Two Things

[Scoobystu]

Hello

I have a couple of Solidworks Questions.

1) When you go to open a file and you right click on the file name it comes up with some options, one of which is print. Whenever I try and print anything using this method it does not work. Is this a common problem or am I doing something wrong. It would be really helpful to have this work as I wouldn't have to open every drawing in order to print it.

2) This is a much asked question; Is there any way I can open STEP files using solidworks and be able to modify the features in the components, rather than just seeing a representation of it?

Thanks

Stu

 

[Bouke]

1)
I can't print the files directly from the FileDialog either but I think it wouldn't help you if you could. Solidworks has to load the file anyway because it has to know what to print doesn't it..
2)
Step files don't keep their feature-information stored so it isn't possible to change the features. The only format I know of that can keep the feature-data working is ParaSolid but for this to work you also need feature-works I think it i've heard it won't always give the right if any results.

I'm afraid I can't help u better then this. But I can wish you Good Luck!

Greetz, Bouke

 

[ctopher]

stu
1) I think you need SolidWorks open first.
2) I don't think so, unless there is a third party conversion software.

 

[MElam]

1) Right-clicking files while in the open dialog is the exact same thing as right clicking the files in windows explorer. It's not a SolidWorks thing.
2) FeatureWorks (if you have SWx Office) should work on any imported solid format. It does not create the features by looking at the parts feature-data, but creates entirely new, independant features. It does have problems recognizing complex features such as lofts.

 

[JNR]

Agreed. The printing thing is a Windows issue. The system would have to load a specific viewer/driver and use some default printing setup.

Parasolid does not keep the feature information any more than STEP. What FeatureWorks does is to try to create NEW features that look like the old ones. Actually that's not quite right either. It tries to create a set of features that would create the same final part geometry. It is not by any means a one to one correpondence. Sometimes it can do a great job on its own and usually not. Mostly it needs manual intervention. On the other hand, sometimes it surprizes the heck out of you! But again, you are most unlikely to end up with the same set of features as the original part.

John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics

Forget rich and famous - I want to be rich and unknown.