3D DXF files convert to 3D Solidworks files?

[monkeys]

hello all,

I am new to SolidWorks and have just started learning/training in this.

I have two 3D dxf files which I need to convert into 3D format in Solidworks - how do i go about this?

The two files are as follows:

http://www.btinternet.com/~smithgowanbank/838.dxf

http://www.btinternet.com/~smithgowanbank/5510.dxf

Any help will be much appricated.

Thanks,

Callum

 

[ctopher]

I tried with your 838.dxf part. I can not import it as 3D, only 2D. I can open it as 3D DXF in DwgEditor very nice. But DwgEditor can not export as 3D for SW to read. SW has option to open 3D DXF, but never had any luck doing it. Anyone else have ideas?

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP0.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

monkeys ... sorry I can't answer your question ... I tried to open both files in SW04, but found the same as ctopher ... just 2D.

I am intrigued though ... how did you get the dxf files to download from within the post?


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[ctopher]

I thought that too CBL, and I'm also intrigued.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP0.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

 

[monkeys]

Hi ctopher & CorBlimeyLimey,

thanks for trying to convert the dxf files.

with regards to the link...just make sure the file you want is online - find the url and post it in your reply making sure the "process TGML" box is selected.

hope this helps,

Can anyone convert these? As said previously i can open them up in AutoCad 2004 in 3D.

Callum

http://www.minis4monkeys.co.uk

 

[Theophilus]

I think you'll need to convert them to some other format. I've never been able to open 3D DXF. If you open them in ACAD 2004, perhaps you can save them in a different 3D format that SW can open.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

DXF 3D Files
The DXF 3D translator extracts ACIS information from a DXF file, if that information exists in the file, and imports it into a SolidWorks part document. If a DXF file contains multiple bodies or an assembly, SolidWorks creates an assembly document.

Note the following translator limitations:

It is not a 2D to 3D converter.

It does not import 2D or wireframe data from DXF files.

Version Information
The DXF 3D translator supports DXF 3D files including, but not limited to, versions AutoCADâ R14 and above.

Do you know if the files you posted had the ACIS information embedded?


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[monkeys]

no idea if the files habe imbedded info - sorry.

I got an email from a "Lou Timperio - wolf-tec.com" saying he manged to convert these files - but he/she never replied back with the solid works files unfortunetly....

Callum

 

[Pachem]

Monkeys, you can save your .dxf file as .igs and than open it in Solid Works. It works nice!..

 

[monkeys]

Pachem (Mechanical),

any chance you could send me the files in SW format?

thanks,

Callum

 

[Pachem]

Monkey, the only problem is file size... anyway give me your e-mail...

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Pachem ... what did you open the dxf files with in order to be able to save them as igs?


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[Pachem]

CorBlimeyLimey, for example AutoCAD Mechanical Power Pack has such possibilities...

 

[monkeys]

Pachem (Mechanical),

my email address is in my website below. ( it is forum rules not to post email addresses up - as this atracts spammers.)

thanks- much appricated,

Callum

http://www.minis4monkeys.co.uk

 

[rfus]

Your files are triangulated models. Solidworks is a NURBS and Parametric modeler. You can convert this file to an .stl, .vrml, .obj, etc....(Okino or Accutrans) BUT

Solidworks turns each of these triangles into nurbs patch or curve network. The IGES will make each triangle a bilinear nurbs patch. This is extremely heavy on the package and you will not be able to open over 100,000 of these triangles and there is really nothing you can do with them in SW. Knitting all these into a solid does not give you a smooth surface

If you look into 3d reverse engineering packages you can surface this triangulated data. Expensive Stuff. Rapid Form, Raindrop Geomagic, Innovmetric, Copy Cad.(not a plug).

Take the time to recreate this in SW. You'll thank yourself. Take the components in one at a time as stl. Accutrans ($20) will do this. Then use these triangulated models to dictate you sketches to make a NURBS model. OR, Convert compontent in this DXF to points.Import points from each component. There is a plugin. Floating Point Solutions will do this with their points import. Use these points to control 2 and 3d sketches. Surface the sketches and knit them together to make a solid.

SOLIDWORKS IS NOT FOR POLYGONAL MODELS!

 

[cadcoke5]

I've also been searching for a way to get 3D mesh objects into Solidworks. I did the IGES out from AutoCAD, but when it was imported it was very random about what surfaces were joined together.

I am puzzled why this is such a problem. There is a vast library of mesh parts on the Internet, which can be very useful. Just importing as some sort of reference geometry would be very helpful. I am talking about things like people, chairs, and light fixtures.

Joe Dunfee

 

[luke1201]

I made a post last night here:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=121877&page=1

Which is kind of related to this.

How do I get an .igs file from this wireframe? Is that a format that autocad can save to instead of a .dxf/dwg?

It sounds like if I can get an .igs file, I could open it in SW and be able to manipulate it as if I had created it in SW? Or are there still limitations to this method?


Sorry I'm a newb.

 

[MMike1]

Wow...out of curiosity, I just did the 838 file. the DXF is 5M...I did the igs conversion as suggested above. The SWx part file ended up being over 50 meg... eeep.