1. Home
  2. Solidworks CAD Design software
  3. SWX2005 - Layers in drawings

SWX2005 - Layers in drawings

Hello,

I have several drawings sent to me in Autocad format that I need to register against one another in SWX2005. I can import them easily as drawings, copy various chunks of them onto the clipboard, create a new drawing, and paste them into different layers. I can't find a way to make a layer visible, yet inactive. My only option is to turn a layer off at which point it disappears. Am I missing something about SWX's layering tool or do I need to look for a workaround? I am trying to 'slide' one drawing against the others to first get a visual feel for whether something I want to do is worthwhile.

I suppose I could print them to transparencies and register them that way but I am sure there is some way to do it on-screen.

Thanks,

--- Ravi

Reply to
groupslrn
Loading thread data ...

Have you tried inserting them as blocks?

Reply to
Dale Dunn

No, I have not but will look into it. I thought they were for relatively static elements like the title blocks, etc. Thank you for the tip.

--- Ravi

Reply to
groupslrn

The blocks tip worked quite nicely. I have two drawings that I can slide against one another. Thank you.

Is it possible to place constraints between the two in block form so as to quantify the registration? I would ultimately like to generate dimensions but I think I have to explode the blocks to be able to do that. In my specific case I would like to make two holes (one per block) concentric and two edges parallel.

--- Ravi

Reply to
groupslrn

To make a relation between them, you'll have to import them into part files, then copy & paste them into the same part. Once there, use derived sketch to make copies of them. The derived sketches will move all as one entity, is if they were blocks. Make a drawing view of part with these sketches visible. You'll be able to dimension to them as well.

If they need to be on separate layers still, you'll have to use convert entities in the drawing view to create linked entities in the drawing that can be set to layers. This will be a pain. Then hide the sketches in the part.

In 2006 you can use sketch blocks in the part, instead of derived sketches (which can be twitchy).

Reply to
Dale Dunn

Thanks. I did a visual alignment at high zoom and got to where the errors are smaller than my notional machining tolerances. I would have been floundering much longer had it not been for the suggestion of using blocks to get to this point.

Now, back to grappling with assemblies, mates, and rotations...

--- Ravi

Reply to
groupslrn

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.