topic Re: Solidworks Import Question in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 23:18:05 GMT

I received a Solidworks file (2016) from my niece (engineering undergrad) and decided to try bring it into Fusion (which I will admit I'm new at and a rank amateur to boot). I was able to import it through the upload feature in the Data Panel. What surprised me was that it came in under Sculpt. I switched to Model and after playing around with this and that was able gain some ability to play around with the file but clearly I did not have anywhere near the ability to manipulate the design that would have allowed me to make any real changes to it. I could for example move a few of the bodies around but not all of them. Couldn't tell if this is my inexperience or if that is the nature of a SolidWorks import.

So my basic question is: is it normal for a SW part to import in as a Sculpt and/or is there something I should have done differently either before or after the import before starting to mess with the file?

TIA!

Dell

p.s. I did manage to crash Fusion, thank goodness I saved my work before doing the import 🙂

Re: Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 00:41:49 GMT

If you're expecting to be able to import a Solidworks model, and have all of its features selectable and editable as they are in Solidworks, prepare for disappointment. You are importing a solid body. That's it. The result is little different from importing a .STL file into Solidworks. If you want to end up with a fully-implemented, fully-editable Fusion model, you have a lot of work to do AFTER importing. Welcome to the world of CAD. I have a design with about 200 parts I am "porting" from Solidworks to Fusion...

Regards,

Ray L.

Re: Solidworks Import Question

JDMather — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 10:29:34 GMT

Can you attach your original SolidWorks file(s) here?

Re: Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 13:02:18 GMT

Here is the one I was playing with when I managed to crash Fusion. I'm on a MAC laptop, the SoldiWorks version is 2016. I have a few other files, but they all import the same.

Re: Solidworks Import Question

JDMather — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 14:31:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

1. I did not have anywhere near the ability to manipulate the design that would have allowed me to make any real changes to it.

2. I could for example move a few of the bodies around but not all of them. ..

3. So my basic question is: is it normal for a SW part to import in as a Sculpt .....

1. Are you familiar with using the Direct Editing tools in Fusion? (see the AU links pinned at top)

2. I only saw one body in the file that you attached.

3. The part that you attached did not open in Sculpt for me?

I opened the *.sldprt file in SWx. As a long time SWx instructor - it would not have occurred to me model the geometry in the way that it was modeled.

In fact, the geometry could not be manufactured. Several errors.

Do you have any information on the design intent for this part?

Re: Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 15:37:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Here is the one I was playing with when I managed to crash Fusion. I'm on a MAC laptop, the SoldiWorks version is 2016. I have a few other files, but they all import the same.

That model imports fine for me. I can increase/decrease the hole diameters. change the outside diameter and length, change the chamfer dimensions, etc. What is it you CAN'T do?

Regards,

Ray L.

Re: Solidworks Import Question

HughesTooling — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 15:44:43 GMT

There is a setting in preferences for your default workspace, any chance you changed it to sculpt. Don't know if it affects imported files though.

Mark

Re: Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 22:27:25 GMT

Ah, this seems to be the issue. I don't think I changed the default workspace to Sculpt (could have, but maybe it installed that way?). changing the default space to Model did the trick. I also rebooted my system, MACs are pretty stable but a program crash can mess things up. Net result is the part now opens in Model as I had initially expected and I do seem to be able to change features.

Thanks to everyone for responding!

dell

Re: Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 22:31:30 GMT

The file I sent was the handle to a screw vice. I only sent the one part since all the pieces acted the same way. It was a student project that would never be manufactured, although I have been thinking about running a piece or two through my Form2.

thank you for responding, as you can see in my last post, looks like the problem I was asking about (opening in Sculpt) has been corrected - a preference default workspace setting

best/

dell

Re: Solidworks Import Question

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 22:44:56 GMT

I looked into the direct editing tools, another good tip. One thing I noticed for example was no timeline as I made changes but one thing I saw in a short Direct Editing video was that the timeline (in some/all cases?) is turned off with an imported geometry. Once I turned it on, another issue solved 🙂

Again, thanks to everyone, your responses have been very helpful

dell