Solid Works Import

[EricNette]

Hello all! At this point in time we only have Solidworks on our machines and not AutoCAD, I'm trying to learn how to best import from Solidworks to PyroSim. I am completely unfamiliar with the DXF file format, but I figured it was a good go between for the two programs. I will be doing more complicated models in the future (assemblies and other models of entire rooms) but right now I want to get a hang of going from point A to point B with a simple burner in a small compartment. I've attached the files, I can't seem to figure out how to get Pyrosim to recognize the solid objects and even to just get the geometries right. I was kind of hoping to hold off learning how to directly model on Pyrosim (a learning experience if your used to one program) and we don't have autocad. I see from my searches that exploding the object or adding a mesh may work but I can't seem to find the mesh feature on solidworks, and the exploding option only works on assemblies. I was hoping someone could tell me how best to draw my lines/mesh and get pyrosim to recognize the geometries so I can model quickly and efficiently.

Also, Pyrosim is awesome, being able to work in a 3d field with objects is 1 million times easier than working with the input file. Great job!

Eric
P.S. The solid works file is not in a file format that can be attached at this time, sorry.

[Charlie Thornton]

I asked around the office. While nobody has ever gone Solidworks -> PyroSim before, the consensus is that STL would be a more effective exchange format (at this time, see below). The reasoning is exactly what you mentioned, our DXF importer can't read SOLID types. STL however, converts everything to meshes and should work quite well. I'm told that the drawback is that STL objects are imported as single objects, so you may want to export different objects as different assemblies (STL files). That way, in PyroSim, your imports won't be rolled up in one object.

We began work in mid-November to upgrade from our current, basic DXF importer to a solution that uses Teigha (formerly OpenDwg). If all goes well, this should make it possible for PyroSim 2012 to support solids in DXF and DWG imports.