×
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

Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

(OP)
If I use 1:1 to save solidworks drawing as DWG or dxf file, the dimmensions in the dwg file are OK if I do not change anything on the dwg drawing. But once I change anything or just move a dimmension to a different location, the dimension will automaticly change(If the scale of the solidworks drawing is 1:10, then dimension value in the dwg file will become 10 times the real dimension).
are you experiencing the save probelm as me or anybody knows how to solve the problem?
Thanks for any input.

Min

RE: Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

It is probably your settings in your ACAD template.
I have never seen drawings export/import 100% clean between SW and ACAD (or anything DXF).

Curious, why do you save from SW to ACAD?

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

(OP)
Hi Chris,
I'm not sure I've understood what you said on your second line. Did you mean that you always have some problems? Sorry if I'm wrong.
I'm self-employed. One of my clients doesn't have Soliworks installed in their computer. They've asked me to save all complete drawings to DWG format.
If I don't enable 1:1 output when saving from SW to DWG, the dimensions will be OK. But in this case, the equipment drawings in the DWG files are not in their true size. The length of a line with dimension shown as 10" is actually only 1" if I measure it.
I've attached a very simple drawing doc and the result DWG file. If I move the dimension in the DWG file, it will change.

Thanks for the help.

Min

RE: Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

Try this:
1. Set your scale, then your "Dimension/dimension style".
2. Type "qselect" and select the dims to make them associative.
3. Turn on "osnap", got to "dimreassociate", select the dim, select its points of the geometry.
The dims should now be associated and will update the dims when the geometry is updated. If not, go to "dimension/update".

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

(OP)
Thanks Chris,
This means I have to correct the dimensions in the DWG every time. In this case, I might have a better way: Choose all the dimensions in the model space of autocad, then right click>properties, then change the "dim scale linear" to 1, everything will be fine.
I really hope I can find a way that I don't have to correct the dimensions every time.
Can you or somebody open my above attached drawing and save as a dwg file and attach the dwg file here?

Really appreciate it.
Min

RE: Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

I don't of an automatic way of doing it each time. Someone may have a macro/lisp file that may do this.

I have never had a need to do this. I send vendors/customers PDF's of the SW drawing. If they want ACAD dwgs, they recreate themselves.
If I give them imported ACAD drawings from SW, they are free to make changes that become separate from the original SW files. There are now various versions of the parts.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

RE: Dimension problems when SAVE AS to DWG(or DXF)

Where I work we send out ACAD submittals.  Most of the time the problem is because I've saved the .DWG or .DXF in an isometric view.

Once I modify anything the dimension moves from exactly how the SW dimension was to the 45 deg angle in ACAD.  I solve it by exploding (on 2008 looks like dynamite) the sketch.  This makes ACAD treat every entity separately.

Have you tried using a seat of DWG editor?  That might interface with SW a little better.  Good luck.

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