CADKEY to SolidWorks Migration

[rkam]

Hi,
We are planning to migrate CADKEY data to SolidWorks. I have one license of CADKEY and the team doing the migration don't have CADKEY.
The CADKEY with me has a DXF export with manual and batch options. Exporting to DXF either manually or batch is not useful as there is lot of data loss.
Can anyone suggest me a fast method for converting the CADKEY files to neutral format without loss of data?
Regards,
RKam

 

[ctopher]

Open SolidWorks, open Cadkey (import) files, save as SolidWorks files. Someone here may have a macro for batch load.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Apr 30, 2008)

 

[rkam]

I tried this but it is not working. I tried opening ".PRT" files but all I get is some 2D and/or 3D sketches. Sometimes the imported part is void.
Any suggestions on this is highly appreciated.

 

[handleman]

What version of CADKEY are you using?

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[CADone]

I have CADKEY version 98. I am curious to know the same.
I learnt that BOTH 2D drawings and the 3D model are present in the same cadkey file.

Now when we create a IGES file which one of these 2 forms would it export? How to control, so that I can export just the 3D only?

Any help is highly appriciated.

 

[Jimobr]

Are your Cadkey file 3D solids or wireframe geometry?

If they are solids SolidWorks should open and import the file directly. Otherwise you could export the Cadkey solid as a SAT and import that into SolidWorks.

If they are wireframe models it will take more work. You can first create solids from the wireframe files (within Cadkey) then import them to SolidWorks.

You could also save the drawings as DXF and import them to SolidWorks but I don't see what that will buy you.

After importing the Solids you will need to recreate the drawings if needed.

 

[rkam]

I have some cadkey files (.PRT & .CKD). I am able to open the PRT files but I am unable to open CKD files. On opening the PRT files I can see that these are 2D drawings. I strongly believe these are created from 3D models from the look of it. I did some research on how to open the 3D and found a layout option. When I go into the layout there is an option to exit it. On exit it should go into 3D. When I did this it is not going into any 3D.

Can anyone tell me how to open the 3D model?

Also is there any way to identify if the model is wireframe or solid.

PS: I am a core SolidWorks user. Unfortunately I am forced to use CADKEY. Questions might be basic. All help is highly appreciated.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

rkam,
Do you actually have Cadkey, or its replacement, Key Creator?

Eng-Tips has a forum for Kubotek products;
forum578
Maybe post a link there to this thread.

The links shown here may lead to more help.

http://www.kubotekusa.com/products/cadkey/links.html

 

[CADone]

CBL,

Thanks for letting me know about the Kubotek:Keycreator forum.

I have started a thread there.

Answering your question, I am using a CADKEY 98 only.

 

[jdos7]

We went from Cadkey to SW and found no reasonable way to automate translating files. Most of our drawings were done in layout mode so all SW saw was some lines and no model.

To move the model to SW I copy the CK file to my working directory, open the file, delete any solids that are not needed from hidden layers (this might not be needed), exit layout mode, merge as many solid bodies as I can, and sometimes move the model to put centerlines at the origin, then save the file.

When I open the CK file in SW and let it heal any defects I usually don't have much problem. Often the CK files are made up of multiple solid bodies that will not merge so SW creates an assembly of the individual bodies. On occasion I have had to save CK models as STEP or iges files to get them to translate.