYZ STUDIO already exposes most powerful features in the standard GUI. However, more than 120 functions
are available in the PiXYZ API for python scripting but also interactive Data Preparation.
Go to menu EDIT > Preferences to access the full functions list (or press F12).
Go to the API Documentation for more information regarding algorithms in PiXYZ STUDIO.

Functions list of PiXYZ STUDIO (F12)

Custom menus allow users to create bespoke list of functions and make easily accessible most used functions, for a specific workflow.

1. Right-click on the toolbar and choose « Add a custom

menu/toolbar ».
2. Name your custom toolbar and menu.
3. A new menu has been added. Push on « Manage » to add 2
new functions shortcuts.
4. A window opens. Click on the « +add » button.
3
5. Select the function to add in the toolbar/menu. 4
1 5
6. Validate by clicking on « Ok ».
7. The function is now accessible through a new menu and a
new toolbar. You can manage the toolbar visibility like any
toolbar.

7
By pushing on « Go to Documentation », you can get more information on a function.
6
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P i X Y Z S T U D I O D O C U M E N TAT I O N

3 D N AV I G AT I O N
 3D NAVIGATION STANDARD (ALT + mouse)

To manipulate the camera position and orientation in the viewer, use the following key combinations:

Mouse Left Click : Select / Replace selection

Shift Key + Mouse Left Click : Remove from Selection

CTRL Ctrl Key + Mouse Left Click : Add/remove from selection

ALT Alt Key + Left Click : Rotate

Contextual Menu 3D axis gizmo

ALT Alt Key + Middle Click : Pan

ALT Alt Key + Right Click (or Mouse wheel) : Zoom A 3D move and rotate gizmo is visible
in the viewer to help you manipulate
the view.
Mouse Middle Click : Change rotation center (camera pivot point) PiXYZ STUDIO viewer is Y-up
oriented

Mouse Right Click : Show contextual menu (only on selection)

Mouse Left Key + Selection area : Select parts inside the selection

Mouse Right Click + Selection area : Select all parts inside the selection (depth-selection)

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 3D NAVIGATION « CATIA-LIKE » NAVIGATION (mouse only)

To manipulate the camera position and orientation in the viewer, use the following key combinations :

Mouse Left Click : Select / Replace selection

By default, PiXYZ STUDIO is set to STANDARD
(DCC-like navigation). You can also set a -
Shift Key + Mouse Left Click : Remove from Selection
like mode (mouse only).

3D Viewer navigation settings can be adjusted

CTRL Ctrl Key + Mouse Left Click : Add/remove from selection through menu EDIT > Preferences > Viewer >
Navigation > CatiaLikeNavigation
Center Click + Left Click : Rotate

Center Click + Middle Click : Pan

Center Click + Right Click (or Mouse wheel) : Zoom

Mouse Middle Click : Change rotation center

Mouse Right Click : Show contextual menu (only with selection)

Mouse Left Click + Selection area : Select visible parts inside the selection

Mouse Right Click + Selection area : Select all parts inside the selection (depth-selection)

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

P i X Y Z S T U D I O D O C U M E N TAT I O N

FUNCTIONALITIES & GUI

 GUI TOOLBAR

The Main Toolbar contains shortcuts to main functionalities of PiXYZ STUDIO :

14
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

0 IMPORT WIZARD Import wizard for easy 3D file import in PiXYZ STUDIO

1 IMPORT SCENE Import file in PiXYZ (CATIA, 3DXML, NX, FBX, )

2 EXPORT SCENE Export the complete geometry in various file formats (FBX, 3DXML, )

3 SAVE PROJECT Save the scene to a *.pxz project

4 RESET Clean and reset the scene (new project)

5 MATERIALS Open Material Editor

6 CHECKER Visual override of all materials visible in the scene using predefined shaders

7 FIT TO VIEW Fit camera view to selected objects

8 RENDERING MODE Backface culling rendering modes

9 SHOW / NO SHOW Switch between shown/hidden occurrences & parts

10 FULLSCREEN Switch to full screen (viewer only)
11 SCREENSHOT Take a screenshot of the camera view
12 VIEWCUBE Predefined camera views. Perspective & orthographic camera modes
13
TRANSPARENCY Adjust global transparency rendering setting
14
RENDER MODE Visualization mode (B-REP, Wireframe, Shaded, Patches/lines, points)
Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software
GUI VIEWER

B-REP Polygons / triangles Shaded Mesh Patches borders & lines Point clouds

The viewer can be customized from the « PREFERENCES » menu (F9). Background, lights, lines
colors, FOV can be adjusted to your needs.

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GUI PRODUCT STRUCTURE

PiXYZ STUDIO preserves your CAD model hierarchy, organization and naming, when available. The elements that
compose a scene tree, are represented as following:

Assembly *

Instance *

Part *

Import wizard for easy 3D file import

Once a part is selected, the highest - not unfolded - node of the scene hierarchy is colored in orange. The
surface of this part is also colored in orange to indicate the selection.
Scene hierarchy / Product tree

For a selected part, position in the scene tree can be

shown through the FIND IN TREE function in the
contextual menu (RIGHT click)

Multi-selection is available by pushing CTRL key while

selecting elements in the viewer or in the scene tree

Part selection, from the viewer or directly in the tree Identify a part in the product tree

By default, actions will affect only selected elements. But you can always change the
selection in the function dialog box.
A SELECT menu is available to help selecting specific parts
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 WINDOWS PART PROPERTIES

The window displays a selected element details. In the case of a selection of several elements,
some fields are not filled.
From this window, you can also :
• show/hide selected element(s) by checking/unchecking the « Visible » box in the « Occurrence »
section
• show/hide all occurrences* of selected element(s) by checking/unchecking the « Visible » box in the
element section
• affect a material to a mesh

One element All occurrences

Properties of one selected element. Properties of 33 selected elements.

Pressing the button in the material field opens a « Material selector » window that allows to affect another
material to a mesh. If the list is empty, add a new material thank to the material editor tool.

The same icon allows to show either hidden elements or visible ones.

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 WINDOWS PROPERTIES TAB

The PROPERTIES window displays all available information regarding the selected element(s). Informations are originally contained directly in the CAD file
(CATProduct, CATPart, STEP, JT, FBX, ).

Following metadata might be found, depending on the CAD model and its origin :
• PartNumber
• PartName
• AssemblyName
• Definition
• Nomenclature
• Source
• Revision
• Author
• Description
• ID PiXYZ
• ...

Other PROPERTIES are displayed and modifiable within PiXYZ, such as :

• Occurrence Material
• Part Material
• Transformation Matrix
• Occurrence Visibility
• Part Visibility

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 GUI TOOLBAR

PIXYZ STUDIO allows to manage materials : creation, update... Also, you can 4
affect a material to a mesh when missing.
The material editor is accessible from the « MATERIALS » menu or by pushing on
the following button (1).

• Click on the button « + Add » (2). A window opens. Choose a material pattern
(3) and define the new material (4).
• Push on « edit properties » allows you to access to the shader code.

This material will be available in the Material Selector window accessible from the
1
properties window (5).

2
3

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 MODIFIERS

It is possible to modify actions done on a model. Indeed, all modifications can be saved to let you update or delete a process step.
Yet modifiers history is not enabled by default. You need to activate the « KeepShapeHistory » option in the PREFERENCES (F9), « Algo » section of the
parameters.

Also, any parameter can be modified and any process can be updated by pushing on the « Apply » button.
The button will appear after changing a value parameter.

Any action can be cancelled by pushing the white cross : . A removal be reverted.

Updating first steps of the history can impact last steps

The use of modifier history may cause an overload of memory

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 IMPORT WIZARD GUI

PiXYZ STUDIO 2018.2 release introduces a new feature: the IMPORT WIZARD.

The purpose of this wizard is to help the user obtaining, quickly and easily, ready-to-use tessellated
models (meshes) out of almost any CAD model. The resulting meshes are delivered in the PiXYZ
STUDIO interface, and can be furtherly optimized using all available algorithms, or directly exported
(through FBX, OBJ, ).

There are 2 ways to open the Import Wizard:

1) Go to menu FILE > Import Wizard :

2) Click on the icon from the Toolbar

The Wizard comes as a window combining all the necessary setting for a 1-click import process.
Please read the information thereafter for information about each exposed setting, or use the to
link.

All the settings exposed in the window are also available in PiXYZ STUDIO as preferences settings, or
as functions accessible from the Menu bar

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 IMPORT WIZARD SETTINGS

SETTINGS INFORMATION

• PRESETS 1
A combination of settings can be saved under a preset, using the bar. 1
Use the preset to restore PiXYZ default settings.
Use the available buttons to manage user presets. 2

• FILE NAME 2
Use the browser to select the CAD file you wish to import in PiXYZ STUDIO through the Wizard. 3

Only one CAD file can be imported at once using the Import Wizard. Anyway, a master assembly
file (like *.CATProduct files for example) will load all the other CAD files it references.

• COORDINATE SYSTEM 3
Use the Coordinate System settings to adapt the imported units/transformation to PiXYZ
STUDIO units/coordinate system (Millimeters / Right-handed / Z-up axis).
Default settings change a millimeters/Z-up axis scene to PiXYZ STUDIO configuration.

Scale: Set the scale of the imported model.

Right Handed: Uncheck this setting to mirror model from a left-handed coordinate system to a
right-handed one.

Y-up: Use this setting to rotate model from Z-up axis to Y-up axis.
Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software
 IMPORT WIZARD SETTINGS

SETTINGS INFORMATION

• IMPORT OPTIONS 4

The Import Options control which data must be imported from the original CAD file, and how the
hierarchy is being processed.

Load Hidden Parts: If checked, the parts that are as set as hidden (not visible) in the imported
CAD file are also imported, and their visibility set to hidden (use the No-Show view to
display them).

Load PMI: If checked, the PMI potentially present in the imported CAD file will be imported too.

Hierarchy Mode: From the "Hierarchy Mode" drop-down list, choose one of the available
4
modes to optimize the imported model's hierarchy (also called "Product Structure" in CAD
vocabulary):

Full (default setting): No modification of the hierarchy

Compress: Compresses the hierarchy by removing empty nodes, or any node
containing only one sub-node.
Rake: Simplifies the hierarchy by transferring all parts present in the imported CAD
model under the root node of the imported model.
Merge All: All parts contained in the original CAD model will be merged together, as
one single part.
Merge Final Assemblies: Convert final assemblies (assemblies with only parts as
children) into parts by merging their children.
Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software
 IMPORT WIZARD SETTINGS

SETTINGS INFORMATION

• TESSELLATION SETTINGS 5
Tessellation Settings define the way CAD surfaces inherited from the imported CAD file are
processed to create beautiful optimized meshes.

Repair CAD: Before creating a mesh out of the imported CAD surfaces, it can be useful to
perform some preparatory work on these surfaces. The Repair CAD removes possible gaps
between CAD faces, removes overlapping faces, and tries to orient CAD faces consistently
(check the API documentation for more information).

Tessellation Quality: Define the density/visual quality of the mesh that PiXYZ STUDIO delivers.
Exposed settings are the most important ones from the Tessellate algorithm.

Check the ABOUT TESSELLATION & DECIMATION page of this documentation to learn more
about tessellation settings, or refer to the API documentation (Tessellate algorithm).
5

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 IMPORT WIZARD SETTINGS

SETTINGS INFORMATION

• MATERIAL ASSIGNMENT 6
In a CAD file (coming from CATIA, NX, CREO, ), materials (or colors) can be assigned to the CAD
parts in many different and complex ways.
Material Assignment section defines how materials will be assigned to the imported CAD model.

A CAD model is made of parts (also called occurrences) and a hierarchy (sometimes called Product
Structure in CAD vocabulary).
A Part can have a material assigned in many different ways:
- On the Part itself through its Material Property
- On a parent of the Part, in which case the Part inherits its Material Property
- Directly on the CAD surfaces of the Part (surfaces all also called patches, see the Glossary)

Using one of the following settings, choose how to deal with material assignment when importing a
CAD file:

Keep As Assigned In The Original CAD file: Using this setting preserves the material
assignment how it was defined in the CAD software delivering the imported CAD file.

Transfer CAD Materials On Parts (default setting): All materials inherited from a parent node or 6
from the CAD surfaces of a Part are transferred to the Material Property of this Part. This
action is executed for each Part of the hierarchy. This makes the material management easier
in PiXYZ STUDIO.

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 VIEWER FUNCTIONALITIES

PiXYZ STUDIO offers several visualization tools for CAD project review and analysis.

MEASUREMENT TOOLS
Measurement system is available to measure any type of entity : distance, radius, angle, center distance, plane inclination, .
STUDIO uses a « primitive » recognition feature (circle, polylines, points) to ease and accelerate the measurement process.
Here are the steps to perform quick measurements :
1. SELECT the type of primitive/element you are willing to measure : POLYLINE (patch boundary), CIRCLE or POINT.
2. Perform « FLY-OVER » PRIMITIVE RECOGNITION directly in the 3D Viewer to identify, select and measure elements
3. Use or re-use primitives from the « Measurement » tab to CALCULATE distances, radius, or convert point to
primitives (circle center, )

Measurement Tab

Fly-over primitive identification Re-use existing primitives Administrate, hide, show all Advanced properties for
and feature measurement to identify other features measurements selected measurement

SNAPPING FUNCTIONALITY
• SNAPPING ON LINES Measure point will snap on eventual
proximity conception line (green dot )
• STANDARD PICKING Orange dot
Line snapping No snapping

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 VIEWER FUNCTIONALITIES

CUTTING PLANE
The cutting plane feature allows to visualize inside a model. Check the « Enabled » option for activation and choose the
cutting axis. Slide the translation cursor to move the cutting plane.

Optional visualization parameters

• Select plane axis (XYZ or camera axis)
• Translate cutting plane
• SHOW PLANE : identify* filled or hollow volumes *can take few seconds to calculate
• Invert visibility
• Lock (camera axis only)
• Edges color *use after « Show Plane »
• Edges thickness *use after « Show Plane »
• ALIGN CAMERA : align camera with sectional drawing *use after « Show Plane ». Consider switching to orthographic camera

SHOW PLANE : visualize solids Sectional view : SHOW PLANE + Sectional drawing or « footprint » : SHOW PLANE + ALIGN CAMERA
and hollow volumes ALIGN CAMERA + Orthographic view setting + Orthographic view setting + HIDE « Product » motion group
+ EDGE COLORS red

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 VIEWER FUNCTIONALITIES

EXPLODED VIEW
The « Exploded View » feature spreads outward all the model parts, according to a defined axis (XYZ, planar or
single-axis). This tool allows to visualize all components inside an element.

All axis Z-axis explode only Slide the factor cursor to

amplify the explode effect

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 VIEWER FUNCTIONALITIES

FTA or PMI VISUALIZATION AND HANDLING

Visualize and manage FTA (Functional and Tolerancing Annotations) or PMI (Product and Manufacturing Information) directly in PiXYZ STUDIO.
Annotations are available directly from the Product Tree structure. Look for in the first listed nodes, then double-click on the annotation
you wish to display (a icon appears before the Annotation name) :
• Captures
• Datums
• Dimensions Slide the factor cursor to
• Tolerances amplify the explode effect.
• Notes
• Views
• Sectional views

FTA with annotations and predefined sectional view FTA sample visualization Product Structure with FTA

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 SCRIPT EDITOR

PIXYZ STUDIO lets you create your own script to feet your customs requirements. From the script editor,
you can write and execute Python scripts.

All the functions are accessible from the documentation. Only the import and export functions are not
available in PiXYZ STUDIO (IO license token required).

Some actions manually applied to a model can be automatically scripted in Python. From
the MODIFIERS window, push on the « Generate script » button. The corresponding script
is written in the script editor.

Specific workshops and training regarding python scripting in PiXYZ can be delivered through
engineering or on-site training sessions. Please contact PiXYZ.

PiXYZ STUDIO.batch is a premium version including additional Import/Export functions to the Python scripting
capacities, for automatic batch processing of CAD files.
Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software
P i X Y Z S T U D I O D O C U M E N TAT I O N

H A N D L I N G T U TO R I A L
 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 1

OBJECTIVE Obtain a high quality tessellation from a native CAD file while respecting original geometry (see page #42 for more information regarding
differences between native CAD files and Tessellated files).
PiXYZ STUDIO creates high quality and low density meshes from almost any CAD model. It provides efficient and very fast tessellation*, thanks to a smarter
organization of vertices. The part 1 of the tutorial explains how to get a high quality 3D object for a rendering usage.

STEP 1 CAD file import

PiXYZ STUDIO supports both tessellated (mesh) and native CAD (exact geometry) formats. To import your model :

• Go to the « File » menu and choose « Import Model » or press the following button from the Main Toolbar;
• Select the file to import. Multiple files (several formats) can be imported at the same time.

PiXYZ STUDIO also handles drag & drop loading directly in the viewport:

or

Processing File imported in PiXYZ

Drag & drop CAD file

Supported file formats See slide #6 for a detailed overview

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 1

STEP 2 Tessellation See page #43 for more information

Parameters
CAD models are not tessellated, they contain exact mathematical surfaces. To create meshes, or polygonal
surfaces :
• Go to the « CAD » menu and choose the « Tessellate» function or click the button from the Essential
toolbar
• Set the following parameters for a high quality tessellation* :
o Max Sag* : 0.2 mm
o Max Angle : 10
• Click on « Execute » (do not select anything or select the Root node to execute the algorithm on the
whole scene)

3 basic parameters are usually defined for a surface mesh generation :

• Max Sag the maximum distance between the geometry and the tessellation*. This parameter ensures
that mesh is similar enough to the original analytical surface. A low value means that a very fine mesh is
used to render surfaces.
• Max Length the maximum allowed length of polygons sides.
• Max Angle the maximum allowed angle between normals of two adjacent polygons (on a same face). It
allows to add more precision in short radius fillet.

Parameters examples :
1. Good tessellation quality for high End 2. Extreme accuracy tessellation for physics engine :
visualization application :
Max SAG : 0.2 Max SAG : 0.1
Max Angle : NO Max Angle : 20

Before tessellating, use the function « Repair CAD » or « Assemble CAD » to prevent non-
assembled CAD elements (patches) or faces orientation issues
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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 1

STEP 3 Model Repair

The original model might have some default : misoriented faces, missing faces/gaps

PiXYZ STUDIO offers mesh repair features, such as polygons reconnection, normals/faces orientation unification,
topology correction
The « Repair Mesh » function can automatically correct the defaults.
To repair your model :
• Go to the « Optimize mesh » menu and choose «Repair Mesh» option or press the following button from the
Essential toolbar:
• Set 0.1 millimeter as tolerance value
• Click on « Execute » (do not select anything or select the Root node to execute the algorithm on the whole
scene)

The « Orient » and « Invert Orientation » functions are also available, but they only correct orientation issues on selected
surfaces.

Crack non-manifold
Uncheck this option to keep the non-
manifold edges *

Orient
Use this option to orient all the
polygons/faces of the model in same
direction

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HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 1

END of TUTORIAL PART 1

The first part of this tutorial is now finished. The model has been processed and optimized for a photo-realistic rendering usage.
A fine mesh has been created to get a geometry similar enough to the original surface.

However the model may still have a too high number of polygons for some real-time applications.
The part 2 will explain how to reduce polygons count.

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 2

OBJECTIVE Reduce the polygons count of a high quality tessellated model by keeping a nice visual quality. This part of the tutorial explains how to get a
nice low-poly model for a Virtual Reality usage.

STEP 1 Remove holes

Once tessellated and repaired, the original model contains around 1.2M triangles. This amount can be optimized. PiXYZ can remove specific features on a CAD
model, such as holes.

To reduce the triangles count, start by removing through holes with a diameter lower than 10mm :

• Go to « Reduce mesh » menu and choose « Remove holes » option

• Check « Through Holes » option
• Set the Maximum Diameter to 10 millimeters
• Click on « Execute » (do not select anything or select the Root node to execute the algorithm on the whole scene)

From 1,1M to 560K polygons

« Max Diameter » is the maximum diameter

Checking surfacic may reseal holes due to a tessellation failure of holes to be removed

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 2

STEP 2 Hidden Removal

The original model contains hidden patches*, parts* and polygons which are not necessary for the visualization,.
To remove automatically all hidden parts*, patches* or polygons not visible from a sphere around the scene:

• Go to the « Optimize » menu and choose « Hidden removal » function

• Choose to remove patches (for instance)
• Click on « Execute » (do not select anything or select the Root node to execute the algorithm on the whole scene)

Before non-visible patches

removal

3 parameters can be adjusted :

From 500k to 460k polys
• Resolution of the visibility viewer
• Sphere count : segmentation of the
sphere
• Fov X : horizontal field of view
• Screen Size Per View:

You can choose to remove parts*, patches* or polygons.

If a portion of a patch* or a part* is visible, this patch or this part be removed. Patches removed
For further reduction of the number of polygons, choose « polygons ». Thus the portion of the patch*/part* not visible will be removed.

Smart Hidden Removal A similar function is available in PiXYZ STUDIO and apply the same process yet it uses multiple cameras in all closed
volumes higher than a specified value (ideal for car interior, engine compartment, )

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 2

STEP 3 Remove the link with CAD patches

Before reducing the triangles count with the decimation* function, we need to delete the CAD patches* to allow the remeshing over patches* boundaries

Go to « Optimize mesh » menu and choose « Delete Patches» function:

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 2

STEP 4 Decimation See page #44 for more information

For a lower-memory usage, the model needs to be transformed to a low-poly object. PiXYZ STUDIO reduces the polygon density of a mesh by deleting
vertices. It allows precise control, preserving normal distortion and texture coordinates.

To remove vertices :
• Go to the « Reduce mesh» menu and choose the « Decimate » function, or push on the following button from the Essential toolbar
• Use the default parameters
• Click on « Execute » (do not select anything or select the Root node to execute the algorithm on the whole scene)

The best way to decimate a model is to combine the 3 following parameters to obtain the
lighter model while keeping an acceptable quality :
• Surfacic tolerance : the maximum distance between vertices of the original model and
resulting simplified surfaces.
• Lineic tolerance : the maximum distance between vertices of the original model and resulting
simplified lines.
• Normal tolerance : the maximum angle between original normals and those interpolated on the
simplified surface.

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 2

Thanks to the normal distortion control of PiXYZ, the visual appearance has not changed despite the significant polygons reduction.

Before DECIMATION process (env. 450k polygons) After DECIMATION (env. 76k polygons).
6 times polygons reduction

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 HANDLING TUTORIAL PART 2

STEP 5 Export the model

The model has been reduced from 1M to 76k triangles, almost 95 % reduction and the visual aspect remains the same as the original. The model has been
optimized for a real-time usage, such as Virtual or Augmented Reality.

It can now be exported in one of the supported formats. To do so, go to the « File » menu and choose « Export Model » or click on the following button
to open the export window.

The format *.pxz has been created to let you save your scene. To save your project click the following button or go to the
« File » menu.
This format keeps the original CAD shapes and history Modifiers to allow modifications in a second phase.

Supported export formats FBX, glTF, JT, 3DXML, COLLADA, Stereolithography, OBJ, 3DS, PRC, PDF

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 INFORMATION DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAD MODELS AND MESH MODELS

CAD models inherited from CAD software (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Alias, STEP ) are not tessellated. They contain exact parametric/mathematical surfaces.

A CAD body (closed volume) or CAD surface (open shell surface) is composed of CAD faces (or patches), delimited by boundaries (see Glossary).
To be displayed in a 3D application, these CAD faces need to be translated into meshes. A mesh is composed of multiple connected polygons, or triangles (1
polygon = 2 coplanar triangles), forming a mesh surface that is understandable by a Graphic Card, to be rendered in a 3D application.

Moreover, CAD models can contain additional engineering and design data (metadata, PMI, ), that can be very useful to perform a targeted Data Preparation
process based on targeted properties.

DCC software (Maya, 3DSMax, Blender, ) natively create tessellated geometries, or meshes, than can be exported as FBX files (for example) to be re-
imported in Unity3D using PiXYZ PLUGIN. Note that these meshes often come with UVs (1st channel and/or 2nd channel), that can either be kept at import, or
overridden using the setting (1st channel only).

Already tessellated meshes are meant to be optimized to create LODs by performing efficient and conservative decimation on them.

CAD MESH
(patches/faces, boundaries) BREP MESHES (polygons, edges, vertices)

PARAMETRIC EXACT GEOMETRIES « DEAD » DATA

DESIGN PRODUCT STRUCTURE SIMPLE HIERARCHY

METADATA NO METADATA

(visualization) SURFACE COLORS MATERIALS (visualization)

(physical properties for simulation) MATERIALS UVs (texture coordinates)

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 INFORMATION ABOUT TESSELLATION & DECIMATION

TESSELLATION When creating a mesh out of a CAD model, PiXYZ PLUGIN uses this algorithm to create a surface mesh.

2 main parameters are defined for a surface mesh generation:

• MAX SAG: The maximum distance between the geometry and the tessellation.
This parameter ensures that mesh is similar enough to the original analytical
surface (exact geometry).

A low value means that a very fine mesh is created. The distance values are
expressed in millimeter.

Ex. with Max Sag = 0.2 mm Ex. with Max Sag = 0.1 mm
• MAX ANGLE: The maximum allowed angle between normals of two adjacent
polygons (on a same face). It allows to add more precision on short radius fillets.

Adjust the « Max angle » parameter to keep enough polygons in high curvature
areas whose radius is lower than the « Max sag » value: fillets and chamfers for
example.

Other parameter possible not used in PiXYZ PLUGIN

• MAX LENGTH: Used to control the length of a polygon (edge).

Ex. with Max Sag = 0.2 mm - Max Angle = 20

For a rendering usage, it is often not recommended to use the « max Length »
parameter. It increases the polygons count without significant improvement on the
visual aspect. But in case of very long objects (a plane body, a train cabin ), this In the above example, the « Max angle » parameter has improved fillets precision by
setting can avoid lighting artefacts caused by too long polygons. adding a row of elements without increasing polygons number of the yellow piece
contour.

Copyright © 2018 PiXYZ Software

 INFORMATION ABOUT TESSELLATION & DECIMATION

DECIMATION When optimizing a tessellated model, PiXYZ PLUGIN uses this algorithm to reduce the mesh polygon density by smartly deleting
vertices. It allows precise control, preserving from bad smoothing and topological irregularities.

The algorithm uses a combination of the 3 following parameters to obtain the

lighter model possible while keeping an acceptable quality:

• SURFACIC TOLERANCE: the maximum distance between vertices of the original

model and resulting simplified surfaces.

• LINEIC TOLERANCE: the maximum distance between lineic vertices of the

original model and resulting simplified lines.

• NORMAL TOLERANCE: the maximum angle between original normals and those
interpolated on the simplified surface. Original mesh model: 140 846 triangles

The Normal Tolerance setting preserves the quality of how the light reacts on a
surface/mesh. Combined with the Surface Tolerance setting, it will act as a quality
controller, keeping polygons where the surface curvature is important, preserving the
visual quality of the model.
The Lineic Tolerance is meant to preserve the boundaries of the original surface
(where the edges are .

Other parameter possible: Ex. Surfacic tolerance = 1 mm Lineic tolerance = 0,1mm Normal distortion tolerance = 5

• TEXTURE COORDINATES TOLERANCE: this setting is meant to preserve the UV The polygon count is reduced to 13126 with an almost imperceptible quality loss even on
(or Texture Coordinates) while decimating a mesh (0,01 is a good value). sharp edges. The quality is better than using only a Surfacic tolerance of 0.1mm with a
triangle count widely inferior (13 126 against 66 636)

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 GLOSSARY VOCABULARY AND DEFINITIONS

Assembly a scene node that contains components. It permits to hierarchize the product structure

Brep Boundary Representation. Method for representing shapes using the limits. Boundary representation models are composed of two parts: topology and
geometry (surfaces, curves and points). The main topological items are: faces, edges and vertices. A face is a bounded portion of a surface; an edge is a
bounded piece of a curve and a vertex lies at a point.

Component part or assembly

Chamfer a transitional edge between two faces of an object.

Decimation polygons diminution by removing vertices

Defeaturing Details removal (holes, )

Fillet a rounding of an interior or exterior corner of a part design.

Instance scene node used to instantiate a component.

Occurrence As parts and assemblies can be instantiated, an occurrence is the instantiated occurrence of a component. For example, if a wheel part is
instantiated 4 times, there will be 1 part but 4 occurrence of the wheel.

Non-manifold edges Edges of polysurfaces or meshes that have more than two faces joined

Patch CAD face or surface limited by spline curves

Part scene node representing a single object.

Sag The sag value defines the chordal deviation for curves and surfaces. The "curve chordal deviation" represents the maximum distance between a polyline
("chord") whose end points lie on a curve and a point on this curve.

Tesselation in surface modeling and solid modeling, the method used to represent 3D objects as a collection of triangles or other polygons. All surfaces, both
curved and straight, are turned into triangles either at the time they are first created or in real time when they are rendered. The more triangles used to
represent a surface, the more realistic the rendering, but the more computation is required.

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 SUPPORT
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P I X Y Z - S O F T WA R E . C O M
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