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SAT Import for AutoCAD - SAT file import plug-in for AutoCAD

SAT Import for AutoCAD
is an ACIS SAT and SAB file import plug-in for AutoCAD. This plug-in gives AutoCAD the ability to import 3D solid models from ACIS SAT and SAB files.

AutoCAD already has a command called ACISIN which imports ACIS SAT files. However this command is limited to importing SAT files (not SAB) and that too up till ACIS version 7.0 only. Spatial has released ACIS version 20 and most CAD systems save 2D and 3D data to SAT and SAB files much later than version 7.0. AutoCAD's ACISIN command cannot read these files. This can post a huge problem when it comes to effectively exchanging data between AutoCAD and other CAD systems. SAT Import for AutoCAD solves this problem by giving AutoCAD the ability to read ACIS SAT and SAB files up till the latest version of ACIS as developed by Spatial. SAT Import for AutoCAD is powered by the widely used 3D InterOp technology from Spatial. 3D InterOp is the industry standard for proprietary CAD file format data exchange and is used in almost all the major CAD systems. Besides data exchange 3D InterOp also offers powerful repairing and healing features which are extensively used in SAT Import for AutoCAD. Repairing involves checking the file for corrupted data and fixing the invalid data. Healing corrects the differences in precision. SAT Import for AutoCAD also creates a detailed log file which is extremely useful in identifying data translation problems and aids in locating and fixing errors.

SAT Import for AutoCAD is designed to work with the following versions of AutoCAD:

  • AutoCAD 2010 (32 & 64 Bit)

  • AutoCAD 2009 (32 & 64 Bit)

  • AutoCAD 2008 (32 & 64 Bit)

  • AutoCAD 2007

  • AutoCAD 2006

  • AutoCAD 2005

  • AutoCAD 2004

  • AutoCAD 2002

  • AutoCAD 2000i

  • AutoCAD 2000


SAT Import for AutoCAD is very easy to use. Once installed, it must be loaded into the AutoCAD environment. There are simple instructions for this in the ReadMe file. Once loaded it adds new commands to AutoCAD's existing commands and a new submenu called "SATImport" to the AutoCAD menu containing these newly added commands.

SAT Import for AutoCAD
comes with detailed documentation as well as a tutorial to get you started in the shortest possible time.

If you need any additional information please contact SYCODE.


The ACIS File Formats  

The 3D ACIS Modeler (ACIS) is a 3D modelling kernel (or engine) owned by Spatial Corporation. ACIS features an open, object-oriented C++ architecture that enables robust, 3D modelling capabilities. ACIS is used to construct applications with hybrid modeling features, since it integrates wireframe model, surface, and solid modeling functionality with both manifold and non-manifold topology, and a rich set of geometric operations.  

ACIS supports two kinds of save files, Standard ACIS Text (SAT), and Standard ACIS Binary (SAB). The two formats store identical information, so the term SAT file is generally used to refer to either (when no distinction is needed). SAT files are ASCII text files that may be viewed with a simple text editor. A SAT file contains carriage returns, white space and other formatting that makes it readable to the human eye. A SAT file has a .sat file extension. SAB files cannot be viewed with a simple text editor and are meant for  compactness and not for human readability. A SAB file has a .sab file extension. A SAB file uses delimiters between elements and binary tags, without additional formatting.

 


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