Eagle to Solidworks Transfer

[BretMan]

I'm a novice regarding electrical issues. A project I've been working on includes some simple electronics with 3 PCBs consisting of standardized components. I've had it made and it works Ok. I also had the schematics done so I can get manufacturer quotes, but being on a tight budget, they were done in Eagle (freeware). I was told it's complete but it's all "hieroglyphics" to me. Some proper details may or may not be missing.

I need these schematics transferred to Solidworks in the proper presentation form. I may also need a CAD model representation using stock shapes to show generally how the device parts will look when connected.

Does anyone know where I can go to have this transfer to Solidworks done for a budget cost? Since it's proprietary our NDA would also have to be signed.

Thanks.

Bret

Miami,FL USA

 

[ctopher]

CircuitWorks will do this for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Qm0ZqueHw

You can use Microsoft Visio for schematics.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[BretMan]

Thanks very much! It looks great. Maybe I should have clarified better, though. I'm not a CAD designer and don't have Solidworks. I think ECAD is an add-on and I don't think it's free. If it were stand alone, inexpensive and easy (providing the proper schematic format automatically) I might give it a try.

What I was asking is for someone to do this job for me.

Bret

Miami,FL USA

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Bret,

Which edition of SW do you have? ECAD to MCAD data exchange is included with Premium.

 

[ctopher]

So, you want a 3rd party app for software you don't own so someone else can do the job for you?


Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP5.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[mechfeeney]

BretMan (15:52) - "I'm not a CAD designer and don't have Solidworks."
CorBlimey (17:53) - "Which edition of SW do you have? ECAD to MCAD data exchange is included with Premium. "

^lolz


ctopher - "So, you want a 3rd party app for software you don't own so someone else can do the job for you?"

but he did say he would pay.

 

[mechfeeney]

So all you need are the parts, a couple drawings, and an assembly? Depending on the complexity of the components, you could probably get away paying someone to do this pretty inexpensively. Hell, if you show me the assembly and parts (so I can gauge the difficulty) I'll do it for you cheap. mechfeeney@gmail.com

 

[BretMan]

Correct, I'm looking for a Solidworks CAD designer experienced in electrical to take what I have in Eagle, etc. and prepare it properly in Solidworks.

Bret

Miami,FL USA

 

[ShaggyPE]

It appears Eagle allows for the creation of schematics, PCB layouts, and outputs to gerbers.

Is your goal to import (or recreate) the PCB in SolidWorks so you can have a solid model of the PCB so you can mount it in an enclosure? Or... do you think SolidWorks is the proper tool for PCB design and documentation?

What is your end goal... to have an extremely detailed solid model of the PCB with traces and accurate components? Why?

If you want your schematic to be within a SolidWorks drawing... that is easy... but why?

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[BretMan]

The goal is to have the entire device in Solidworks for manufacturer quotes and apples-to- apples comparisons between engineers who will continue to refine it all. The non electrical parts are well underway in Solidworks. Adding the electrical aspects in Solidworks too, keeps it all professional and maintains a smooth workflow and reduces confusions.

Bret

Miami,FL USA

 

[ShaggyPE]

No PCB manufacturer will want the SolidWorks files... they can't use them. They will want gerbers. The only reason I have ever needed to model a PCB is because I was designing an enclosure to put it in. Then when I modeled it... it was very simplified... identifying only the tall components that would be troublesome to the packaging, connectors, and mounting holes.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[BretMan]

That makes sense. In my case the models serve for a reference to non-engineers like management, marketers etc. It's for all-in-one purposes so we're all on the same page with the same files.

Bret

Miami,FL USA

 

[ShaggyPE]

So it sounds like a simplified... somewhat accurate, pretty picture PCB model is what you desire. Then there should be no need for a "coversion" from one to the other. Simply creating a SolidWorks version of the PCB using dimensional data should suffice.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[AnnaWood]

You should be able to give the SolidWorks designers you all ready have working on your project the info for your pcb board.

They can create the packaging models from the supplied drawings.

Print out what you have from Eagle and give your SolidWorks designers the drawings to work from.

Cheers,

Anna Wood
SW2011 SP4, Windows 7 x64

http://www.renderbay.com

http://www.solidmuse.com

http://www.phxswug.com

 

[MadMango]

Your electrical types will probably want to create DXF files (since Eagle wont export IDF files) of each layer of the PCB and provide a BOM with the component PNs and reference locations to be populated. Your existing SolidWorks CAD people should be able to take it from there to create an accurate model. How "professional" it looks depends on how much time is allowed in the modeling phase.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."


Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[BretMan]

Ok. I'll look into those suggestions. Thanks for your help.

Bret

Miami,FL USA