Solidworks users,
What is the quickest way you go from SW into Rhino and start rendering. We usually export a step, going from either SW or ProE. A step file requires you to explode the model until only polysurfaces remain.
Does anyone have any tricks where they don’t have to explode their model first?
I’m trying to figure out the fastest way to get in and get out. Going through a parametric modeler is the tricky part.
Thanks,
Brian
Re: Model Import Procedure? Solidworks > Rhino > Vray Rendering
I haven’t had any experience with this, but you might also try IGES and see if that helps. I think you may have the opposite problem though where all the surfaces are separate.
Re: Model Import Procedure? Solidworks > Rhino > Vray Rendering
I’m a designer who works with engineers, so I go from Pro-E into Rhino.
I usually use obj (wavefront) files and export the assy, hiding or suppressing the components I don’t want in rhino. Its best if your parts in Pro-E are good enough to make them “solid” instead of just surfaces, and you can adjust the output mesh to be very fine. if the parts are different colors at export, they will show up as separate components on import. stp files are a good option too despite the exploding hassle.
I’d avoid igs, usually it takes forever to get anything remotely complicated into Rhino, and the geometry that results usually has some errors, and dalomar is right, all the surfaces are separate. not sure if its pro or rhino or just export/import settings, but the other formats just seem to work better.
I know there was a pro-e plugin to go between pro and rhino, but I haven’t tried it. Not sure if that will be part of wildfire 4/5… if anyone’s tried it, please let us know.
also looking for good tips if you’ve got them!
Re: Model Import Procedure? Solidworks > Rhino > Vray Rendering
I have done a decent amount of this, working with other designers using Alias and Engineers using Ideas and NX (unigraphics). . . also importing 3D coming back from Chinese manufacturers (Typically Step Assemblies from Pro/E)
Of generic file formats step and iges are the two prime suspects you will be dealing with (i.e. not 3DM, .Prt or any other native file formats, which are saved in the file format of the program which creates them)
Iges >
In my experience, importing Iges is by far the worst! Iges files are single surfaces which are typically ‘grouped’ together in Alias to form what are supposed to be solid objects. . . they very rarely ‘join’ in rhino to form a closed polysurface (something to do with Alias’ tolerances or a fundimental floor in its ability to export its own data reliably, or a bit of both). I get caught in loops of finding the naked edges in rhino to ‘fix’ the file and usually output it as a Step (STP) file.
This is literally the bane of my life! it turns a supposedly quick job into a nightmare, it reduces me from being a talented designer into doing the donkey work of a middle man between two people. . . Iges is a black void into which I have thrown copious amounts of time over the last 3 years!
Alias does have a ‘stich’ command which I’ve been led to believe is not dissimilar to Rhino’s ‘Join’ although in a majority of cases fails to join surfaces and leaves any number of naked, unjoined edges in Alias. . . so the problems exist even before the 3D data is exported from Alias. (I have a suspicion it is to do with too slack a native tolerance in Alias)
A ‘Polysurface’ in Rhino (a number of surfaces joined into one object) does not constitute a ‘Closed Polysurface’ which is a solid. . . I have ran into trouble in the past where I have been asked to render in vRay for example a glass blender goblet modeled in Alias. . . if the render material you assign in vRay for rhino has a fog colour or translucency. . . you are about to shovel time into the void, and get caught in the remodeling loop of closing a polysurface (essentially making good a bad job)
(Hint: For a rendering you can convert the offending ‘solid’ to a mesh and then cap the holes in the mesh. . . Much quicker and easier!)
Step files 
Are much more reliable! Belive me, if importing Solidworks files to Rhino is giving you trouble. . . By avoiding Iges you are ducking a bullet by bending down to tie your shoelaces!
I belive there is a plug in for opening rather than importing solidworks files into Rhino?? http://download.rhino3d.com/Rhino/3.0/solidworks-3dm-import/
The easiest thing to have is the components (stp) in the assembly in one folder and then import them one by one, assign them to their own layer and hit the explode command once to convert it from a ‘block instance’ into a closed polysurface.
Alternatively you can import the Stp assembly into Rhino, explode the assembly down to its component Closed Polysurfaces and you’re already halfway to setting up your rendering in vRay for Rhino. . .
Hope this helps!
Re: Model Import Procedure? Solidworks > Rhino > Vray Rendering
Bit of a rant there, haha.
In answer to your question. . .
1. Export your entire solidworks assembly as Step format to your desktop (?)
2. Open said step assembly in Rhino
3. Go to EDIT>Select objects>Block Instances
4. Explode those instances and then deselect everything
5. Repeat 3 and 4 until Rhino no longer recognises a block instance
Then what you have left is Closed Polysurfaces. . . any further setup is for Vray i.e. lights/materials and don’t forgret texture mapping for brushed surfaces etc
I have a 3DM file with a generic white floor/background and 3 light setup which I use for product shots which I simply import into the file and assign materials. Pick views of the product, save the views and open batch render. . .
Long story short. . . Using this method I can typically go from Step assembly to clicking go on the batch renderer in 10-15 minutes
Works well for me, I’m curious if anyone else has a more efficient approach?
Cheers
Stu