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IGES (.iges, .igs)

Background & Context

    • MIME type: model/iges
    • IGES is an acronym for Initial Graphics Exchange Specification.
    • 3D geometry format.
    • Commonly used for representing 3D models for computer-aided design.
    • Binary format.
    • Stores a 3D object, including a solid, as a surface formed by a collection of adjacent triangles.

Import & Export

  • Import["file.igs"] imports an IGES file as a graphics object representing the surface.
  • Import["file.igs",elem] imports the specified element from an IGES file.
  • The import format can be specified with Import["file","IGES"] or Import["file",{"IGES",elem,…}].
  • Export["file.igs",expr] exports a 3D graphics object to a IGES file. The expr can be any region that is ConstantRegionQ or a Graphics or Graphics3D object.
  • The export format can be specified with Export["file",expr,"IGES"] or Export["file",expr,{"IGES",opt1->val1,…}].
  • See the following reference pages for full general information:
  • Import, Exportimport from or export to a file
    CloudImport, CloudExportimport from or export to a cloud object
    ImportString, ExportStringimport from or export to a string
    ImportByteArray, ExportByteArrayimport from or export to a byte array

Import Elements

  • General Import elements:
  • "Elements" list of elements and options available in this file
    "Summary"summary of the file
    "Rules"list of rules for all available elements
  • Graphics representation elements:
  • "Graphics3D"IGES file represented as a Graphics3D object
    "GraphicsComplex"IGES file as a GraphicsComplex object
    "PolygonObjects"list of polygon primitives given in absolute coordinates
  • Import and Export use the "Graphics3D" element by default for IGES files.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (2)

Import a 3D model from IGES as a Graphics3D object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/vase.igs"]

Summary properties of the model:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/vase.igs", "Summary"]

Export a 3D model to an IGES file:

Wolfram Language code: Export["model.igs", [image]]

Print the raw textual contents of the file:

Wolfram Language code: StringTake[ReadString[%], 1000]

Scope  (5)

Import  (3)

Import works on IGES files:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs"]

Stream:

Wolfram Language code: str = OpenRead["ExampleData/cube.igs"]
Wolfram Language code: Import[str]
Wolfram Language code: Close[str]

Import provides access to elements in the IGES file:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "Elements"]

Export  (2)

Special regions:

Wolfram Language code: Export["sphere.igs", Ball[]]

Boundary mesh regions:

Wolfram Language code: Export["plane.igs", BoundaryMeshRegion[[image]]]

Import Elements  (7)

"Graphics3D"  (1)

Give the Graphics3D object:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "Graphics3D"]

"MeshRegion"  (1)

Give the mesh region:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "MeshRegion"]

"SplineRegion"  (1)

Give the spline region:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "SplineRegion"]

"PolygonData"  (1)

Give the polygon elements in indexed form:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "PolygonData"]//Short

"PolygonObjects"  (1)

Give the list of Polygon primitives in absolute coordinates:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "PolygonObjects"]

"Summary"  (1)

Give the summary of properties:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "Summary"]

"VertexData"  (1)

Give the vertex coordinates:

Wolfram Language code: Import["ExampleData/cube.igs", "VertexData"]//Short