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Solidworks to Mastercam

Question asked by Jacob Pribyl on Feb 23, 2009
Latest reply on Jul 10, 2017 by Jaja Jojo

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I'm having trouble importing a complete assembly from SolidWorks into Mastercam. What I want is a full wireframe along with the solid bodies, but when trying to open a solidworks file directly from Mastercam I get a 'Cannot find Parasolid data in Solidworks file' error when trying to open it with MCX2 MR2, and 'Only Assemblies from Solidworks 2003 and later can be read' error with MCX3.

If I use a parasolid the solid bodies come in fine but only part of the wireframe is correctly loaded.

Parasolid

STEP files will let me import a complete wireframe along with the solid but the wireframe is all lines and splines, even when it should be arcs, the only file type I've found that will let me import a full correct wireframe is IGES, which won't do solid bodies.

IGES

To get a full assembly into Mastercam right now I have to import an IGES wireframe and merge it with a parasolid and fix the levels for all the parts manually, which gets kind of tedious after the first couple hundred levels. Anyone have any suggestions or workarounds?

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Kelvin Lamport Feb 23, 2009 5:48 PM

Mastercam has a module for SolidWorks. No need for conversions.
http://www.mastercamforsolidworks.com/
http://mastercam.com/Products/...olidworks/Default.aspx

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Jacob Pribyl @ Kelvin Lamport on Feb 23, 2009 6:02 PM

Thanks, I'll try it out.

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Phil Marra Feb 23, 2009 6:04 PM

Jacob,

There is some confusion in what you have said here.
First parasolid does not support wireframe you may be reading a parasolid file into Mastercam that shows a "wireframe" in MC but you didnt export a wireframe from SW.

Iges should do the trick but you will need to export both solid/surfaces and 3d curves. For Mastercam Id suggest flavoring the trimmed surface (type144) and b-splines (entity type126) then select surface representation /system preference to "mastercam."

As for the levels in Mastercam, that is a problem that no one has found a solution for, or at least I hear the complaint everyday.

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Matt Sumner Jun 6, 2011 12:10 PM

In the latest version of Mastercam which is X5 you should have no problem getting what you are after by opening the Solidworks Part or Assembly file directly. There is no need to convert it to a different format.

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Lenny Bucholz Jun 18, 2011 10:44 AM

With any old version of a CAM software you are SOL to have the newer version of SW work...I know thats how it is and we need to either spend the bucks on the CAM update to work with the new version of SW or find work arounds.

Remember thats the only way the CAM guys can get you to buy the updates buy not supporting the newer versions of solids.

Now here is a work around, take the parasolid from SW 2011 and read it into your SW 2003 then open into Mastercam the same way you did before, shouldn't have the issues you are having now.

As a CAM guy myself been using SW and Surfcam since 97 together and have had some of the same problems between relases of SW I always have 2 to 3 older versions of SW on my computer to solves any incompatibility problems.

If you are tring to be current with SW you need to stay current with your CAM...cost money YES but then your not spending the same money on lost hours of productivity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JMO

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Bernie Daraz Jul 9, 2017 4:44 PM

Old post I know and I'm not trying to bump it but I have a question. Anyone have any MasterCAM programs they can share? They can be simple, one tool milling or turning programs, no need for multi-axis stuff. Thanks!

I'm more active on the sheet metal groups here on the forums.

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Jaja Jojo @ Bernie Daraz on Jul 9, 2017 10:32 PM

not a master cam but free HSMwork 2.5 axis cam you can download in autodesk hsmwork

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Bernie Daraz @ Jaja Jojo on Jul 10, 2017 8:51 AM

Thank you JaJa! I am specifically requesting simple MasterCAM files for my own use as I can access a local machine shops computer to investigate a curiosity. His files are extensive 5 axis machine files and would be very complex for me to try to grasp. Our recent (June15, 2017) ConnSWUG User Group meeting was held at MasterCAM headquarters here in CT and it was amazing to see that 5 axis machine moving about with the table as well as the head seemingly going haphazardly to 'show' how a complex part was machined.

You have to crawl before you walk.

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Jaja Jojo @ Bernie Daraz on Jul 10, 2017 8:58 AM

OK i get it,

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10 Replies

Kelvin Lamport Feb 23, 2009 5:48 PM
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Correct Answer
Mastercam has a module for SolidWorks. No need for conversions.
http://www.mastercamforsolidworks.com/
http://mastercam.com/Products/...olidworks/Default.aspx
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Kelvin Lamport Feb 23, 2009 5:53 PM
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But if you want a translator;
http://www.mastercam.com/Suppo...tercamX3/Default.aspx
http://updates.mastercam.com/x...ect-solidworks-web.exe
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- Jacob Pribyl @ Kelvin Lamport on Feb 23, 2009 6:02 PM
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  Thanks, I'll try it out.
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Phil Marra Feb 23, 2009 6:04 PM
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Correct Answer
Jacob,

There is some confusion in what you have said here.
First parasolid does not support wireframe you may be reading a parasolid file into Mastercam that shows a "wireframe" in MC but you didnt export a wireframe from SW.

Iges should do the trick but you will need to export both solid/surfaces and 3d curves. For Mastercam Id suggest flavoring the trimmed surface (type144) and b-splines (entity type126) then select surface representation /system preference to "mastercam."

As for the levels in Mastercam, that is a problem that no one has found a solution for, or at least I hear the complaint everyday.
Like • Show 1 Like1
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Matt Sumner Jun 6, 2011 12:10 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
In the latest version of Mastercam which is X5 you should have no problem getting what you are after by opening the Solidworks Part or Assembly file directly. There is no need to convert it to a different format.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Lenny Bucholz Jun 18, 2011 10:44 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
With any old version of a CAM software you are SOL to have the newer version of SW work...I know thats how it is and we need to either spend the bucks on the CAM update to work with the new version of SW or find work arounds.

Remember thats the only way the CAM guys can get you to buy the updates buy not supporting the newer versions of solids.

Now here is a work around, take the parasolid from SW 2011 and read it into your SW 2003 then open into Mastercam the same way you did before, shouldn't have the issues you are having now.

As a CAM guy myself been using SW and Surfcam since 97 together and have had some of the same problems between relases of SW I always have 2 to 3 older versions of SW on my computer to solves any incompatibility problems.

If you are tring to be current with SW you need to stay current with your CAM...cost money YES but then your not spending the same money on lost hours of productivity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JMO
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
Bernie Daraz Jul 9, 2017 4:44 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Old post I know and I'm not trying to bump it but I have a question. Anyone have any MasterCAM programs they can share? They can be simple, one tool milling or turning programs, no need for multi-axis stuff. Thanks!

I'm more active on the sheet metal groups here on the forums.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Jaja Jojo @ Bernie Daraz on Jul 9, 2017 10:32 PM
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  Correct Answer
  not a master cam but free HSMwork 2.5 axis cam you can download in autodesk hsmwork
  Like • Show 2 Likes2
  Actions
  - Bernie Daraz @ Jaja Jojo on Jul 10, 2017 8:51 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Thank you JaJa! I am specifically requesting simple MasterCAM files for my own use as I can access a local machine shops computer to investigate a curiosity. His files are extensive 5 axis machine files and would be very complex for me to try to grasp. Our recent (June15, 2017) ConnSWUG User Group meeting was held at MasterCAM headquarters here in CT and it was amazing to see that 5 axis machine moving about with the table as well as the head seemingly going haphazardly to 'show' how a complex part was machined.
    
    You have to crawl before you walk.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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    - Jaja Jojo @ Bernie Daraz on Jul 10, 2017 8:58 AM
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      Correct Answer
      OK i get it,
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Solidworks to Mastercam

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