The goal of TransMagic is to be a simple, easy to use and a deceptively powerful application for the translation, visualization & measurement of geometric formats. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Resource Management
- Geometric translation is an extremely intensive process mathematically speaking. Because of this TransMagic can consume a large amount of resources during the translation of very large and complex files.
- RAM: TransMagic does not have very heavy processor requirements; however, if you are dealing with very large files, then you will need a fair amount of RAM. The rule of thumb is 10x the file size. In the case of your *.CATProduct assembly for example, this means the size of the *.CATProduct files plus all of the subordinate *.CATPart files. So if this total is 200 MB, you will want to have 2 GB of free RAM. TransMagic can take advantage of multiple cores for faster assembly processing, so if you are working with large assemblies, make sure Enable Multi-Core Processing is enabled (it is enabled by default).
Repair and Translation
- TransMagic includes some very powerful Repair Operations - that when used properly will help to increase your translation success. In most cases running the Auto Repair Wizard will resolve the majority of all geometric issues fully automatically.
- When translating files consider the application you're getting the file from and the application you're translating the file to. When-ever possible use the native file format from the application you're getting from your customer or vendor. If they use Pro/E, UG/NX, CATIA V4, CATIA V5, SolidWorks or Inventor then ask for their native file. Likewise if they use SolidEdge, MasterCAM, Visi, or any other Parasolid based application, then ask them for a Parasolid (*.x_t) file. If they use AutoCAD, Mechanical Desktop, CADKEY, IronCAD or any other ACIS based application, then ask them for a ACIS (*.sat) file.
- Use STEP only if no other solid format is available. Use IGES as your last resort. If you must use IGES, see if your customer/vendor has the option to write out an IGES file as an MSBO (Manifold Solid Boundary Object). This option is not often available in most IGES writers but if it is, it's at least a solid IGES format. The best IGES reader in the world can't help if the IGES writer created a terrible IGES file. Unfortunately, this is very often the case.
- Finally, consider the application you're translating a file to and use the same methodology of native file formats where possible and then STEP and lastly, IGES.
- This "Native Format Philosophy" will always yield better results than just trying an IGES file to see how it works. Save yourself some time and pain and try to get the native format.
- The TransMagic interface has many options that will turn themselves "off" and "on" based on your selection. This reactive style interface helps to guide you in learning which functions work for which selection types. If a function is not highlighted try selecting an entity. If it's still not highlighted then it requires a different selection type like Face, Edge or Vertex.
- You can export individually selected entities or sub-assemblies using the Export function. This is useful for example when you want to extract a single part or sub-assembly out from a larger assembly. Whereas Save As... saves everything in the active document to a file, Export... saves only what you have selected.
TransMagic Interface
- When you're looking at file in TransMagic, you're looking at a "TMR" file. If you ever want to save your current progress or even free up some memory by shutting down and re-starting TransMagic, you can always save to a TransMagic *.tmr file. The TransMagic TMR format stores all features that TransMagic currently supports and even undo/redo information. Also, the TMR formats, regardless of the size typically restores in seconds vs. minutes like a typical translation.
- If you ever need to terminate a translation that TransMagic is working on, simply click on the "Cancel" button in the progress bar.
Stay Connected
- If you run into a problem file please submit it to us for review. Email support@transmagic.com; If you need to attach a file, go to http://support.transmagic.com, then click on Submit a Support Ticket. This form allows you to securely upload up data to us along with a description of the issue.
- TransMagic welcomes your Tips and Tricks. If you have a useful Tip or Trick, please send it to support@transmagic.com and we may add it to this list.