Solidworks object

Hi,
can we import Solidworks object into Flexsim ?

Simon

Hi Simon,

No, you can not import object from SolidWork.

Flexsim can only use objects in 3D-Studio format or in VRML formta.

What you need to do is to export the objects from SolidWork
as .3ds (3D Studio) or .wrl (VRML version 1) files.

Lars-Olof

Thank you Lars-Olof

I think you can export your object as 3ds, wrl and dxf format inside Solidwork environment. After which you could port the graphic into Flexsim.

David

I now have come accross the same problem, exporting from solidworks. If I export through vrml then I can import correctly but most of the colors are gone and the model looks awfull.

3ds is not on the list of possible exports, I can try stl but until now that hasn't delivered a lot of good results.

Does anybody have experience with another format (e.g. IGS or STP) and a converter tool to change it into 3ds?

Hi Steven,

You should avoid IGES because in IGES you can put tolerance on the exported geometry, that means that the geometry can look bad.
Therefor use STEP instead, I am not sure if the colors will follow or not.

I have looked little on a translation tool called PolyTrans by OKINO (http://www.okino.com/conv/conv.htm) and the little I have used it I think it is a good tool to convert between different formats.

Lars-Olof

I'm using PolyTrans to create 3D-shapes from our engineering department (Inventor). The results are perfect and I haven't any problems You can do a lot of adjustments but the default is nearly perfect.

Okino has a lot of different converter packages. I've asked our local dealer to get the right package.

greetings

Carsten

Blender is a free 3d animation program that can import many shape formats and export into a nice 3ds format that Flexsim likes. I suspect that the detail loss is in the export from SolidWorks. Blender may be able to import an exported format from SolidWorks that has more detail.

I like to give some followup on this post.

I don't think blender can handle the IGES and STEP formats so that was no solution.
I got a lot of help from Jason (Thanks Jason!) and we used indeed the polytrans program and we used the STEP format. This worked out pretty good, with sharp and bright pictures. Only thing was that not all colors where included, but most where and in AC3D coloring is no problem.

So problem solved!

Just to add something to Steven notes :
Polytrans has a direct import from Soliworks (as well as Solid Edge and Inventor), sold as separate option.
This is our default import option is fast, and allow to simplify the 3D object directly working on the solid object hyerarchy.

Yes, we also used the Solidworks native files during the first import. Then, when the CAD changed and we were only supplied with STEP and IGES, we noticed that STEP lost some colours but seemed more vivid than the native import (normals?). That said - there are MANY settings to change for the import parameters, so maybe with tweaking both could yield better results. This comparison is between fairly basic settings for both types. From what we saw, some hierarchy also seems to be preserved in STEP - I've not yet done a comparison to see if they are identical.

I need the best way to use solidworks detail file in flexsim.

I received the wrl file of new vrml 2 saved from solidworks from customer.
But I can't convert it 3DS or vrml 1 witout lossing detail text and surface.
I want to receive the file best converted for using it in flexsim.
The file should display the good surface and detail of it in flexsim.
And I want to know how to convert it in detail for demonsrating it to my customer.
I attached the solidworks file wrl (vrml 2).

And I should show for flexsim to display the high and detail quality of many visual objects comparing automod.
The visual object file of plant structures and machine-frame is designed by solidworks.
Which file format will I request from customer?
I should display the detail and good texture, curved surface and polygons of it in flexsim after imporing by using visual object.
The file has layout, structures and frames on which many processors will be drag and dropped.
The file size will be about 400 megabyte and it is for comparing to automod.
The customer said Automod has some problems to run when the visual file is over 600 mb.
I and he want to know flexsim's capability to run in same situation.

I want anyone's support.

Here's the polytrans vrml2 conversion to 3ds with default import/export options. Polytrans has options for many file types and for reducing the file size - it's worth considering as previous posts mention.

Thank you Jason.

Did you use polytrans from okino?

If we will buy one of them as conversion tool, which is the best one considering the capability and price?

vizup ? or polytrans?

In the case of other various format...which is the better?

I want to know that.