Import SCAD to Solidworks

The fact is OpenSCAD is really an odd beast that is incompatible with mainstream CAD software. The reason is mainly the choice of no real geometric kernel to speak of but CGAL and OpenCSG software libraries for geometric computation and screen rendering. OpenSCAD does not export to standard CAD formats like STEP or IGES.

One possible way would be to use the open source software FreeCAD. Since v0.13 it has an OpenSCAD module that allows it to import OpenSCAD files in .scad or .csg formats. It is still experimental though, and some OpenSCAD features are not supported so results will vary depending on the file. I’ve had some files open perfectly, others open with some geometry errors, and then some that failed to load.

OpenSCAD needs to be installed for the module to work in FreeCAD.

Once the OpenSCAD file is loaded in FreeCAD, you can export it to STEP which can then be imported in SolidWorks.

FreeCAD can also convert STL files to solids. They will still have polygonal facets but at least will be editable.

Got it to work perfectly and with minimal effort.

  • Export as CSG from OpenSCAD
  • open CSG in FreeCAD
  • Save as STEP File
  • Open STEP in Solidworks and save as Solidworks Part.

Can now be edited and used in solidworks Assemblies



Source: https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?1,220486

Jan D.
Jan D.

"The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability."

Articles: 744

Leave a Reply

Vaše e-mailová adresa nebude zveřejněna. Vyžadované informace jsou označeny *