Exporting Solids TO SolidWorks

[gettinlate]

Hi group,

 

A question about importing files INTO SolidWorks from MasterCam.

 

We've been wrestling with this problem for some time now.

There are times when it's easier to create the model in MasterCam Solids than it is to create it in SolidWorks.

 

This happens many times for us, particularly in situations where we're doing complex rotary axis milling, as well as other times when we just need to show the engineers (by solid model example) what is possible to machine, vs. what they're asking us to machine.

 

I can create the solid model and convert it to an .x_t parasolid, which they can import into SolidWorks. However, it does not import the history (solids manager). Thus, the engineers can do little more with it than look at it.

 

I got kind of excited when I first saw a reference to MasterCam Direct for SolidWorks, but that's the reverse of what we're looking for here.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

 

Regards,

Phil

 

V9 sp2 (X is available, but we're not loving or using it)

[Guest]

Actually you can take a parasolid into Solidworks 2006 and it will create a history tree and parameterize the model.

 

I do this with models all the the time it's called

Feature recognition.

[Guest SAIPEM]

Unfortunately, FeatureWorks is still pretty poor at capturing design intent.

 

It's remarkably bad at turned parts with a thru ID and milled features.

 

While it's better than nothing, it's still pretty weak.

[gcode]

FeatureWorks

 

This is the SolidWorks tool you're looking for.

Its part of the SolidWorks Odffice suite.

It gets better every year, but it complex

parts usually come it as a featureless brick

[Guest]

quote:

---

Unfortunately, FeatureWorks is still pretty poor at capturing design intent. It's remarkably bad at turned parts with a thru ID and milled features.

While it's better than nothing, it's still pretty weak.

---

I think it depends HOW the model was created. Most of my round stuff, I use revolves on and it gets captured with out a problem.

 

I've only have one complex part that gave us trouble and it was only one feature on the model, we defined that one manually and the rest of the model came in fine.

[Guest]

I just brought this in using Feature Works, the tree is complete, there are only 4 errors, all on fillets. Clean them up and your on your way.

 

NX don't do this

 

[Guest SAIPEM]

I'm not saying that it doesn't work.

It simply doesn't work well.

It has a very difficult time with implied cylinders.

If you add hex flats to a diameter, it won't find the original cylinder extrusion.

 

Invariably, you are stuck with the way FeatureWorks processes the design sequence.

More often than not it start with a chunk resembling the finished part.

It will NEVER reduce the import to an initial base sketch.

 

You can try the interactive mode but I've found that to be all but worthless.

 

Here's a simple test.

 

Extrude a couple of diameters.

Put a few bores thru the centerline of the part. (1 Thru and 2 blind)

 

Drill and c-bore some hole on the OD.

 

Now add two opposing flats to the part.

 

Add some chamfers and fillets.

 

Save it as a parasolid file.

 

Import it and then try FeatureWorks.

 

The Feature Tree you get won't be very useful.

 

Again, it may be better than nothing but not by much.

[gettinlate]

Hey guys,

 

Thanks for the input.

We tried the Featureworks, but that wasn't able to process what we were doing.

In the end, at least for the job we're doing now, I was able to send the base geometry to the engineer, who then was able to import that into his sketch.

Once in the sketch, he was able to make the appropriate mods to the original solid.

 

Regards,

Phil