Solidworks help??
 

So after speaking to our sponsored machine shop, which is AMAZING by the way and a complete life saver, my student edition of solidworks cannot export in different file types, cannot be saved as .sldwrk file and opened in mastercam, cannot transfewr CAD file to professional version to be viewed or exported from there. So there is no way to get my complete robot parts needed for FIRST over to the machine shop. WE NEED HELP! We don't have the funds, and our robot wouldn't function without any of these parts! What are we to do???

Re: Solidworks help??
 

we have had the same problem its almost simpler to make print on your part and redraw it on mastercam real quick

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Can you still save to a STEP file from the student version? If so, can MasterCAM open that?

Re: Solidworks help??
 

If the machine shop is using Mastercam then you can turn the solidworks file into a STEP file.

Re: Solidworks help??
 

The student edition doesn't allow exporting to anything other than another student version. Even professional can't have the files transfer. It really sucks. I found a converter from http://www.rhino3d.com/ that allows .stl files to be imported then saved as .step files (which is what mastercam works best with). It only allows for 25 saves so use them wisely!

We also do not own mastercam, and can't make our parts that easily and quickly since the machine shop uses their mastercam versions and the parts are rather complicated.

We're waiting to here back tomorrow if our machine shop, Hartwick Machining which is a LIFE SAVER for our team in North Texas :] :] :] :] :] to see if the part will work on mastercam. The student edition tries to import but just gives errors.


Edit* Hartwick Machining - http://www.hartwickmachineshop.com/home.nxg

We do really love the help they provide!

Re: Solidworks help??
 

In the solidworks student version you can change the sldprt. into a STEP file (stp) where the machine shop can upload to their mastercam. Are you getting these parts CNC?

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Student edition does not let you export in anybother file type than .Sldprt. BUT if you put it into edrawings you can save as .slt. The slt cannot be used by anything else because it has errors when forming the solid. But using rhinoceros it can then be put into .step

Re: Solidworks help??
 

When you say "export" are you referring to the operation File->Save As?

I don't have the student edition on this computer so I cannot verify, but I'm dumbfounded that you'd be unable to do a File->Save As and not save to an IGES or STEP format.

-Brando

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Which version are you using?

The student edition definitely allows you to save in step format. I have done it several times in 2009 and 2010.

To do this, open your part, click "save as," find on the dropdown menu where is says STEP (.stp) and click that. Name your part to the desired name and you should be done.

Re: Solidworks help??
 

I had an educational copy of Solidworks a while back that would not let me save as anything other than Solidworks files. My license was 150 day educational license for "Solidworks Standard". Inventor can open Solidworks files however, so if you can't figure anything else out just open the parts in Inventor and then save them as a step file.

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Exactly. You cannot I mean CANNOT save as anything other than sldprt in solidworks standard edition educators license 2011. period. I'm looking at it now. Inventor I guess can but I found a simpler way if I just need to send to to someone instead of download another file

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Which student version? I use the one my college gives us for free and our machine shop has no issues.

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Mastercam has a free addin that allows direct export into mastercam, not sure if this works with the student version though.

Re: Solidworks help??
 

From my understanding the version he is talking about it not the student version. The Student Version is "Solidworks Premium" whereas the Educational licenses that he is referring to is "Solidworks Standard".

Re: Solidworks help??
 

Well it also depends on what software the cnc machine uses. Some machine shops use student edition as well to open parts then uses a converter.

Re: Solidworks help??
 

If you are using a 150-day license of SolidWorks you can only save in SolidWorks format. This software is SolidWorks Standard.

If you are using the software that SolidWorks provides to FIRST teams, you won't have a problem saving in different formats. This software is SolidWorks Premium, Simulation Premium, Flow Simulation and Sustainability.

You can request software by going to www.solidworks.com/SponsoredDesignContest