If you have ever wondered how you should work with SOLIDWORKS data inside of Machine Equipment Design (EQE) when applying kinematics to your model, this post should help. Here are different methods to import 3D data from SOLIDWORKS onto the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and what the advantages and disadvantages are for each method. Of course there are different methods that you can use, however each method comes with its own set of rules that need to be recognized if you are to use these methods to their full advantage.

When you have 3D data created or imported in SOLIDWORKS, of course you can save it to a file. If you are also using a 3DEXPERIENCE Works product, such as Shop Floor Programmer (NSR), and its application Shop Floor Equipment Design, you have additional functionality that can save the 3D data from SOLIDWORKS onto the 3DEXPERIENCE platform called PowerBy. When using this method, it comes along with certain rules in order to provide the proper level of digital continuity between the CAD Creator or CAD Master, and the manufacturing user in Shop Floor Equipment Engineer (EQE). PowerBy provides for the versioning of 3D data as well as the history and vaulting of the data. When the design data is saved from SOLIDWORKS to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform using PowerBy (seen below), part of the CAD data cannot be modified in EQE. That is because the EQE user is not the CAD Master of the 3D data. This restriction ensures that the design part is not compromised by being modified by a user outside of the design workflow, and the outside user cannot break any of the inherent links to the CAD data implemented by the PowerBy functionality.

Saving onto the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from SOLIDWORKS using PowerBy

This can introduce some challenges into the workflow when using EQE. Particularly when the EQE user wants to create data that would be interjected into the CAD file structure, such as when creating kinematics. When kinematics are created in EQE, this functionality will attempt to insert coordinate systems into the 3D data set. If only the part level is present, there will be difficulty. If an attempt is made to insert the coordinate systems into a node that cannot be modified (such as a part node saved from SOLIDWORKS using PowerBy), then the kinematics function will abort prematurely and complain about an attempt to modify PowerBy data. Since the EQE user is not the CAD Master, they do not have the credentials to modify the part, thus kinematics will not be added or saved.

Organizing SOLIDWORKS data in a flat structure

One way to side-step this permissions dilemma is to change the construct of the CAD tree in SOLIDWORKS by making sure that every part has a parent assembly. This way it is possible to create elements in SOLIDWORKS so that the Axis Systems are created under an assembly node, instead of a part node where the 3D shapes contain a 3D body that cannot be modified. This simple adjustment to the CAD structure allows for kinematics to be created. This is because the Assembly node can own the new coordinate system without violating any permissions imposed on the CAD Part by the PowerBy function

Organizing SOLIDWORKS data using Assembly nodes

As with all things, there is more than one way to save and import data into EQE and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. If the user is creating resources with kinematics, and that design data will not be updated or modified during the project timeline, then the user may choose to save the 3D data from SOLIDWORKS to a file (SOLIDWORKS part or assembly), and then use the Import function in EQE to import the file onto the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. This method will allow the Shop Floor Equipment Design user to modify the CAD data by allowing kinematics to be applied to the imported data without restriction.

Importing SOLIDWORKS files into the 3DEXPERIENCE platform using Shop Floor Equipment Design

Finally, there is one other way the user may want to apply kinematics to a resource or product design. In this case the design will be periodically updated during the project process. This method will use the SOLIDWORKS model and create coordinate systems needed for each degree of freedom in SOLIDWORKS. These coordinate systems will then appear when the 3D design is opened on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The EQE user will then create the kinematics using the coordinate systems that were created inside SOLIDWORKS. This method will retain any update to latest revision capabilities and will also allow the user to update  the links to the CAD Master as they remain intact. This method requires that the SOLIDWORKS designer has some knowledge about what is required by EQE to create kinematics, but with a little collaboration and understanding it is a success.

Creating coordinate systems in SOLIDWORKDS to use for adding kinematics

In conclusion, all of these methods offer users different functionalities. The user needs to determine what the lifecycle of the 3D design will be, and based on those circumstances determine which method will work best for them.