Error importing pipes drawn in 3D in SW
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A tank along with associated pipes was drawn using AutoCAD Plant 3D, with the pipes connected through fittings. Save it in .dwg format and open this model with SW; the pipes appear as octagons, while the fittings and containers turn into two-dimensional line shapes, not complete solids. How should this situation be resolved? Try saving it in Plant 3D in.iges or.igs format as well. As a result, not only is the fitting information lost, but the pipeline information cannot be displayed either. Only a few simple entity elements are shown.
When models created in AutoCAD Plant 3D are converted to SolidWorks (SW), compatibility issues may arise, especially with complex geometries and piping systems. The occurrence of pipes turning into polygons, fittings and containers degenerating into 2D lines, or loss of some information is usually due to poor compatibility during file format conversion or the loss of geometric data during that process. Here are some suggested solutions: 1. **Use intermediate format files for conversion**: - In addition to .iges or .igs formats, try using other intermediate format files for conversion, such as.STEP (.stp) files. STEP files generally offer better compatibility and more accurate transmission of geometric information compared to IGES. - Before saving as a.STEP file, check the integrity and accuracy of the model in Plant 3D to ensure that no data is lost during export. 2. **Check SolidWorks’ import settings**: When importing a model in SolidWorks, check the import options to ensure that the relevant parameters are set correctly, such as the import precision and the post-import processing options, in order to preserve the accuracy and details of the original model as much as possible. 3. **Reconstruct complex geometries directly in SolidWorks**: - If the file format conversion is not successful, it may be necessary to recreate the relevant pipes and fittings inside SolidWorks. This means you may need to manually rebuild the 3D model of the problematic part. 4. **Update software and plugins**: - Make sure that both AutoCAD Plant 3D and SolidWorks you are using are on the latest versions, as newer versions may fix compatibility issues present in earlier versions. - Similarly, if third-party plugins are used to assist with the conversion, make sure they are all up to date. 5. **Look for professional plugins or conversion tools**: There are some specialized data conversion tools and plugins available on the market that can facilitate better data transfer between different CAD software programs. Although these tools may require additional costs, they can provide smoother and more accurate conversions in certain situations. 6. **Contact the software’s customer support**: - If none of these methods work to resolve the issue, you can reach out to the technical support for AutoCAD Plant 3D or SolidWorks; they may be able to provide solutions specific to your problem or fix bugs in the software. When trying the solution suggested above, it is also necessary to ensure that backup files are saved during the conversion process to prevent loss of the original data. .
Thank you for your prompt reply. Regarding point 1, Plant 3D cannot be saved in.STEP format. Only the option to save in .igs format is available. By saving in the .igs format, it was found that what was lost were the fittings such as tees, elbows, and reducers that were created in Plant 3D using its fitting library; these were likely drawn by invoking Plant 3D’s component library and employing parametric modeling. I suspect that Plant 3D does not enable the export of these elements when exporting. That’s why this information is not present in the output file
It is indeed a compatibility issue. I remember two methods: 1) right-click on Plant3D to export an AUTODESK file, and then open this file with NV； 2 is to install an OE, that is, the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Object Enabler file
Thank you, it seems you have encountered this before as well. Additionally, the export method mentioned on the AutodestCAD official forum does not work. I can give it a try with the suggested method you mentioned. It also confirms a doubt I had: since there are many products in the Autodesk suite, I only tried Plant 3D at that time and did not install any other Autodesk products, and I suspect that this is what caused the compatibility issues. The information in the explicitly exported file has lost too much content, making it essentially impossible to represent the entity
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Object-Enabler-for-AutoCAD-Plant-3D-2024-does-not-work-in-Navisworks.html