Import board outline from Solidworks to Eagle

On 02/17/2011 05:42 PM, Dustin Lane wrote:

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way or script available to

import into Eagle the outline of a board designed in Solidworks. All I

need is for the board's dimensions to be transfered to Eagle, preferably

as dimension layer 20. The current file extension that I've been given

from Solidworks is .sldprt. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts

on how I might go about doing this?

Eagle has a DXF import ulp which I've never used it and can't provide

any guidance on it.  So if you can get Slodiworks to export to that

format, you may be in business.

Enjoy,

    - Chuck

Element 14 User wrote on Thu, 17 February 2011 17:42

Hi,

I'm trying to figure out if there is a way or script available to

import into Eagle the outline of a board designed in Solidworks.  All I

need is for the board's dimensions to be transfered to Eagle, preferably

as dimension layer 20.  The current file extension that I've been given

from Solidworks is .sldprt.  Does anyone have any suggestions or

thoughts on how I might go about doing this?

Yes, what you want is to use the dxf.ulp to export data in DXF format.

There are also a few other ULP's that do similar things in CadSoft's

http://www.cadsoftusa.com/cgi-bin/download.pl?page=/home/cadsoft/html_public/download.htm.en&dir=eagle/userfiles/ulp

at the website.  If I recall, there is one there that handles layer 0

better which is an issue with some CAD programs.

You can even export the traces and silk etc which can help a bit verifying

fit, clearances etc -- though that all has to be done manually.  I've done

exactly what you are doing so I know that it can be made to work.  It's not

ideal but it's better than nothing.

Good luck.

James.

--

James Morrison  ~~~  Stratford Digital

Specializing in CadSoft EAGLE

• Online Sales to North America

• Electronic Design Services

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Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

James,

I think you may have misinterpreted my question.  I don't want to export a board layout from Eagle, I in fact want to do the opposite.  I want to import a board layout into eagel from Solidworks.  I have been able to get a dxf file from Solidworks, I just need to find some sort of script that will read it into Eagle for me.  Do you know of anything like that?

Thanks.

On 2/18/2011 4:54 PM, Dustin Lane wrote:

James,

I think you may have misinterpreted my question.  I don't want to export a board layout from Eagle, I in fact want to do the opposite.  I want to import a board layout into eagel from Solidworks.  I have been able to get a dxf file from Solidworks, I just need to find some sort of script that will read it into Eagle for me.  Do you know of anything like that?

 

Thanks.

 

Go to the eagle downloads area on their website, there is a rudimentary

ULP to import polygons in .dxf

No idea how well it works, but probably get you most of the way there...

Am 19.02.2011 02:24, schrieb Gary Gofstein:

On 2/18/2011 4:54 PM, Dustin Lane wrote:

>> James,

>> I think you may have misinterpreted my question.  I don't want to

>> export a board layout from Eagle, I in fact want to do the opposite.

>> I want to import a board layout into eagel from Solidworks.  I have

>> been able to get a dxf file from Solidworks, I just need to find some

>> sort of script that will read it into Eagle for me.  Do you know of

>> anything like that?

>>

>> Thanks.

>>

Go to the eagle downloads area on their website, there is a rudimentary

ULP to import polygons in .dxf

No idea how well it works, but probably get you most of the way there...

As far as I know  eagle_pcb_power_tools.... by Falk Stricker can do.

==> ftp://ftp.cadsoft.de/eagle/userfiles/misc/

Hope this helps.

--

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / Best regards

Richard Hammerl

CadSoft Support -- hotline@cadsoft.de

FAQ: http://www.cadsoft.de/faq.htm

Thanks for the help everyone.

I endedup downloading the demo version of the power tools and that worked just great.

Thanks again,

Dustin

Eagle 5.8.2 has the import_dxf ulp and it works perfectly with dxf-s saved from solidworks with default settings. Watch out where the origin on the model is, you might have to shift things around with the origin parameters.