Solid edge 2D

[3405jimmy]

As Fusion 360 have now stopped the export of drawings as dfx's. I need something to use to create a proper drawing from their alternative "export from a sketch". Which is just a dumb file with no information on it other than the geometry.

I have dabbled in SE2D for a bit but think it might be prudent to get a bit more up to speed on it. So I wanted to use the help files. I get this warning when I try to open the help and tutorials. I have followed the learn more and am still not clear what to do. Has anyone cracked this and can explain it to me ?

I get a warning the edited highlights being

Solid edge could not navigate to web server help
An option on the helpers tab controls where solid edge looks for the help server.

[uuu]

This is where my copy goes when I hit F1: Solid Edge help

See if this link works for you.

It took me a while to get going with the program - it is my first foray into CAD. It exports .dxf files that go into my CAM program very well.

Wilf

[Neale]

I'm curious about why you want to export DXF format. F360 still lets you produce fully-dimensioned drawings with, as far as I can see, no loss of functionality. What they don't allow is directly writing PDF files. So what you do instead is use the "Print" function from the file menu, and select an appropriate "print to PDF" virtual printer as the output device. I use the Adobe "virtual printer" which I think gets installed along with Adobe Reader but there are others around. I've just tested this so it isn't just my imagination! Took an existing component, created a drawing and added a few random dimensions, then did a "print to PDF." As far as I can see, it looks exactly like the "Output to PDF" that I used to get directly from F360 but it takes a few more mouse clicks.

If you actually need DXF to go to a dedicated CAM for plasma or water-jet or something, that's a different story but engineering drawings to PDF are a doddle!

[3405jimmy]

Oct 4, 2020 12:07:45 GMT uuu said:

This is where my copy goes when I hit F1: Solid Edge help

See if this link works for you.

It took me a while to get going with the program - it is my first foray into CAD. It exports .dxf files that go into my CAM program very well.

Wilf

Thanks Wilf that works a treat. I downloaded the 2020 version and F1 just brings up the dialog box I quoted.

Jim

[3405jimmy]

Oct 4, 2020 14:24:06 GMT Neale said:

I'm curious about why you want to export DXF format. F360 still lets you produce fully-dimensioned drawings with, as far as I can see, no loss of functionality. What they don't allow is directly writing PDF files. So what you do instead is use the "Print" function from the file menu, and select an appropriate "print to PDF" virtual printer as the output device. I use the Adobe "virtual printer" which I think gets installed along with Adobe Reader but there are others around. I've just tested this so it isn't just my imagination! Took an existing component, created a drawing and added a few random dimensions, then did a "print to PDF." As far as I can see, it looks exactly like the "Output to PDF" that I used to get directly from F360 but it takes a few more mouse clicks.

If you actually need DXF to go to a dedicated CAM for plasma or water-jet or something, that's a different story but engineering drawings to PDF are a doddle!

Yes for the laser man. I work in imperial dimensions from 60 year old drawings he likes things in metric. So I want to convert the dimensions, add a reference dimension to make sure there are no errors in the conversion. Probably add material and quantity required.

I would also put all the parts I need cutting on one drawing from whatever design I am working on.

In short a proper drawing to manufacture from, the F360 export from sketch offers none of this.

Jim

[3405jimmy]

Another SE question, I am leaning in far more for 2D work using SE since the demise of dfx export in Fusion. One thing that is driving me mad is layers.

I like to assign a line type and colour to each layer with say geometry on one layer hidden lines on a second centerlines on a third , etc.,.

What i cannot work out is why when swapping between layers SE doesn't remember what i had set up, and defaults to whatever I had used in the previous layer. Yes i am right clicking make layer active.

I thought the answer might be right click then properties but all that comes up is a blank table which i have even less understanding of and can find nothing in the files Wilf linked for me.

Any clues

Jim

[uuu]

I use layers a lot - and like you they tend to have colours within the layer. But you're right, the colour and line style just holds with whatever you previously used, irrespective of layer, and I've not tried to find a way out. I think "line style" might be what you need - I've not used it - but if it's anything like Word or Excel, it ought to work.

Meanwhile - has anyone found a way to set the origin of the drawing to anything but the bottom left? I can reset each component easily enough when I get the file into CAM, but sometimes I have to include an artefact on the drawing some fixed distance from the part to make alignment easier.

Wilf

[iant]

I'm not exactly sure whether this is what you are after Wilf - I'm still learning SE2020 myself.

docs.plm.automation.siemens.com/tdoc/se/2020/se_help/#uid:index#goto:working_with_2d_geometry:pinpnt2c

Regards,

IanT

[uuu]

Thank you - that may well be what I'm looking for. I've had a quick play just now, and will give it a better go later.

Wilf