Detail in Drawing Views
Detail in Drawing Views
(OP)
My company is getting ready to switch from AutoCad to Solidworks. Right now we are using Inventor V5 as a middle step and creating our models and then exporting the geometry to Autocad to dimension.
One thing I have noticed is that on larger assemblies Inventor doesn't show all the lines or sometimes things that should be hidden are visable. This is causing problems when doing machine layouts and bringing over the geometry. The machine looks odd and takes a good bit of clean up to fix some of the lines so the layout looks presentable to a customer. This only happens on larger assemblies...full machine drawings. Why this happens is a post for another time, but my question is has anyone ever seen Solidworks do this.
I have a decent amount of experience with Solidworks but have never created a full machine assembly and I want to make sure that we won't run into this problem when we switch over.
After we switch we will still be doing some layouts in autocad because some of our customers request it.
Thanks for the help.
Matt
One thing I have noticed is that on larger assemblies Inventor doesn't show all the lines or sometimes things that should be hidden are visable. This is causing problems when doing machine layouts and bringing over the geometry. The machine looks odd and takes a good bit of clean up to fix some of the lines so the layout looks presentable to a customer. This only happens on larger assemblies...full machine drawings. Why this happens is a post for another time, but my question is has anyone ever seen Solidworks do this.
I have a decent amount of experience with Solidworks but have never created a full machine assembly and I want to make sure that we won't run into this problem when we switch over.
After we switch we will still be doing some layouts in autocad because some of our customers request it.
Thanks for the help.
Matt






RE: Detail in Drawing Views
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M
RE: Detail in Drawing Views
Little things won't be an issue at all. In Inventor we could see large cabinets from the wrong wide of the machine. It was almost like every line was shown. Very weird.
Thanks
Matt
RE: Detail in Drawing Views
I'm curious though, why would you export back to AutoCAD to detail drawings? Can Inventor not even create decent DWGs? One of the main benefits of 3D/Solid CAD is having associativity between model and drawing. You lose that by exporting to ACAD.
When setup correctly, SolidWorks can create DWGs and DXFs fairly well. You should have no need to export back.
RE: Detail in Drawing Views
Anyway, I started using inventor to do my machine designs and since we haven't officially switched away from autocad and so everyone can use what I have created I and one other younger engineer design in inventor and export to autocad. It's definatly not the ideal way to go, but until we officially make the switch I can't do everything in inventor.
I'm basically using it as a scratch pad.
I would still rather do that than do everything in AUTOCAD so atleast I have some certainty that my parts will fit.
I can't wait until we get to switch completely to Solidworks.
RE: Detail in Drawing Views
In some extreme cases you may even have to remove ACAD from their machines.
RE: Detail in Drawing Views
It will take a long time, but the others will either leave or jump on the bandwagon, as long as the company supports the effort.
Another approach is just to do it piece meal. Require that one area much be in SolidWorks and does not even use ACAD format at all, even in communications. Implement Edrawings. Use this as a wedge to get the other areas of Engineering.
These are just a couple of ideas. There's many methods to try.
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group