Can we have a different geometry format than the Mesh?

Community USD
1

Hi there,
For USD to be a useful format to exchange between 3D CAD and associated applications, the reasonable expectation is for USD to support geometry in formats like IGES, STEP, X_T, etc., other than the default Mesh form that the USD currently supports. Is there a way to extend the schema to override the “Prim” geometry format and instead have one of the CAD file formats mentioned above?

Thanks.

2

Yes. The concept you are looking for is a File Format plugin. The usd source code ships with examples for translating Alembic and Obj files. You’ll create a subclass of the SdfFileFormat class and implement the functions it needs. You can support reading only, or both reading and writing.

https://openusd.org/release/api/class_sdf_file_format.html

3

Hi Peter,
Thanks for the response. Very helpful to know that there exists a way to export/import CAD file formats other than the default Mesh. Can you please point me to a link that has got the examples you have mentioned?

Thanks again.

4

@Vadi Here are the obj plugin and alembic plugin that Peter mentioned.

5

Hi Matias,
Thanks for the examples. It is very helpful.