Best way to Pro/E to Solidworks

[heypoopy]

I am able to model and assemble just fine in Pro/E. However I HATE drawing with Pro/E. Is there a way to model in Pro/E and then bring the model to SolidWorks and draw it up? This would save me so much more time if it is possible. I have brought a SW model into Pro/E so I assume something like this is possible.

 

[TED7]

I would imagine its possible to import the model and let Solidworks try its best to recover features but you will lose some parametric links. It's probably going to be a waste of time in the long run using both systems. Whenever you need a revision you would have to open in Pro/E, correct the model, transfer and draw. With just one system you only need to correct the model and refresh the drawing. If you are drawing in SW, wouldnt it make more sense to just model in SW as well?

The way you suggest invalidates almost all the benefits of parametric CAD programs.

Designer of machine tools - user of modified screws

 

[heypoopy]

I would then have to model it twice using both programs. We would need the Pro/E file on record. SolidWorks is only on my computer. But I completely understand what you're saying.

 

[TED7]

In that case, I'm glad I'm not in your shoes!

Have you looked into mapkeys in Pro/E and other such shortcuts? I remember it being a pain to do drawings on back at university on their vanilla setup but its fairly quick at my current employer because of the shortcuts they have pre-set in the system.

I have almost no experience drawing in Solidworks however. I just get the general impression from other users that SW works straight out the box where as Pro/E is a dog until you have it set up right.

Designer of machine tools - user of modified screws

 

[KENAT]

heypoopy, I'll back up Ninja on this one, long term it'll probably generate more work and potentially introduce errors etc.

Maybe that was the problem with my use of Pro E back in 2000 or so, it wasn't set up right - despite my days set with the PTC folks trying to set it up. I have another colleague that swears by it and still complains about using Solid Edge which from what I've seen makes even nicer drawings than SW, let alone Pro E.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Depends on which versions of each program are being used.

Import Pro/E Files

http://help.solidworks.com/2011/English/SolidWorks/sldworks

/LegacyHelp/Sldworks/ImpExp/Pro_ENGINEER_files.htm

Import Parts

http://help.solidworks.com/2011/Eng...elp/sldworks/impexp/hidd_proe_conv_option.htm

Import Assys

http://help.solidworks.com/2011/Eng...dworks/impexp/hidd_proe_assem_conv_option.htm

In the long run it will be best to just learn the Pro/E drawing mode.

 

[looslib]

I have always complained about the look of Pro/E drawings since 2000i2 when I started with it. They are hard to setup right and the commands are hard to remember. Mapkeys do help.

You are asking for more work if you do the export/import and the drawing in SW.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[jhagen]

I would think that if due dilegence is done on the model when you get to the drafting stage of the design most of the work is done.

If your model is set up with datums and the model is directly referencing them, by the time you get to drafting you should just have to show them on the detail. If you take care of which plane you set up your sketches you can even align them in your model and have very little cleanup in the detail stage.

To answer your question if you can convert to STP you should be able to open it and detail the part in any CAD program you use. As was mentioned above you will loose feature history if you do that. If anything needs to be changed or redefined you are in for a headache.