topic Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies in Collaboration with other software

Solidworks parts and assemblies

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:36:11 GMT

Has anyone had any involvment with importing or exporting solidworks models into archicad?

We are a shopfitting & joinery company, so produce store designs as well as manufacturing drawings for joinery items. It would be great if we could use Solidworks to create out joinery items and then import the models directly into ArchiCAD.

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

Dwight — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:44:53 GMT

What are your export options from SolidWorks?

Are these ongoing designs or asre you assembling a static library of components?

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:44:06 GMT

We will be creating objects on an on-going basic. Maybe even using stardardised parts for counters and furniture.

The export options from solid works 2003 are,

IGES (.igs)
ACIS (.sat)
STL (.stl)
VRML (.wrl)
VDAFS (.vda)
Catia Graphics (.cgr)
ProE part (.prt)
Reality Wave ZGL (.zgl)
HCG (.hcg)
Hoops HSF (.hsf)
Viewpoint MTX/MTS (.mts)

I am trying to.....

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:32:50 GMT

....import a 3D building component into my model. The manufacturer provided step files and igs files. How can I convert them to 3Ds, or dwg or maybe even sketchup??

Thanks in advance Cary

ArchiCAD 11 build 1114 usa full
windows XPsp2

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

Chazz — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:08:43 GMT

I can now speak with at least a little authority on this topic. I am close to completing the 3d modeling of my client's entire fixtures catalog for retail design. They are a global retailer of a specific product line but also design and manufacture all of the display hardware in their stores. Its a huge list of stuff. The entire line was previously modeled in Pro E or SolidWorks or something (for manufacture) but converting this stuff to GDL objects via 3DS gave basically unusable results. Too many polygons and lots of extraneous facets when viewed in hidden line mode (elevations, etc). It just did not work. So while it was a massive undertaking to model it all in AC, the finish result is great.

Therefore, my advice would be (if you can) to think about just making the junk in ArchiCAD to begin with.

Not having good 3DS (and other 3d formats) import options in AC is a major shortcoming of ArchiCAD but on the other-hand, modeling everything anew in AC has kept shoes on baby for the last few months.....

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:23:19 GMT

so much for interoperability!!!! Chazz thanks for the response

ArchiCAD 11 build 1114 usa full
windows XPsp2

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:37:57 GMT

If you have Cinema 4d installed (they have a free demo), there's a way to get your Solidworks Part/Assembly into ArchiCAD, and it's not too hard either. Just do it in the following order:

1. SolidWorks:
Step 1. Set Display/Image Settings to their highest values
Step 2. Save the part/assembly as a *.wrl file

2. Cinema 4D:
Step 1. Open the *.wrl file via File --> Open
Step 2. Export as 3d Studio file (File --> Export --> 3d Studio)

3. ArchiCAD
Step 1. Make sure the '3ds in' add-on is loaded (Options --> Add-on Manager)
Step 2. File --> File Special --> Import 3d Studio File --> Convert 3ds to GDL Object
Step 3. Voila!

You may need to add a few steps in Cinema 4d to get the right materials/texturing, but the basic steps are the same

hope it helps,

adeel

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

reidweber — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:15:03 GMT

Hello, reviving this topic a few years later.. Has there been any development in transferring a 3D model from Solidworks to Archicad?

Thanks

Re: Solidworks parts and assemblies

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:51:19 GMT

No development on this front and I must say I understand since there is a very small group of users who would need such a functionality.

I can see Solidworks export STL, you may try importing that into Archicad.