I have a client who needs to convert prt files to dwg files. Any programs I can download or purchase for less than $1000 to assist him in doing this? Any help is appreciated.
If you or your client already have Pro/E and AutoCAD, then converting a 3D PRT file into a format can be done for free using an open source tool called Meshlab (
I occasionally have to bring Pro/E models into a program called Raynoise for our Acoustics guys to do their stuff. Raynoise opens DXF files, so this was my motivation when I worked out this method.
Your parts have to be SOLIDS for this to work.
1) Save your 3D PRT file into an OBJ file format using File-->Save As.
a) Set your tesselation options in the dialog box. Small chord size = finer model (larger size).. find the happy medium
b) Experience has taught me that for multiple part assemblies, it's best to export a separate OBJ file for each part. A pain, I know, but it can make life easier down the road.
2) Open your OBJ file in Meshlab, and then Save it as a DXF.
3) Open the DXF in AutoCAD, assign layers, cleanup where necessary (this is where saving assemblies as separate OBJ files comes in handy.. because if you export everything together, it's very difficult to separate things later on)
(Autodesks translators are relatively spotty. Not all geometry types supported
by a particular translation protocol are necessarily supported by the Autodesk
implementation. Solids are a good bet, surfs and crvs may be iffy.)
-Jeff Howard (wf2)
Sure it's true. I saw it on the internet.