Import .dxf sketch

[rjmax]

How can I bring in a .dxf sketch and place it on a part and make sure none of the lines move with respect to one another? I am trying to bring in traces from a .dxf file on a PCB and place them on a solidworks PCB I have created. I don't want anything to move but I need to be able to place it accurately on the PCB I have created.

Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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[Heckler]

open the dxf file in DWG Editor then you can Cut & Paste....providing you have some reference points and it was drawn 1:1 then it should be fine. Then when it's in SWx you can use the Sketch Tools to move/rotate entities. I've done this a number of times with good sucess

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
SW2005 SP 5.0 & Pro/E 2001
Dell Precision 370
P4 3.6 GHz, 1GB RAM
XP Pro SP2.0
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
o
_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.

 

[ctopher]

I do the same as Heckler.
For some reason, sometimes it will paste "mirrored". You will need to mirror it back if this happens, then move to position.

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)

 

[rjmax]

So, when I cut and paste it into a new sketch on my PCB it will maintain relations between all the other lines when I move it?

Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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[rjmax]

Okay, I just tried whay Heckler said and it drops in all the traces on the PCB fine but when I try and position all of them on my PCB I have created it doesn't maintain the location of each line with respect to one another. Any suggestions or am I doing it right?

Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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[J-C]

Tools/Sketch Tools/Modify.....it moves every thing in the sketch at once....actualy...think of it as moving the sketch and not the individual entities in it.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP5.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[smcadman]

Just put the original sketch on a different layer and turn that layer off. Now you can pick all of the sketch from the .dxf and use the move tool.

(just kidding this isn't ACAD)
What you can try though is paste the sketch not on top of the pcb sketch, but somewhere that it isn't overlapping. Then turn that pasted sketch into a block and move it all at once as a single entity. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds like it might work.

SW07 SP1.0

Flores

 

[rjmax]

I tried what Gildashard said and it works to move the sketch great! Now, can I move it instead of telling it to translate the sketch by a certain amount can I place a dimension on it? What I would like to do is "group" all the lines in the sketch and then place x-y dimensions to locat the entire sketch. That way when I move one line the rest of the lines come along for the ride too!

Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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[CorBlimeyLimey]

Fully dimension the sketch. Then you will be able to move it around by dragging any entity. It will also prevent accidental entity movement.

 

[rjmax]

Is there a "group" function like in other software that allows you to "group" things together and maintain their position with respect to one another?

smcadman, I tried the block thing but it appears it only works in drawings and not in sketches on parts.



Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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[smcadman]

Finally had time to try it. Which version of SW are you using because it works in part file sketches, not just drawings. Pick your lines/arcs, etc. > Tools > Block > Make.

SW07 SP1.0

Flores

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

... or select all entities, RMB click and select Make Block

... or with the sketch open, RMB click and select Fully Define Sketch. Selecting the origin as the datum will completely fix the sketch entities in place, so you will need to use the options to select the type of dimensions & datum point(s) to use.

 

[rjmax]

I am running SW2005. I can find the "Block" option in a drawing but not in a part sketch. Is this a addition in one of the newer versions?

Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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[J-C]

2006 added sketch blocks.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP5.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[rjmax]

I finally used the Tools/Sketch Tools/Modify and that worked pretty good. Also, I found the insert .dxf which helped. Thanks everyone for your help.

Mechanical Engineer
Colmek Systems Engineering
Salt Lake City, UT
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