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.
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
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
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end
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
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
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
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
RE: Autocad with SolidWorks front end
I get the feeling that you are not aware of SWs ability to produce drawings. It does ... and very effectively too.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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