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Geometry | Add Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB

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Why 'Import a SOLIDWORKS sketch'?

It is easy to add complex geometry to a sketch in SolidWorks. To do the same complex geometry in MechDesigner may be difficult.

It is convenient to be able to import those complex SolidWorks sketches directly on to a Part.

Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB

We use the tool Import SOLIDWORKS sketch in the Part-Editor to import the active sketch of a SOLIDWORKS document.

We must:

1.	Add the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB to a Part in the Part-Editor.

2.	Edit the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB

3.	Import the active SOLIDWORKS sketch.

When you import a sketch from SolidWorks, the sketch-elements do not have dimensions or constraints.

Add the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB to the graphic-area.

Toolbar :

Geometry toolbar

Add menu > Import SOLIDWORKS sketch

R11-Sketch-in-SW

Before you can use this command, a sketch must be active in SOLIDWORKS.

STEP 0: In SOLIDWORKS.

1.	If necessary, add a sketch to a plane

2.	Save the Part

3.	Edit the sketch to make it 'active'

This image shows an active sketch in SOLIDWORKS.

GA-AddImprtSWsketch

STEP 1: Edit a Part, and add an Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB:

1.	Edit a Part

This is the Part onto which you will import the SOLIDWORKS sketch.

2.	Click Geometry toolbar > Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch icon

3.	Click the graphic-area

The Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB is now in the graphic-area.

To import the SolidWorks sketch

GA-ImportSWsketch-grey

STEP 1.

Edit the Part to which you added the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB.

The 'Import SolidWorks sketch FB becomes active / colorized.

The Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB is grey if the

•	Mechanism-Editor is active,

•	You edit a different Part

'Open the Import SOLIDOWRKS sketch dialog-box'

STEP 2.

To open the 'Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB' dialog-box

1.	Double-click the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB in the graphic-area.

- or -

1.	See, How to Open a Dialog-Box

The Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch dialog-box opens.

R14 : Import SOLIDWORKS sketch dialog-box

STEP 3.

Use the Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB dialog-box:

1.	In SOLIDWORKS... edit the sketch you want to import, so that it is the 'active sketch'.

2.	In MechDesigner... click button . The name of the:

•	Document name in CAD shows the SolidWorks active document name

•	Sketch name in SOLIDWORKS shows the name of the active sketch in the SolidWorks feature-tree

Button becomes colorized.

3.	Click button

•	WAIT until the SOLIDWORKS sketch shows in the MechDesigner graphic area.

Button becomes colourised

If you edit the same sketch in SOLIDWORKS, you can:

4.	Click button to Refresh

Note: Click button to clear the Document name and the sketch-name from &

R11-Sketch-in-MD

Notes:

To import a new sketch:

Click Button to clear an existing 'CAD Document' and 'Feature Name of CAD Sketch' from the dialog-box.

This image shows the active sketch that is in SOLIDWORKS now in the MechDesigner graphic-area.