×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Imported part memory problems

Imported part memory problems

Imported part memory problems

(OP)
Don't worry - I realize this topic has been covered a bazillion times - but I can't find the answer to this specific question:  Is there an easy way to reduce the memory drain on simple little bolts and screws without re-modeling them in SolidWorks?  (In AutoCAD, or wherever the were born - they were born with too much detail for many of my SolidWorks' models to handle.)

RE: Imported part memory problems

What format are they in when in SW? (Fully featured, Imported surfaces, imported body, ???)

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Imported part memory problems

Simple- save as Parasolid.  Should reduce file size considerably, unless the hardware as actual helix-based threads.

"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: Imported part memory problems

Can you use Replace Components to replace the offending fasteners with simplified ones from your own library? I assume you have one?

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Imported part memory problems

(OP)
CBL - that would definitely be the way to go - but the components I'm replacing don't have 'good' names - not w/o severe investigation.

MadMango - call me stupid, but I'm unfamiliar with that term - I'll do my homework.

RE: Imported part memory problems

Parasolid will make your hardware models "dumb" meaning no features in the Feature Tree.  When you open the Parasolid again in SW it will convert it back to a Sldprt file sans features.

"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: Imported part memory problems

If the part do have too much detail (threads, etc.) you can extrude over or cut out the offending areas to simplify the shape.  Make sure the part is still proper size of course.

Then do as MadMango sugggests.

RE: Imported part memory problems

(OP)
Thank you all: I've decided on a solution.  Since massive over-detailing is rampant at this company (and I'm one that says that too much detail isn't a horrible thing) - I've decided to modify each, individual part and develop a 'detailed' configuration.  It may take some time - but I'll just modify fasteners as I come across them.

I can develop a 'dummied' - up config for those parasolids, right?

RE: Imported part memory problems

[quote]the components I'm replacing don't have 'good' names - not w/o severe investigation.[/b]
Would you explain that statement please?

Any part (irrespective of name) can be replaced with another part with any other name. They parts don't even have to look even remotely alike. You almost certainly will receive error messages about mates, but they can usually be ver easily fixed. You also have the option of replacing single or "All instances" of a part.

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Imported part memory problems

(OP)
This topic is 'over' now, but CBL--

'good' names meaning that I'd have to look at each part to determine what it was - the part names themselves aren't descriptive enough for me to do a simple 'replace components,' - not without opening up each part file and examining if it would go with the assembly in question.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources