3 Replies Latest reply on Dec 19, 2011 2:56 PM by Mike Sackmary

    Alibre to Solidworks

    Mike Konyak
    Mike Konyak Sep 14, 2011 9:45 AM

      Hey everyone,

      In the past the company used Alibre for their designs.  Now we are using Solidworks.  We no longer have any licenses for Alibre to look at or export these old files.  Solidworks does not have an option to open these files either.  Any help on this would be great.  I can't find anything on google for free converters. 

       

      Thanks,

          Mike

        • Re: Alibre to Solidworks
          Kelvin Lamport
          Kelvin Lamport Sep 14, 2011 10:09 AM (in response to Mike Konyak)

          I believe Alibre uses a proprietary version of the STEP format for it's native files.

           

          Have you tried importing the Alibre files using the STEP option? Or just dropping the files onto the SolidWorks graphics area? Either way you will end up with a 'dumb' solid.

           

          How many files do you need to convert? A conversion service company may be a more practical solution.

           

          Can you post a sample Alibre part?

          • Re: Alibre to Solidworks
            Lenny Bucholz
            Lenny Bucholz Sep 19, 2011 4:23 PM (in response to Mike Konyak)

            personally download there 30 day trial, then convert everything to step or parasolids which is best for SW.

             

            again as Kelvin stated they will have no features just a solid blob the shape of your parts.

            • Re: Alibre to Solidworks
              Mike Sackmary
              Mike Sackmary Dec 19, 2011 2:56 PM (in response to Mike Konyak)

              Hi Mike,

               

              I am the same situation. We had Alibre for a couple of years and now have Solidworks. The past two weeks I have been trying to convert/import our last remaining Alibre files into SW. As the other replies stated, you just end up with a solid object. What I do is go ahead and open the Alibre files in edrawings (free software) then save as a 2D drawing. That way I can see all the dimensions and recreate the part in SW. It's a long and tedious process but the good side is that I tend to make design improvements as a I go along.

              I do not know why Alibre had to use a proprietary format for step and other formats, but maybe that's one of the reasons why SW is still the market leader.