Part VII: Working with Specialized Functionality
The tools on the tab, listed in order from left to right arel Openl (^) Imported Geometry
l Import Diagnosis
l (^) Check
l Draft Analysis
l (^) Recognize Features (FeatureWorks)
l Heal Edges
l (^) Knit
l Move/Copy Bodies
l (^) Move Face
l Delete Face
l (^) Replace Face
l Split
l (^) Combine
l Rip (sheet metal)
l (^) Insert Bends (sheet metal)
Many of these tools are not directly related to imports, but may be frequently used with imports.
FeatureWorks is also a part of the SolidWorks Professional bundle, and as such is beyond the
scope of this book; however, it is mentioned as part of one possible workflow for editing imported
geometry toward the end of this chapter.
Gaining experience with imports
When SolidWorks imports data from another CAD program, the result is an Imported feature in
the FeatureManager. The example shown in Figure 30.3 is the situation you are typically looking
for: the result as a single solid body. Frequently, imports do not come in this clean. When imports
start giving you trouble, you will see errors on a single body, or possibly multiple bodies, or even
surface bodies. SolidWorks can address some types of errors automatically, you can address some
manually, and you will probably want to avoid doing anything for some altogether.
The best way to start to feel comfortable with imported data is to be exposed to a wide range of
files, some that work and some that don’t. This chapter is not intended to be a short course on
import repair, but repair is certainly part of the reality of working with imported data. When
imports fail, it is not often because of SolidWorks; it is often because the parent software fails.
SolidWorks import tools are very good and have improved over time.