Importing .dxf/.dwg from Solidworks.

[Pounce]

First post, be kind please.

I have a new client that needs his work done in AutoCad so I went a bought a copy figuring it would be easy to use as I'm the full bottle on Solidworks and use it for all other clients works.

I have a job that needs doing so I'm hoping someone can give me a quick and easy answer to this question. Courses in AutoCad don't start for another 4 weeks and the client needs this first job done by next week.

They have supplied me with a copy of their standard AutoCad template for engineering drawings (.dwt files), so I'm hoping there is a way to import a .dxf or .dwg file (saved from Solidwroks) into their template.

Is it possible to do this and adjust layers (dimensions and drawing need to be on different layers) after import?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[skipsophrenic]

should be alright especially iff it's in dwg format. just be warned a

conversion from one cad software to another can play silly's with the cad

program.

 

E.G. Drawing from Microstation into autoCAD forget's the difference

between model space and layout tabs, everything is put into model to scale

[Pounce]

Thanks skip, but I'm a total n00b on AutoCad, so I need to know how to do it, quick, easy and dirty if need be, until I get the course under my belt.

[MaxwellEdison]

Just spend any time you can spare looking over tutorials (Google "ACAD"+"Beginner"+"Tutorial") Better to spend the time learning the basics. Anything you do quick and dirty will just be that much more difficult to work with down the line.

 

If you have any conventional drafting experience, start by treating ACAD as just another tool in your cabinet and you'll be off to a good start.

[skipsophrenic]

From what little bit of checking i've done, you should be able to open a dxf file in AutoCAD, there may be a bit of editting needing to do to the file, but the basic data of the drawing itself will be there hopefully.

[Pounce]

Yep, I have no problem opening .dxf or .dwg files, got that bit sussed. What I need to do more or less straight away is this.

 

They have supplied me with a copy of their standard AutoCad template for engineering drawings (.dwt files), so I'm hoping there is a way to import a .dxf or .dwg file (saved from Solidworks) into their template.

 

If I can get this done easily and out of the way, I can focus more on learning the software the correct way.

[skipsophrenic]

try this.

 

INSERT > XREF

Go to where the dxf/dwg is stored.

select it

click "Open"

once its in, type XREF in, and in the dialogue box that pops up, there should be an icon with the dwg/dwf's name next to it. Right click that and click "Bind"

 

That should bring it in for you.

 

If that doesn't work. post back here and I'll do a bit more info hunting

[Raggi_Thor]

Maybe step by step like this?

 

1) Create a new drawing based on your client's template, use the command NEW in AutoCAD or just double click the DWT file in Windiws Explorer.

 

2) Save your dwg.

 

3) Attach your dwg/dxf from SW as an XREF

or 3b) Insert it as asblock (meny Insert/Block and Browse to find it).

 

With INSERT you place acopy of your SW export in the new dwg.

With XREF you place a link, so you have to send both files to the client.

[Raggi_Thor]

And of course:

 

4) Save again

[Pounce]

Thanks fellas, that worked to a deegree.

I'll see if I can get away with it. Still having a bit of trouble changing layers because I imported it already dimensioned. Might have to redo it and dimension it in AutoCad.

Appreciate the time and help.

[dbroada]

have you tried DXFIN as a command? It may no longer be valid as you can now open a DXF file directly but it always used to work.

[Raggi_Thor]

I thinkk xref as you suggested is a good advice.

Then the sw file will be a reference and people will not notice it's maybe a lot of short lines atc.

[stevsmith]

is it the 3d model you want to import? or is it just the sw drawing into AutoCAD?

[Pounce]

Me again.

Here is a sample of the dwt and a dxf file I'm trying to work with.

If someone is able to have a go at it and help point out what I'm doing wrong, you can have my everlasting gratitude.

 

Thanks.

 

Edit.It seems I need 9 posts or more. If I could PM it to someone?

[tkelly]

Complete the drawing in solid works with 1:1 scale. Save the file as dwg

Open the drg in autocad.You can apply layers & can do necessary changes.You are doing this in model of autocad. Shift to the layout mode.Arrange the templete given by client. Make a viewport within templete. Fit the drg in viewport with suitable scale.

 

Tom Kelly,

[Pounce]

Thanks Tom, will try it out.