Very Computer

How to Utilize .dwg files to produce SolidWorks parts

Help,  I'm a student in need of some help:
My assignment is:
    To open a 2D .dwg file, make some dimensional changes, convert to solid
extrusion, and add a curved extruded cut calibration scale of numbers and
linear marks along a curved edge.
1. How to use .dwg 2D files so that I can convert them into Solid Parts in
SolidWorks.
    a. I can import them.
    b. I can select the gray curve, piece by piece, to get a blue line.
    c. But when I try to Extrude the shape I get "The Sketch has more than
one open contour"  OK, but I can not find anything in the Getting Started
manual regarding "join" or "joining", "connect" or "connecting", "close" or
"closing"; nor is there any help in the "Help"  Where is the tool for
connecting line segment?  The "Extend" tool doesn't do it.  The "Close
Sketch to Model" just give the message that "The sketch cannot be closed.",
so that's no help.
    There must be an easy way to do this.  Any suggestions anyone?

2.  How to create or import curved text and line markings that can be
applied to a part so the curve of the text and line marking match the curve
of the edge of the extruded part.  I can create text and lines but can not
find a way in Solid Works on how to curve them to match another curve.  I
can import them but SolidWorks does not see them.  What to do?  Does Solid
Works have these capabilities or is it lacking in these areas?  Does anyone
have a clue.

Thanks,
            Dwight

Look in the user's guide under importing dxf/dwg.  Import the file to a
new ..slddrw. This will convert the geometry to useable sketch geometry.
Copy the sketch entities, then paste onto a plane or face in a .sldprt
file.  Use the modify sketch tool to put the new sketch in a useful
position. Attempting to make a sketch viable for an extrusion from the
imported geometry may be a waste of time if the geometry is at all
complex or full of gaps. Use it as a layout sketch, tracing over it, and
constraining to it. Hide the imported sketch when you're through with
it.

Couldn't have said it better myself.  Don't try to take any shortcuts.  This
really is the best way to get the job done, though it seems like a lot of
steps.

Cheers,
|===========================================

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|  New Hampshire CAD  http://www.nhcad.com
|  Lebanon, NH 03766
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|  Mechanical Design and Custom Programming
|  SolidWorks Research Partner
|  Online SolidWorks API Tutorial
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Quote:> Look in the user's guide under importing dxf/dwg.  Import the file to a
> new ..slddrw. This will convert the geometry to useable sketch geometry.
> Copy the sketch entities, then paste onto a plane or face in a .sldprt
> file.  Use the modify sketch tool to put the new sketch in a useful
> position. Attempting to make a sketch viable for an extrusion from the
> imported geometry may be a waste of time if the geometry is at all
> complex or full of gaps. Use it as a layout sketch, tracing over it, and
> constraining to it. Hide the imported sketch when you're through with
> it.

One more point.  I'm not sure if this happens to anyone else, but I've
had problems with 3rd party DXF/DWG geometry imported for sketches.
Essentially, the  accuracy of the geometry isn't quite up to snuff, and
two lines which should be perpendicular are not.  Therefore, if you use
this geometry for creating features, you can end up with a part/feature
that is ever-so-slightly out of whack.  It generally won't show up until
you try to mate the part in an assembly.   A quick way to check this is
to pick two lines, and then use 'Tools....Measure'.  If the
'Measurements' box doesn't say 'The two selected items are perpendicular
to each other', and instead shows an angle of 90 degrees, there is a
problem.  Increasing the number of decimal places the Measure tool
displays will generally reveal an actual angle of 89.999something.

Jim S.

I sometimes get something like this, but it usually shows up for me
while I'm making sketches for extruding. I frequently get
overconstrained sketches when working on a certain customer's files. In
my case, it comes from picking the wrong endpoint where there is a gap.