Converting SolidWorks to ACAD

[ImanCarrot]

Is there a way to do this please? My machine is running Windows98 and all the convertors I see are for Win98SE and above. All the Solidworks viewers I see are WinXP or Vista too.

Am I stuck? I have an enquiry from a customer and can't read his .EDRW file.

Thanks in advance!

[neilw20]

You can export 3D model in ACIS format.
Just one problem:

First off, export a 3d model from within ACAD. as a ACIS file.

Load the file into Solidworks and try to identify the ACIS version number ACAD (secretly) uses. If you try to import a wrong version, ACAD just gives a dumb 'error reading file message'.

The .SAT file is text, so you can read the first few lines, and (maybe!) make a reasonable (hopeful) guess.

Once you know a version that works, when you go to save as a .sat file in solidworks, use the options at the file select screen to choose you .sat version. There are MANY versions, so choice becomes problematic.

Also .STEP files work, but you only end up with wire models in ACAD.
ACAD can't create a solid from wire model. Dumb as... doggy do!

Mastercam is good at importing one file type and exporting as another.
Solidworks can save in a reasonble number of formats, but ACAD is very limited. The ACAD help mentions, IGS files, but ACAD doesn't do anything with them. That's dumb?
ACAD has a few other orphan formats, that nothing else likes!!
I like ACAD, but hate the limited formats supported.
Maybe there are some lisp plugins available.
You can write stuff in lisp to do almost anything. (if you can ever master it!)

[DareBee]

One more thing.
THat isn't a SolidWorks file.
It is an eDrawing file.
eDrawings is a free download on the SolidWorks website.
Probably won't work on WIN 98 though.

[ImanCarrot]

thanks both for the replies. I think I'll just 'fess up and tell me customer that I need it in ACAD format.. looks unprofessional though, but hey, I got enough work on at the moment (touch wood).

Thanks again.

[JerryFlyGuy]

Like DareBee said, you can tell your customer that no-one.. can do anything with a EDRW file.. thats why it's there.. it's like a PDF you can read it but you can't change it.. if he/she's sending a EDRW file to get a job done, chances are they don't know solidworks to well either..

[ger21]

Your best bet with AutoCAD would be to probably import an .SAT (acis), as was already mentioned.