ACIS-Python3 is a Python 3 module which provides a direct interface to Spatial Corporation's 3D ACIS Modeler solid modeling kernel.
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This package wraps Spatial Corporation's 3D ACIS Modeler into a Python (v3.5.x and v3.6.x) module with minor changes due to how Python's C interface works. 3D ACIS Modeler or ACIS, in short, is a solid and geometric modeling kernel. Solid modeling kernels are sometimes called as "CAD Engines" too. These systems work behind the scenes and responsible for generation of solid models or surfaces, evaluation of geometric operations on solid models or surfaces, and so.
3D ACIS Modeler provides a C++ API and its Scheme extension with variety of additional features. Even though it is used in a variety of commercial and research applications, it doesn't provide a Python interface which would be very useful for integration purposes. This module tries to fulfill the gap up to some point.
If you are
- not aware of what solid modeling or a CAD kernel is
- looking for the source code of a proprietary software
- seeking for help on CAD programming
you might be checking the wrong place. This repository only contains the source code for the 3D ACIS Modeler Python wrapper.
This package depends on 3D ACIS Modeler headers and libraries. In order to obtain these, you might need to contact Spatial Corporation for developer or university licenses.
After obtaining 3D ACIS Modeler, please follow the steps below:
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/orbingol/ACIS-Python3.git - Update the submodules:
git submodule update --init --recursive - Install Python 3 and its development package, if necessary
- Install CMake
- Using CMake GUI, choose the root of your cloned repository as the source directory
- Choose a build directory, preferable different from the source directory. You can use
<project_root>/buildfor this purpose. - Press configure button and choose your builder type, e.g. Visual Studio 2015 or Unix Makefiles.
- Set
ACIS_ROOTto your ACIS installation directory; e.g. C:\Program Files\Spatial\acisR26. CMake will automatically find and fill the necessary variables. - Don't forget to set Python library paths in CMake GUI.
- Use
APP_INSTALL_DIRto set the install path for the module - At the final step, press generate button and you are all set!
If you prefer, you can use CMake's command line tool to set up variables and generate build files.
Most of the time a simple make install will take care of all necessary operations. Please note that, you have to run it in your build directory, not in your source directory.
The following CMake targets are also provided for convenience:
make uninstall: Deletes installed filesmake install_module: Generates a .pth file inside the site-packages directory. May require root/admin priviliges.make uninstall_module: Deletes the .pth file inside the site-packages directory. May require root/admin privileges.
Please try using make uninstall and make clean, if you encounter any problems during compile or running stages.
By default, the module name is set to ACIS. The CMake variable APP_MODULE_NAME allows users to change the module name. Please don't forget to modify the import line in your Python code after changing the module name via CMake.
For Visual Studio 2015 users, you will see a lot of projects in your solution. If you only want to compile and run the package, right click on INSTALL and choose Rebuild.
Please check examples/ directory for example scripts and the instructions on how to use these scripts.
Please see the Function Reference to check which functions were implemented in this module.
Please see IMPLEMENTATION for a discussion on the implementation details and assumptions.
- Onur Rauf Bingol (contact@onurbingol.net)
The Python module is released under MIT License. ACIS and SAT are registered trademarks of Spatial Corporation, a subsidiary of Dassault Systemes.