Compatability with DraftSight

[andy6FLUP]

I am running into some issues with compatibility between Inventor and DraftSight. Some of our suppliers require DraftSight to manufacture our parts, so it is quite important that this issue is solved.

This is a simple washer. Saving this as a .DWG file allows me to access this drawing fine with both Inventor and Autocad. The problem is when this is opened in DraftSight, the screen is totally blank as shown below.

I have checked the application settings, and the Inventor DWG file version is set to AutoCAD 2010

If I choose "export to DWG", then I am able to view this part in model space within DraftSight, but that is an unacceptable compromise for what I need to do.

Does anybody have a solution to this problem?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@andy6FLUP 

Is your actual Inventor drawing started with using the Inventor .dwg template or do you mean its an Inventor .IDW saved to an AutoCAD .DWG?

Update: 

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@andy6FLUP wrote:

I have checked the application settings, and the Inventor DWG file version is set to AutoCAD 2010

This option only creates a 2010 version when an IDW file is saved as an Inventor DWG file.  If you are not doing that then the template (version) controls what DWG version is created.

[andy6FLUP]

We ordinarily save our drawings as an "inventor drawing" type as shown below.

I am not so familiar with the specifics of the different file types. Is there any usability difference in Inventor DWG's and AutoCAD DWG's?

Something which does concern me, is that in the file properties dialog in Windows explorer, the DWG version is blank. Is that normal?

[andy6FLUP]

@Mark.Lancaster 

Just to clarify,  AutoCAD is not normally used at any point during this process. We save directly as an Inventor .DWG file type

[Mark.Lancaster]

@andy6FLUP 

I don't know anything about DraftSight or what it needs but an Inventor .DWG is not a true AutoCAD .DWG.   Meaning when you open an INventor .DWG file in AutoCAD, there's no true AutoCAD geometry there.   Its almost like a snap shot of the drawing you're viewing.  So perhaps Draftsight doesn't know what to do with that type of geometry.  In the end I think you will have to export to AutoCAD (or Save AS Copy to AutoCAD DWG) and select the appropriate Export Designation options.

[andy6FLUP]

@Mark.Lancaster 

That all makes sense. It was the conclusion I was comingt, but was(and still am) hopeful that there is a better solution

One thing I have noticed is that the "blocks" of the the different drawing views are available to manipulate when opening in DraftSight, so we may have to attempt some workaround using that.

[Frederick_Law]

I'll say the Inventor DWG is a confusion.

Inventor drawing should stay at IDW to avoid confusion.

Just my opinion.

Inventor DWG will not work with other DWG editor/viewer.

You need to export it to AutoCAD DWG.

When exporting you'll need to make sure scale is 'correct'.

BTW DraftSight will not be free anymore.

[andy6FLUP]

@Frederick_Law 

I am a little bit worried about trying to maintain multiple copies of the same drawings. One associated with our models (idw/Inventor DWG) and one for our laser cutting supplier to use(AutoCAD DWG).

For now I am looking into using a workaround which utilises "block" insertion from the inventor drawing to DraftSight.  That does only return a raw, unannotated view though

Hopefully our supplier will switch away from DraftSight soon.

[Frederick_Law]

I've always export a pdf with details and a DWG/DXF for cut.

They don't need titleblock and tolerance in DWG.

Overall dimension in the DWG so supplier can check scale if anything went wrong.

[andy6FLUP]

@Frederick_Law 

So  do you maintain three separate files?

1. PDF for details

2. DWG/DXF for manufacturing

3. IDW for linking to model

[Frederick_Law]

Yes.

If model/IDW is updated, new PDF and DWG is created since they don't update automatically.

Usually we don't allow supplier/programmer to reuse DWG.

We always send files with the job.

PDF and DWG are considered "uncontroled".

Use once and destroy.

[andy6FLUP]

@Frederick_Law 

Interesting. That is certainly something I will consider bringing up in our next design meeting, as we have had some problems with suppliers using old drawings.

[Frederick_Law]

That happen a lot, with supplier and customer.

Same part number with no rev or 'forgot' to add rev.

Whatever the reasons are, we ask for new drawing never reuse old drawing.

Its not fun to drill holes on thousands of parts.

"We" as in all different companies I worked in.

[swalton]

We send outside vendors the following files for each individual component.

PartNumber_REVNUMBER.pdf

PartNumber_REVNUMBER.dxf

PartNumber_REVNUMBER.stp

The outside vendors do not get native CAD files.  The manufacturing files are not created until the design is approved for production.  In fact, if manufacturing files don't exist, then we assume that the design is not ready for production.

Once the manufacturing files are created, then any change to the design requires a revision, the full approval process, and exporting new manufacturing files.

When we order components from the vendor, the contract documents (PO, email, etc) include all component part numbers and revision numbers, plus a copy of all the current manufacturing files. We have built some custom automation software to both produce the export files and gather them as part of a RFQ package to send to the vendors.

Re-work because of miscommunication is painful for both sides, and we are the only ones who know what the current design requires.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Inventor dwg is meant to be used within AutoCAD. I guess DraftSight is not capable of reading Inventor dwg, although the file is a legitimate dwg file.

Many thanks!

[andy6FLUP]

Thanks everybody for your input. Looks like we will have to find some way to cobble through it

[Wynand_Louw_Aranzu]

If you work with Autodesk programs, try to keep to Autodesk software. DraftSight may be as they state a DWG CAD program, but only natively generated DWG's. It does not operate/work/understand the DWG's generated in Autodesk programs. I tried too; the amount of time lost due to rework needed is not worth it.

[James_Willo]

I think the only way to do this is to right click a view in Inventor and choose 'insert in model space' however you can only do this for a single view, so it is not particularly useful for your draftsight friends.