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cad to solidworks

cad to solidworks

cad to solidworks

(OP)
Hi all I wonder if anyone can help, my name is Kev and I have imported a 2d autocad drawing into solidworks my problem is I cannot fully constrain the sketch( I have an Inventor background forgive my termanology)Icannot get the sketch to turn black i seem to ae able to add dimension everwhere and still not constrain it, I have no control over the sketch.
Hope you lot undferstand my question, Thank You

RE: cad to solidworks

Without seeing the actual sketch, we can't tell you exactly what the problem is.  Besides dimensions, make sure the horizontal lines have horizontal constraints, the vertical lines have vertical constraints, etc.  If there are radii, then maybe you are missing tangent constraints.  Also don't forget to constrain the sketch to the origin.  

SW07 SP2.0

Flores

RE: cad to solidworks

Depending on who created the A-CAD drawing, I have come across some sloppy drawings.  For example, drawings that have line elements on top of others segments.  I would go back into A-CAD to check for these types of errors.  Depending on the complexity of the section you may want to consider just redoing the part instead of importing.

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
      o
  _`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.

RE: cad to solidworks

If you have SW07 you could use the Sketch Xpert function to troubleshoot for you.

cheers

RE: cad to solidworks

You'll need to pin an element of your sketch to the origin using a dimension (probably need at least two of these), or make a point in your sketch coincident with the origin.

I'd recommend reading the tutorials in SolidWorks before going too far so you optimize your models for logical flow of thought as soon as possible (and save yourself later headaches of having origins and primary planes in strange places within your parts and assemblies).

One thing I often do is draw construction (center) lines through the origins and dimension to those lines--horizontal and vertical.  Dimensioning or constraining to the origin is what gives your sketch an "absolute" position, and therefore locks it down and turns black.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: cad to solidworks

Wow--four posts, four seconds.  Now that's service!

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: cad to solidworks

You could also try the Tools > Dimensions > Fully Define Sketch function.

Or the Tools  > Sketch Tools > Repair Sketch function.

Failing both of those, post the sketch for review. See FAQ559-1177 for details.

cheers

RE: cad to solidworks

Errr ... those are minutes Jeff!

cheers

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
lol what a great forum , im clad I joined what a speedy responce, thanks guys, will will give back to the community with my help from my field of autocad and inventor, enought of that, yes il read up pn the tuts, and you hit the nail on the head guys, normally i would sketch from an origin but when you import a cad drawing it just throws it anywhere it likes in space. I need to fit it to an origin ( i think) lol

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
Ill give that ago CorB, cheers

RE: cad to solidworks

One recommendation:
As you beging to use SW more often, I've always found it easier to create my sketch/part centered around the origin. This will ease the creation of mates when you start creating assemblies, IMHO.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
thats whats happened here autocad has placed the sketch about 500mm away from the origin, CorB suggested to workarounds, the first (FULLY DEFINE) did turn it black but I cannot update the sketh(edit it) the second REPARE SKETCH showed up the origin being way over there (about 500mm away quess) I think I need to now get the sketch over to the origin.

RE: cad to solidworks

If the sketch isn't fully defined, you should be able to select it all and move it...just remember ctrl+z, in case it deforms. smile

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

RE: cad to solidworks

When using the [b]Fully Define Sketch" tool, pick an origin point in the sketch itself ... not the main origin. This will fully define the sketch elements to the chosen point, but you will be able to drag the whole sketch onto the main origin without fear of mangling the sketch.

cheers

RE: cad to solidworks

Another method of dealing with sketch geometry that is way off in space relative to the origin:

1) Pick a significant point in the sketch and lock it down with a Fixed constraint.  This effectively becomes the "sketch origin".
2) Constrain everything else so that the sketch is fully defined.
3) Delete the Fixed constraint
4) Add a coincident constraint between your sketch origin and the global origin.  Alternatively, you can drag the sketch origin on top of the global origin to constrain everything.

This has worked for me in the past when dealing with imported sketch entities.  This assumes that the sketch entities are clean as far as SWX is concerned.

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
yep it deformed lol. just not a big sketch its a simple bracket, the commandd I anm looking for is (in Inventor) COINCIDENT the move the sketch to an origin and allow you to fully define the sketch

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
Cheers dgowans I will give that ago now

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
where do I find coincident constraint I bet its in a toolbar I have not opened??

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
found coincident

RE: cad to solidworks

If you select two elements of the sketch, you should see your feature manager turn into a constraints dialog where you can select Coincident, Concentric, Tangent, etc.

CorBlimeyLimey, you're right--those were minutes, not seconds.  That means the service is only 1/60th as good as I thought--bummer!  This demands another coffee.  Back later. ..

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
Tell ya what guys you take a coffie break, I am on mission and I will look into this,I iwll take onboard all that you lot have told me and i will give it a good go, by the way the sketch is a simple bracket, real simple, I managed with your help to get it intact to the origin but still no luck in gaining control of the sketch it stll goes everywhere when i cange a dimension. I post if I ever master it.Cheers guys

RE: cad to solidworks

Dimension the sketch elements to themselves, then move the whole to the origin.  That should stop the exploding sketches.

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

Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: cad to solidworks

That, and also assign constraints between arcs and lines to be tangent, endpoints to be coincident with each other, and all the rest.  If you drag stuff around, though it may be dimensioned, the constraints will govern how the stuff behaves between one element and the other.

Mmmmm. ..iced coffee.  (Nice day here in the desert.)

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: cad to solidworks

Hey, I've got a CRV.  But with no snow on it.  Maybe next year when I move to a place that looks a lot more like those photos.  This is my bride and I the day after the new year, due north about three miles from my house.  Note the heavy winter gear necessary to ward off the frostbite:

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com/internet/Home.jpg

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: cad to solidworks

This is the fastest growing thread I've seen in a long time!

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)

RE: cad to solidworks

CBL - Those pictures remind me of when I lived in England.  I had ice on my windshield this morning talk

Chris - How's sunny SoCal.....dreaming of a warm Christmas

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2006 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
      o
  _`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.

RE: cad to solidworks

It is nice here in So Cal. 70-80's at day, cool at night. Expecting a little rain Sat/Sun.

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)

RE: cad to solidworks

Mid-70s here in the day this week.  Perfect days, windows open.  I think I might play hooky the rest of the day and bail out of here. ..

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

RE: cad to solidworks

Great idea! Me too!

Chris
SolidWorks 06 5.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)

RE: cad to solidworks

(OP)
Cheers guys got and all works fine, your help pushed me to find the ALIGN SKETCH i seclected a point on my autocad sketch clicked Align Sketch this moved the sketch over to the origin then I selected Fully drfine sketch and it worked I have full control, THANK All of you..

RE: cad to solidworks

Hey, that's cool--I didn't know about that tool.  I'll try to remember that next time I need to move a whole sketch around quickly.

Jeff Mowry
www.industrialdesignhaus.com
Reason trumps all.  And awe transcends reason.

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