Import from TopSolid 7 via Ardis Optimizer XML - Furniture CAD/CAM Projects

#148

Import from TopSolid (the Wood module) into iFurn.pro runs through the specialized ArdisOptimizerProject XML format. TopSolid is an industrial CAD/CAM for furniture manufacturing; the export under Cut Export -> Export to Ardis produces a structured XML file with every part, operation and material in the project.

The import is built on the universal iFurn.pro engine (importer v1.0.0) with an interactive material matching dialog - materials from the TopSolid project are linked to those in your iFurn.pro database before the order is created.

What carries over

  • All parts with dimensions (cut size and overall size)
  • Sheets and the assignment of parts to sheets
  • Edge banding (bands) per side with thickness
  • Drillings (Drill) - coordinates, diameters, depths
  • Routing: arcs (Arc), circles (Circle), lines (Line), rectangular pockets (Rectangle), grooves (BaseTroughOperation), face routing (BaseMillOperation)
  • Tools - definitions of drill bits (ToolDrill) and routers (ToolMill) used
  • Cross-links between parts and operations
  • Materials - mapped through the replacement dialog

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1. Export from TopSolid

  1. Open the project in TopSolid 7 Wood.
  2. Go to Wood -> Cut Export -> Export to Ardis.
  3. Pick the parts you need. Important: panel cores must be selected at the edge-band level, otherwise the material will not be exported.
  4. Save the project as XML.

Step 2. Prepare the order in iFurn.pro

  1. Open iFurn.pro and create a new project (an empty order).
  2. Add to the project every material and edge band you plan to use. This is critical - otherwise there will be nothing to pick from in the matching step.

Step 3. Upload the XML

  1. Open "Add" -> "Project import".
  2. Pick the saved TopSolid XML file.
  3. Wait for format detection - the system spots <ArdisOptimizerProject> and dispatches the matching parser.

Step 4. Material matching

An interactive dialog opens with two columns:

  • Left - materials from the imported project (as named in TopSolid)
  • Right - a dropdown with materials from your iFurn.pro database

For each project material pick the matching item from your database. If a material is not yet in iFurn.pro, you can have a new one created on the fly - pick "Create new" in the dropdown and the material is added to the catalog with sensible defaults (type EVA for an edge band, mat_calc_type=1 for a panel).

Step 5. Finish

  1. Click "Submit".
  2. The import is complete - all parts with their operations appear in the order.
  3. Review the parts and send the order into production.

Finer points

Importer version - 1.0.0
Supports the current version of the ArdisOptimizerProject format. If TopSolid updates and changes the format, watch for an importer update in iFurn.pro.
Material modifiers
The importer includes an automatic client-side material adjustment (ClientMaterialModificator). This keeps local settings intact.
Drilling corrector
The RecalcDrillModificator module recomputes drilling coordinates into the iFurn.pro coordinate system - this happens automatically and needs no user input.
Two arcs to a circle
The TwoArcsToCircleModificator merges adjacent arcs into a circle automatically - this simplifies downstream CNC processing.

Common issues

"Material was not exported"
In TopSolid you must explicitly pick the panel core at the edge-band level, otherwise the material is skipped during export.
The matching dialog shows an empty list on the right
The iFurn.pro order has no materials yet. Close the import dialog, add materials and edge bands to the project, retry the import.
"File not recognized"
Make sure the XML root contains <ArdisOptimizerProject>. If TopSolid saved a different format the import will not pick it up.
Large projects take a long time
The limit is 10 MB per file. If the project is larger, split it into separate products and import them one by one.

See also