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Open a Solidworks file as a sheet metal part in Inventor 2011

14 REPLIES 14
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Message 1 of 15
onebigfellah
1830 Views, 14 Replies

Open a Solidworks file as a sheet metal part in Inventor 2011

Hi all,

 

I have a Solidworks file that is a sheet metal part in Solidworks...

 

I need to know how to open this file in Inventor so that I can access the features (eg. Flange, Hole, etc.) in Inventor.

 

We are recieving the Solidworks file from a design firm and once our work with them is done, we need to be able to edit the file ourselves.

 

I am open to all suggestions.

14 REPLIES 14
Message 2 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: onebigfellah

File>Open files of type *.sldprt
Set the sheet metal style to correct thickness.
Edit the features that are incorrect and therefore need editing.


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Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


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Message 3 of 15
BMiller63
in reply to: onebigfellah

you might be able to use this to get some of the features in:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/feature_recognition/overview/

 

Message 4 of 15
onebigfellah
in reply to: JDMather

@  JDMather

 

The problem is that when I open the Solidworks file there are no features to edit...even after setting the thickness.

Message 5 of 15
onebigfellah
in reply to: BMiller63

@ B Miller63

 

That is a nice addon, but it only works for solid models that are not sheet metal parts.

Message 6 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: onebigfellah


@onebigfellah wrote:

@  JDMather

 

The problem is that when I open the Solidworks file there are no features to edit...even after setting the thickness.


I can edit parts with no feature tree (of course there are still features - even without a history tree) without significant issue.  What problem are you experiencing in editng parts?

 

Even SolidWorks does not preserve a history tree going backwards - but is it still possible to edit the part without a history tree in SWx as well.


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Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


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Message 7 of 15
onebigfellah
in reply to: JDMather

How do you change the bend radius on a flange in Inventor when the file doesn't have any features to edit?

Message 8 of 15
swalton
in reply to: onebigfellah

Three choices:

 

1. brute force.

 

make a cut to remove the existing bend from the solid body.  extend the cut to match the ends of the new radius.  Make an extrusion with the new radius to suit.

 

2. Inventor Fusion may help.  See Autodesk Labs

 

3 Buy Solidworks

 

Next time make sure that your subcontractors use the same CAD package as you. 

Steve Walton
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Message 9 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: onebigfellah


@onebigfellah wrote:

How do you change the bend radius on a flange in Inventor when the file doesn't have any features to edit?


...or #4 The Easy Way

 

Delete Face with Heal

Bend

 


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Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


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Message 10 of 15
onebigfellah
in reply to: onebigfellah

I am currently downloading Fusion and I will be giving that a try shortly.

 

I'll let you guys know what comes of it.

 

Otherwise, I will be entertaining some of the other ideas you gents posted.

Message 11 of 15
onebigfellah
in reply to: onebigfellah

Okay, Fusion is uninstalled.

 

It did not appear to have what I am looking for.

 

What if the Design firm where to export their Solidworks files as something else (.stp or other)?  Would there be a file format that they could export to that would allow me to then open the file with features?

Message 12 of 15
JDMather
in reply to: onebigfellah

Not sure how someone can do an evaluation of Fusion that quickly?

 

The only way you are going to have a feature tree is through native files (SolidWorks does not even support backward migration within SolidWorks, let alone going to another program) or by using Feature Recognition.

 

Of course, feature history is not needed to edit solids (in virtually and CAD program that I am aware of).

 

Is everthing wrong with these files you are getting?  Maybe the solution is to communicate with the source and get correct geometry in the first place.

 


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autodesk Inventor 2019 Certified Professional
Autodesk AutoCAD 2013 Certified Professional
Certified SolidWorks Professional


The CADWhisperer YouTube Channel


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Message 13 of 15
onebigfellah
in reply to: JDMather

The files aren't terribly incorrect...I just prefer working with features = more efficient.

 

I guess I'll have to brute force my way through it.

Message 14 of 15
dstreeter
in reply to: JDMather

You can but you will not be able to edit like a sheet metal part. All history is lost and you have a dumb model. Faster to redraw from scratch if you want to use the sheet metal functions.

 

Message 15 of 15
johnsonshiue
in reply to: onebigfellah

Hi! Another solution is to use a 3rd-party tool to convert SWX files to Inventor files with sketches, dimensions, and closest features. Also, drawings can be translated. Please take a look at GotoInventor by ITI.

 

https://www.iti-global.com/gotoinventor

 

Many thanks!



Johnson Shiue (johnson.shiue@autodesk.com)
Software Test Engineer

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