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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 would be difficult.

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

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

Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB

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

We must:

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

2.	Edit the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB

3.	Import the sketch.

Add the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB

Toolbar:

left of the graphics-area]

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 to add an 'Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB':

1.	Edit a Part

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

2.	Click the Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch icon

3.	Click the graphic-area

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

Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch

GA-ImportSWsketch-grey

The Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB is grey if you edit a different Part or the Mechanism-Editor is active.

The Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB is a child to the Part.

You must edit the Part to use the FB.

ImportSWsketchFB

STEP 2: To open the 'Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB' dialog-box

1.	If necessary, editt the Part, to which the Import SOLIDWORKS sketch FB is a child, again.

The 'Import SolidWorks sketch FB' becomes active.

Use any method to open its dialog-box. For example:

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

The Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch dialog-box opens - see next image

R13 : Import SOLIDWORKS sketch dialog-box

STEP 3: 'Import SOLIDWORKS Sketch FB' dialog-box:

Make sure the sketch you want to import from SOLIDWORKS is the 'active sketch'.

1.	Click button . The name of the:

•	'Document name in CAD' box 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.

2.	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:

3.	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.

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