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SoildWorks Composer "Import Free Faces" causes translation errors

Question asked by Kray Shivers on Sep 1, 2017
Latest reply on Sep 28, 2017 by Clayton Bean

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Happy Friday to All,

My Company upgraded our SolidWorks Suite in May to 2017, since then we have had an issue with Composer. It hasn't been until recently that the issue has been consistent. Through numerous iterations of testing and calls to support i have identified that the import option "Import Free Faces" is the cause for the translation error. This would be great to just leave unchecked, but for my company a lot of our purchased components are still surfaces or a mix of solid bodies and surfaces. Leaving this setting unchecked has the potential to create confusion and a layer of complexity as we try to just deal with it and add in the information in a different manner.

I have checked my settings in SolidWorks (inlcuding unchecking Large Assembly Mode and Light Weight Components) and in Composer and i can not see anything that i have missed, maybe i have been working on this too long. So my question to the community is the following

- Is anyone else having this issue?

- Is there a combination of settings that allows you to still import free faces

if you really feel compelled to help me trouble shoot i will attach a list of my composer settings, also attached is the error message.

thanks in advance

you guys are the best

Attachments

Composer Translate Error.JPG24.7 KB
Composer Setting For SW Community.docx193.2 KB

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16 Replies

Dirk Rautenberg Sep 1, 2017 9:54 AM
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Hi Kray,

never before i had Problems with this Option "Import free faces".
There is no influence from the other Options in Composer, you have shown in the doxc file.

Have you tried to export the assembly directly from Solidworks as .smg and then open it in Composer?

Have you tried to export the assembly as an Step file and then import this in Composer?

p.s. i did not use "Import hidden components" but this dosn't have any effect on your Problem.
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- Kray Shivers @ Dirk Rautenberg on Sep 1, 2017 10:39 AM
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  I do not have the option to save a .sldasm as an .smg but a co-worker did and for him it crashed both solidworks and composer
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  - Jake Deslandes @ Kray Shivers on Sep 1, 2017 10:50 AM
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    Did said co-worker correct large assemblies and lightweight as you did?
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    - Kray Shivers @ Jake Deslandes on Sep 1, 2017 10:52 AM
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      Yes
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      - Jake Deslandes @ Kray Shivers on Sep 1, 2017 10:55 AM
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        Hmmmm, That was the source of error for me... I havent been working with any surfaces though. Is it possible for you to knit the surfaces?
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  - Dirk Rautenberg @ Kray Shivers on Sep 1, 2017 10:56 AM
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    ok in this case ist a Problem within Solidworks not Composer.
    
    the import process uses Solidworks as an Background converter! It is not able to convert the SLDASM itself.
    So if there is any mistake in the import process, the error occures in Solidworks.
    
    Where is the free form plane from? Internet? Other CAD?
    It seems to be corrupt.
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    - Jake Deslandes @ Dirk Rautenberg on Sep 1, 2017 10:57 AM
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      But if he is able to export from solidworks to .smg shouldnt the converter be able to work also?
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      - Dirk Rautenberg @ Jake Deslandes on Sep 1, 2017 11:08 AM
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        Yes
        If you will be able to create an .smg from Solidworks without error, you will be able to use those .smg written from Solidworks directly in the same way! In this case the import will work correctly.
        
        If you save as .smg, the Solidworks uses the Import properties from the registry (preferences, written by Composer Default document properties).
        
        Composer never opens Solidworks parts or assemblies directly! Composer uses a background process of Solidworks!
        It is possible to use Composer without Solidworks Installation. In this case you install the Composer Importer. This is a black-box Solidworks without UI! This dosn't need a special license!
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        Kray Shivers @ Dirk Rautenberg on Sep 1, 2017 11:28 AM
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        I just tried to export from SolidWorks to .smg and solidworks crashed.
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        Jake Deslandes @ Kray Shivers on Sep 1, 2017 1:43 PM
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        you said you called support, was that internal? Have you contacted your swx retailer?
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        Kray Shivers @ Jake Deslandes on Sep 1, 2017 1:45 PM
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        it was our retailer.
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        Jake Deslandes @ Kray Shivers on Sep 1, 2017 1:48 PM
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        Im not sure whats going on, I hope you get it resolved soon!!
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        Kray Shivers @ Jake Deslandes on Sep 1, 2017 1:51 PM
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        Thank you for your input if i get it solved ill post the solution so its here if you guys/gals have this issue later on
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        William Morton @ Kray Shivers on Sep 11, 2017 9:49 AM
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        Hi Kray,
        
        Are you able to send me a copy of the Solidworks Assembly? I will be happy to test the import to let you know if the issue is software or machine/OS related?
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Scott Deschler Sep 27, 2017 12:13 PM
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Kray,
we also have this issue. a lot of our larger components are purchased (two or three per product) and import as models with many surface bodies.
running solidworks 2016, with 32 gig of memory
we open the assembly file in solidworks and try to save as smg, and it crashes or just hangs ups (14+ hours)
suppress the one or two of the surface import models, and it goes quick and easy.
it is not feasible for us to clean up these models, just to many surfaces and to many smaller details missing that would have to be manually created.
I am just starting to get into the details of this, and if I find anything I will let you know. but I have a bad feeling.....
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Clayton Bean Sep 28, 2017 8:53 AM
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I was having a similar issue and what worked for me was turning off my antivirus (we use Eset) and repairing my entire Solidworks installation (including Solidworks, Composer, Composer Player, etc.). That seemed to fix my issue. I have read that some antivirus softwares mess with the installation process and from my experience it hurts composer more than anything else. Once I performed this action it gave me the ability to import large assemblies with some free faces.
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