The estimated fourth dimension of completion is 8 minutes

Occasionally, you might have a part or assembly from another system that you want to import into Onshape. Onshape allows the import of files from many systems, just note that when moving between any CAD system, the models lose their parametric history. Withal, Onshape supplies powerful directly editing tools and so you can still modify parts after importing them into the organization.

This lesson covers how to import a part from some other CAD arrangement and modify it with Onshape's robust direct editing tools.

Best import format

You tin can import many types of files into Onshape, but if you want to edit the part, the well-nigh reliable neutral 3D CAD file format to import into Onshape is Parasolid (.x_t). If the system the file originates in does non back up Parasolid, STEP (.step or .stp) is the next best format.

Choosing where to import in Onshape

There are two options in the Onshape interface for importing a file, each with a unlike workflow.

  1. Import from the Documents page Create > Import activity to create a new Onshape document for the imported information.
  2. Import from inside an Onshape document, to import the files into that open Onshape document.

Pick one: Create a new document for each file imported

To create a new Onshape document to incorporate your imported data, import from the Documents folio:

  1. Click the Create button on the Documents folio:
  2. Select Import files... from the card.
  3. Select 1 or many files, each file results in a new Onshape document created.
  4. Click OK when satisfied with your selection.
  5. In the Import dialog that appears, choose one of the post-obit, keeping in listen that your selection applies to all the files you selected:
    • Import to a single certificate (per file y'all select)
    • Dissever into multiple documents (split assemblies and parts into different documents, preserving structure - again, per file you select)
    • Combine to a single Role Studio (combine assemblies to Part Studios just (all-time for pocket-sized assemblies - per file selected)
  6. Choose advisable options:
    • Orient imported models with Y Axis Up - If the models in the file existence imported are in this position (e.g. SOLIDWORKS or Inventor files), and this box is checked, they will remain in this position in Onshape. Onshape's up centrality is the Z axis. (This option is not bachelor when splitting one file into multiple documents.)
  7. Click OK to begin import.

The files are uploaded in sequence and translation of the data happens in the background. You tin can continue working in Onshape during this process. Notifications are posted when processes take finished. Notice that you lot have one new Onshape document for each file that yous imported, unless you selected to split assemblies and parts into multiple documents, then yous may have more than than ane file per imported document.

Selection 2: Import into an existing certificate

To import i or more files into an existing Onshape document (with no new certificate cosmos):

  1. Open the Onshape certificate into which y'all desire to import files.
  2. Click Insert new element icon (Insert new element icon) at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Import... from the menu.
  4. Select one or more files to import and click Open.
  5. Select the preferred import option:
    • Import to this document - Import the parts to one Office Studio and the assemblies (in each file) to their own Function Studio (per file) and Assembly tabs/per assembly/file. The parts will not exist recreated for all the assemblies, but will alive in the Part Studio and exist instanced into the relevant assemblies.
    • Combine to a single Function Studio - Combine the assemblies and parts in the imported file to a single Role Studio in this open document. This is done per file selected and is best suited for small assemblies only.

    • Orient imported models with Y Axis Up - If the models in the file existence imported are in this position, and this box is checked, they will remain in this position in Onshape. Onshape'southward up axis is the Z axis. (This option is not available when splitting 1 file into multiple documents.)

The files are uploaded in sequence and translation happens in the background. Yous can continue working in Onshape during this process. Notifications are posted when processes accept finished. Notice that the document now has a new tab for each file that you imported.

Where is the imported data?

All uploaded files announced either equally private documents in the Created by me filter on the Documents page or inside the document into which they were imported.

Regardless of which import method you used, the Onshape documents containing the imported information have a tab with the original file, and and then too Part Studios and any other tabs necessary (Assemblies, for example) to shop the parts and assemblies translated from the original file.

Updating imported information

If you lot are however working on the original file within the original system, and want to update the file as information technology exists in Onshape, you lot can. To update the data imported into Onshape:

  1. Export the file once more from the original system. Notation the file proper noun and location.
  2. Open the Onshape certificate containing the originally imported information, correct-click the tab with the file proper name, and select Update.
  3. The proper noun of the Onshape tab is not changed (fifty-fifty if the file chosen for the update has a different proper noun). The data is reloaded and re-translated into Onshape.

Editing a part with directly editing tools

Onshape offers a variety of tools for editing parts with parametric histories, but sometimes imported parts exercise non come into Onshape with their history. In these instances, Onshape's direct editing tools come in handy:

Modify fillet iconAlter fillet - Change the radius of a fillet or remove existing fillets

Delete face icon Delete face - Delete one or more than faces, heal it, or leave it open to create a surface

Move face icon Motility confront - Move 1 or more selected faces linearly or almost an centrality

Replace face icon Supplant face - Replace ane or more selected faces with another face

Offset surface iconFirst surface - Create a new surface past offsetting an existing face up, surface, or sketch region. Set offset distance to 0 to create a copy in place.

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