MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialog-Boxes

CAD-Line > SOLIDWORKS tab

Use the SOLIDWORKS tab

•Import a CAD file directly from SOLIDWORKS - see below

•Remove a CAD file that is already imported

•Specify the accuracy of the CAD file you import

In SolidWorks:

STEP 1.Make sure the document you want to import from SolidWorks is open and it is the active document.

STEP 2.Make sure the SolidWorks document has a file-name.

STEP 3.Usually, add a Coordinate-System to the SolidWorks document to align it to the CAD-Line.

Note: To see CAD-Solids in Mechanism-Editors, enable Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanisms

CAD-Line dialog-box

SolidWorks tab

CAD-Line dialog-box > SOLIDWORKS tab

Import from SOLIDWORKS

CAD-Line dialog > SOLIDWORKS tab

STEP 1: Click the Read button

WAIT until the

•SolidWorks® Part/Assembly (read-only) shows in box

•SolidWorks Configuration (read-only) shows in box

•Model Status (read-only) shows in box

Model Status:

Unavailable - before you import SolidWorks® document the first time.

Out of Date - the file in box is older than the current date/time.

Up to Date - the date/time of file in box is the equal to the date/time when imported.

If necessary:

•Select which SolidWorks Coordinate-System

STEP 2: Click the Import Button

Wait - a large model can take time to import.

Optional Buttons()

Button : Remove : the SolidWorks® document from the CAD-Line

Button : OPEN : the SolidWorks® document in SolidWorks

Button : Rename CAD-Line to the SolidWorks document file-name.

CAD Solid File Quality

○ Fine: more vertices

○ Coarse: fewer vertices

◉ Custom : edit with:

•Linear Deviation: Maximum =0.5mm; Minimum =0.014mm

•Angular Deviation: Maximum =30º; Minimum =0.4º

WARNING : Number-of-Vertices may increase rapidly as you reduce the Linear/Angular Deviation. Often the CAD-Solid will not appear to improve! Experiment.

-> SOLIDWORKS tab

-> SOLIDWORKS tab

CAD-Line > SOLIDWORKS tab

CAD-Line dialog-box

SolidWorks tab