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Autocad with SolidWorks front end

Autocad with SolidWorks front end

Autocad with SolidWorks front end

(OP)
Is anyone using Autocad as a drafting engine with SW modeling on the front end? Can this be done with a link from the solid geometry to the Acad drawing file?

Can the SW PDM tool handle recognize the link and handle the ACAD files?

I am a new user so I apologize for my ignorance.

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

There is no associative link between SW & Acad. For some mysterious reason, some people/companies use Acad to add details to SW drawings. This involves importing dxf files into Acad & thereby loosing associativity.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

IMO why buy SW if you are going to continue to use Acad... The whole idea is to keep the model associative to the drawing. If you break that relationship then what's the point of having SW... because you can build cool 3D models?... big deal if they are not associated to the drawing, there is no point IMO.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

(OP)
In a perfect world you can ignore legacy data and/or just convert it. In the real world where only a portion of cost competitive companies actually machine directly from CAD geometry and the world of drawings dominate, ACAD is still the fastest, most flexible way to create machined part documentation. You also have to deal with a management that has never dealt with anything else.

My intent is to establish a transition that still supports the old way to an extent and moves towards 3D. It also allows time for the 3D packages to continue to improve the documentation package as they realize the paperless environment is a myth. Anyone who has tried to communicate with a domestic, or even more importantly a non-domestic, source quickly realizes that good documentation is as, or more, important than accurate 3D geometry.

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

Maybe it's time to take a class or 2 learn how to use SW, or even buy a subscription to Cadpo's I.GET.IT, and Solid Professor is another online course.  Some companies will pay for your tuition and books on the condition that you pass the course.  When I first started here, they offered to pay for my SW classes.  Try a local community college for SW courses, and it doesn't even have to be credited because you can take a continuing-education class.   
I too still use ACAD, but only to check the DXF's of parts so they can be sent to a laser or water-jet.

Flores
SW 2006 SP1.0

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

UCengno1,
SW is more than just machining or even casting from 3D geometry/models. Example...drawings, there pretty much free when the part is modeled and dimension correctly. And as Steve sez, that their associative. I'm not a huge huge fan of the SW drawing package, but I can get the job done quicker than any Acad user.

Macduff
Colin Fitzpatrick
Sr. Mechanical Designer
macduff's SW page
Inhouse System
Pentium(4)2.80GHz
Ram 1.00 GB
SW2005 Office SP 3.1
Windows 2000 SP4.0
NIVIDA Quadro4 750 XGL

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

Legacy data is different then making a SW model and using ACAD to make the drawings.

To maintain Legacy is why SW brought in DWG editor. Try using that instead or use ACAD to maintain your Legacy data or use ACAD to maintain that either way don't break a reference between SW part\assembly and drawing files... that defeats the purpose of SW.

If you plan to use SW then you need to use it in all aspects and not just scratch the surface. Get some training do the Online Tutorials, etc... either way you you need to understand the full potential of SW and not mix 2 CAD systems together. That will make it much harder to overcome the understanding of SW... when learning SW you must forget the Old CAD system and keep and open mind.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

(OP)
I'm a convert but I work for a CAD laggard. My background and the ease of use of SW allowed me to be up and running w/o training in a couple days. I work in small company where all aspects of SW makes sense but in the production of the drawings. My boss has a special place in his heart for reviewing drawings and it is his personal vendetta to add a specific twist to each drawing. The flexibility of ACAD allows for this but SW drafting does not. Such is the need for a transition plan that includes ACAD.

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

Quote:

only a portion of cost competitive companies actually machine directly from CAD geometry and the world of drawings dominate

Quote:

It also allows time for the 3D packages to continue to improve the documentation package as they realize the paperless environment is a myth

I get the feeling that you are not aware of SWs ability to produce drawings. It does ... and very effectively too.

Quote:

You also have to deal with a management that has never dealt with anything else.
The SW drawings could be set up so that management would not be able tell the difference between a SW & ACAD drawing.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

LOL! to funny UCengo1! About your boss's vendetta marking up drawings. This could work its way into a Dilbert comic strip. The best way to learn 2D SW is to play around with the fuctionallity. And your boss's mark-up's is a way to start.

Macduff
Colin Fitzpatrick
Sr. Mechanical Designer
macduff's SW page
Inhouse System
Pentium(4)2.80GHz
Ram 1.00 GB
SW2005 Office SP 3.1
Windows 2000 SP4.0
NIVIDA Quadro4 750 XGL

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

I am using AutoCAD along with SW, since my SW assembly file is so large it takes forever to rebuilt; matter of fact, it takes me five days to do an assembly compares to just one day in
any 2D software.  I hope there is an improvement from soon because there are many issues still need to be resolved.  This is the weakest aspect of SW compare to other CAD software such as proE...   

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

UCengno1,

I understand perfectly where you are coming from.  Way back in 1997 my company purchased SW96+, we were an AutoCAD-only company till that time.  Our transition plan involved creating simple part and weld drawings using SW, but assembly drawings were still exported out as DXFs and handled in AutoCAD.

Fast-forward to 2005, we use SW for all modeling and drawing practices, except for electrical harness drawings (and Facility drawings) which are still done in AutoCAD.  Legacy drawings are converted to SW whenever they are attached to an ECO, but for viewing unmodified legacy drawings we use DWGeditor.

Quote (UCengno1):

Can this be done with a link from the solid geometry to the Acad drawing file?

Due to the conversion of the model geometry from SW to AutoCAD format, there is no possiblity to do what you want.

PDMworks can recognize different file formats and handle them all, be it from AutoCAD, SW, Word, Excel, etc.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

I have to say, if it takes 5 days to create an assy that takes 1 day in ACAD, it's not problems with SolidWorks. It's usually hardware problems or lack of training. Not trashing anyone, just stating facts.
IMO, make life easier for yourselves, use only one CAD software.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

Guys,
Here's a little trick I use when converting Acad drawings to SW drawings.

When a static Acad is converted to SW and has a part assocated with it. I insert the part into the drawing and hide it. This is handy when filed in the PDMvault because the drawing is tiered off the part. The drawing is still static and has to be updated manually. But easy to find.

The same thing can be done for assemblies.

 

Macduff
Colin Fitzpatrick
Sr. Mechanical Designer
macduff's SW page
Inhouse System
Pentium(4)2.80GHz
Ram 1.00 GB
SW2005 Office SP 3.1
Windows 2000 SP4.0
NIVIDA Quadro4 750 XGL

RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end

And.................

when the drawing eco'd or redline, you know to update your SW parts and assemblies affected.

Macduff
Colin Fitzpatrick
Sr. Mechanical Designer
macduff's SW page
Inhouse System
Pentium(4)2.80GHz
Ram 1.00 GB
SW2005 Office SP 3.1
Windows 2000 SP4.0
NIVIDA Quadro4 750 XGL

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