Solid Modeling and Importing an E-Drawing

Not really familure with E-Drawing, just played with it a couple of times. But, if someone got a solid into E-drawings it came from some other CAD package. Every CAD system I have ever seen have some way of putting out a "dumb" solid, either it be STEP (my first choice) or IGES. Just contact the company back and work you way down to the actual person that is running the tube, I bet they'll be able to get you what you need. I used to consult and had to deal with a variety of CAD systems, they often don't like to but can be convineced to play nice with each other.

Later,

I'm fairly certain you can't do this. I use SW2007 a lot, but absolutely, positively, passionately, hate e-drawings, so I don't use them enough to know everything. That said, I agree with CaptnPea. Ask for a STEP file.

Tom

E Drawings is a SolidWorks utility for sending 3D visual representations of SolidWorks models to those that don't have SolidWorks. What you are looking at is likely based on a SW model, so contact them and ask for the model. They may send you a dumb solid model such as STEP, or a SW model fused into a simplified solid lump to protect proprietary info and/or to keep the file size small.

i agree with all the others, i have used solidworks for 5 years now and its not possible to import an e-drawing back into solidworks.

ur best off asking whoever sent you the e-drawing to send it u in step or iges, they shpuldnt mind because the model in that format is no longer usable as it only imports in a surface format

Same with Inventor, we can export e-drawings but not import them. Not so sure about the surface comment, I think that if you import an IGES or STEP you can still section it to look at the detail.

This is something that has troubled us because we would like to send customers models of our products but do not want to give away the proprietary detail inside.

Nigh,

Send them a surface model. They'll be able to see all the outside without having access to any guts.

Tom

I don't think you can import an E Drawing. The purpose of the E Drawing is to allow people without CAD to view and analyze a 3d model. Since you have SolidWorks ask them to send the Model (assembly) as a .sldprt (SolidWorks part). You can then place in your model

Nope, you can't import an e-drawing into SolidWorks. But sometimes a company will have a model of the part or piece of equipment available on their web site. If not you'll have to ask for a file you can use from the designer. Or just get the rough dimensions off the e-drawing and create your own cube.

It is possible if they have saved the eDrawing with the "allow STL export" enabled. Save it from eDrawings as a STL file then import into Solidworks. I do believe that this option is normally defaulted as disabled.

If you are going the generic import root try Parasolids *.x_b or *.x_t first then "STEP" and last IGES(buggy). Solidworks uses the Parasolids kernel in its coding so it is almost a native file format.

Hope this helps.

This is your answer. Or ask the vendor for a solid file. If not, redraw it with minimum details.

Pineapple

Thanks for all of the useful information. One last question. Are there any advantages or disadvantages to using a STEP vs. IGES file that I should know about? I will be importing the file into SolidWorks and would like to know if either of the files would be preferable to use over the other. Thanks again.

Yes, the word IGES is pronounced "I Guess". STEP is much more reliable. IMHO.

if the e-dwg is raster data, a company in Germany called BCT Technology has software that will bring 2D Raster data like TIFF , PDF, etc into Unigraphics (NX) modeling sessions (or drafting sessions). then you can use the raster to re-do a simple solid or a full-blown model...since SolidWorks is a kin of NX, maybe those guys have a solution for you ?

www.bct-technology.com