3D Sketch Import Problems: SolidWorks to Abaqus/CAE 2

[MrRum]

Hi

I've been using Abaqus for a while now, but have never had cause to import geometry from another program. I have a 3D sketch of an automotive spaceframe chassis within solid works, and I wish to import it into Abaqus in order to analyse it using beam elements.

I have tried to import it as a .sat file as recommended here and in the simulia documentation, but however I change the options in SW and abaqus, it just gives an error message "Cannot read file" etc. I made sure it was exporting as 3D curves and included sketch elements.

Is it the case that .sat files just can't accept 3D sketches?

So I decided to try exporting as a STEP file. Abaqus pulled the geometry in as 3D wires which was great, but the entire chassis apeared to have exploded as the various elements were scattered all over the workspace I have fiddled around with all the various import/export options but just get the same result.

Can anyone suggest why this is happening before I loose the rest of my hair

Thanks

 

[rstupplebeen]

I could not get 3D sketches to import into Abaqus with SAT. When using STEP it worked just fine in the correct locations. Did you put all of the sketch features into an assembly to view them? I used STEP AP203 and outputted as 3D curves with export sketch entities. I am using SW2009SP4.1 and CAE6.9EF1. I hope this helps.

Rob Stupplebeen

 

[MrRum]

Thanks for the response rstupplebeen, it's good to know I'm on the right track with the STEP format.

Each line from the SW model has come in as a separate part within CAE, so I have pulled them into an assembly to view them together, but they are spaced apart and do not join together at all. Is this what you were getting at or should I be exporting as assembly in SW?

I'm on SW2009SP3 & CAE6.7-2

 

[MrRum]

Yeah

Just got home after hours of bashing my head on the monitor and thought I'd try pulling it in on my student edition.

It worked, and very well at that. Isn't it always the way

STEP is definitely the way to go though if anyone's trying to achieve the same results. Came in beautifully.

 

[rstupplebeen]

I believe in the import option there is an option to import as 1 part.

Rob Stupplebeen

 

[MrRum]

That would make things substantially easier Rob, but I don't seem to be given that option when I import.

There is a part filter which allows specific features from the original model to be pulled in, but nothing that specifies that they should come in as one part.

Are you pulling them in using: File > Import > Part?. As there is an assembly option blanked out in my student edition which I believe was available in the full package.

 

[rstupplebeen]

File>Import>Part>Wire>Import all parts>Combine into single part

If that option is not available in your version you can combine them after it is an assembly into 1 part with this sequence:
Add instances>Instance>Merge/Cut Instance> Merge>Geometry

I hope this helps.

Rob Stupplebeen

 

[MrRum]

Rob you're an actual genius, didn't have the option in import but the merge instances function worked perfectly.

Thanks again