FormatWorks offers not only data format conversion, but it has integrated advanced repair & healing tuned to specific requirements of SolidWorks. FormatWorks is not only supporting CAD data formats not present in SolidWorks, but it will in general perform better translation than SolidWorks on formats such as IGES, STEP and even native formats as Pro/E and UGX supported in SolidWorks. The solution in this case is FormatWorks. The support data formats both native (Pro/E, UGX) as neutral (IGES, STEP, VDA-FS) are not always give results you want to have.

You cannot import directly native CATIA V4 or CATIA V5 into SolidWorks. In addition not all CAD data formats are supported in SolidWorks. Those who tried they know that importing CAD models into SolidWorks is not always a very simple task. Let’s consider the situation when it does not work. If this works and you get solid 3D model in SolidWorks your work will be easily done. Even if your CAD models come from different CAD systems you can always use standard SolidWorks import capability. This is a very good practice as long you do not need to deal with CAD models created in another CAD system. There is no need to go to any other application to complete the work. They can design CAD models and start CAM application to prepare 3D model for manufacturing without changing the working environment. Users benefit from familiar user interface in one integrated environment. They simply call necessary functions using standard SolidWorks API. The developers can focus on specific of CAM implementation instead of programming basic CAD functions required in their application. This approach offers a lot of benefits to both developers as users. This is the reason why leading CAM companies such as SolidCAM and Cimtronics (CAMWorks) have chosen SolidWorks as development platform. Building a CAM application on an existing and widely accepted CAD product offers a lot of advantages.

Solid cam 2016