Rhino 3 to AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop 4 (XchangeWorks?)

Hi Everyone,

I have both Rhino 3 and AutoCad Mechanical Desktop 4 and would like to be able to design in Rhino and then move the file into Mechanical Desktop — but so far I have not had any luck with the data translation. The SolidWorks people claim to have produced a program that will get past this problem called XchangeWorks which they offer free if you call and talk to a salesperson. I called several weeks ago and the salesperson promised to drop the program in the mail that day, but I still haven’t received the program.

So my question is, does XchangeWorks actually work? And if it does, does anyone know where I could download a copy? I can’t seem to find it on the web, everything points back to SolidWorks — and they won’t provide it as a download. Or, does anyone know some other way to get a file from Rhino to Mechanical Desktop?

Thanks!

Bill

 

MDT has a command "IgesIn" to import igs files.

 

Xchangeworks, works really good is basicly a lower version of solidworks, does not allows to create assemblys, but for single parts works realy good, I'm sure they will send you your copy.

 

Thank you Raggi_Thor

I have tried the IGESin command, and it does import a file, but it is corrupt. I get an error message like this: "Entities processed 49 (File contains 223)" and the image on the screen is a mess. And this is for a single part.

I think that my older version of MD may not be compatible with the newer Rhino, or some such thing.

 

Maybe you can choose an older version of Iges when you export in Rhino?
I see that you can select "MDT Surfaces" and "MDT Solids" in the export dialog.
What about STEP?
can MDt import that?

 

Thanks again, Raggi_Thor

MD version 4 doesn't import STEP files, or anyway my version doesn't. There is a STEP option on the "insert" menu, but it is grayed out. There must be some add-on that I don't have.

I have tried a bunch of IGES versions, including the MD solids, MD surfaces, MD3 solids and surfaces, even CATIA . . . and I can't seem to come up with a combination that works.

I guess I have to wait and hope that XchangeWorks shows up.

Anyway, thanks again for your kind suggestions!

Bill

 

Well, I hope you work it out.
Maybe you have to upgrade to Inventor

 

Mechanical_Desktop is an ACIS based software (Version 4.0) not higher.

You can save Rhino-files as ACIS 4.0.

Then go to Mechanical_Desktop Insert - ACIS. That's it. Iges is always problematic.

As input into Rhino a step_file is the best. There is no ACIS import.

Up to 5MB you can use the free convertion service from Step Tools http://www.steptools.com/strepo/login.cgi?URL=/strepo/translate%2Ecgi%3F

to convert files between STEP, ACIS, and Parasolid. Log in as anonymous.

I have attached the overall situation. If you have the model in STEP, ACIS and Parasolid without any mistakes you will have not any problem in the different CAD-systems.

 

It worked!!!!!

Thank you archnav, I just tried the ACIS approach and it worked!

Now I'm in business again.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Bill

 

Argh, why didn't I think of that,
Good to see that it worked out, though