SolidSmack - Latest Comments in From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Sheldon Booth — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:13:12 -0000

i have been looking for a way to do this since i got started on sw 08,many thanks
keep up the good work

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

joshmings — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:29:20 -0000

hmmm, i think i see what your talking about. You could use this to create a model of a simplified chassis. I've had to do something similar with airframe models. What I typically do is create different SolidWorks asemblies from the data and simplify it for my needs. In your case, it may just be the front section of the chassis without anything else around it.

Whatever you do, I'd try to simplify the parts that are just being referenced.

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

dbaLindsey — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:56:33 -0000

We use truck chassis in our drawings that we send to customers. The mfg. send .step files for us to use but they come in on a DVD and the files are huge. Can I use this method to take the 3 views of a chassis and convert it to a 3D that looks ABOUT LIKE a chassis?

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Dave9T5 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:11:49 -0000

Some more direct ways to convert:

1. VECTOR-TO-VECTOR: Open the PDF with Adobe Illustrator, then re-save as DXF.

2. RASTER-TO-VECTOR: ProgeCAD 2008 Professional has an AUTOMATIC Raster-to-Vector conversion engine. (http://www.progecad.com/compra/index.asp?left=p...)

SWX could do with native implementation of both ways. Method 1. would seem a no-brainer for a vector software such as SWX. Method 2. well, ProgeCAD is based on IntelliCAD engine (same as the crummy DWGEditor).

Dave

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

marijn — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:48:20 -0000

if you want quality use png always use png if you do not have to put it on the internet ;)

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

MasterJack — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:50:53 -0000

Good stuff. I tried Print Screen but the resolution is not that great. Try this - open the PDF file, select the Snapshot tool, ZOOM IN (important) into one of the the corners of the drawing, click on the corner to start the snapshot tool then drag to the opposite corner - the screen will pan automatically. This will grab the image to the clipboard at a much higher resolution. You can then paste it into your favorite bitmap program and save as a JPG.

MasterJack

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Jason Raak — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:17:07 -0000

GREAT TUTORIAL JOSH! I love how you broke it down step by step. Like Adrian I never thought about doing this using pdf to jpg. Awesome stuff and keep up the great work!

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

marijn — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:17:43 -0000

You can do the same technix with your own sketches here an example of a car I designed:
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7135/sketchp...

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Josh — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:27:48 -0000

Right on! Print Screen for a screen capture works really good too. Having some accurate dims on the image is a real time saver too or like Adrian says, having reference for an object.

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Adrian Dunevein — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:34:36 -0000

Great tutorial Josh;

I have acrobat professional and never thought to try converting a pdf to jpg, this is very useful.

In a previous project I modelled a duct layout using a jpeg screen capture from a Google Earth satellite photo. The photo gave me a guide to the walls and topography that would interfere with the duct run.

http://aaadrafting.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-pag...

I ended up using the google earth image as a background for the models in my presentation to management.

Your technique has a lot more applications where only pdf scanned hand drawings are available.

It's wise to have a reference object whose size is known so you can scale the jpeg image properly. In my google earth image, I knew the column spacing to be 25 feet, so it was just necessary to adjust the image scaling to match 2 columns drawn at this distance apart.

Keep up the great work!

Re: From PDF to Solid: More Fun Using Images to Create SolidWorks Layouts

Kyle Mason — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:42:13 -0000

You could printscreen to get the pdf to a jpeg format.