"Data exchange between Pro/ENGINEER and AutoCAD is largely one way street,” explains Deelip Menezes, Founder and CEO of SYCODE. "Pro/ENGINEER has the ability to read 2D and 3D data from AutoCAD DWG and DXF files. But the reverse is not possible. This is not that big a problem since data exchange between AutoCAD and Pro/ENGINEER mostly involves converting a 2D drawing or a 3D solid in AutoCAD to a 3D model in Pro/ENGINEER. However, in recent releases Autodesk has added significant 3D solid modeling capabilities to AutoCAD, but has not matched it with the ability to read proprietary 3D data from solid modeling systems like Pro/ENGINEER. Pro/ENGINEER Import for AutoCAD gives AutoCAD users the ability to open 3D solid models designed in Pro/ENGINEER and carry out solid modeling operations on them.”
Pro/ENGINEER Import for AutoCAD can read Pro/ENGINEER part PRT and assembly ASM files from Pro/ENGINEER version 16 to Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0. The plug-in is powered by the widely used 3D InterOp technology from Spatial. 3D InterOp is the industry standard for proprietary CAD file format data exchange and is used in almost all the major CAD systems. Besides data exchange 3D InterOp also offers powerful repairing and healing features which are extensively used in Pro/ENGINEER Import for AutoCAD. Repairing involves checking the file for corrupted data and fixing the invalid data. Healing corrects the differences in precision. Pro/ENGINEER Import for AutoCAD also creates a detailed log file which is extremely useful in identifying data translation problems and aids in locating and fixing errors.
Pro/ENGINEER Import for AutoCAD works with AutoCAD 2000 through to AutoCAD 2010, 32 Bit as well as 64 Bit and is available as a fully functional trial. The plug-in comes with an installer and detailed documentation in the form of a compiled HTML help file which contains a step-by-step tutorial to get the end user started in the shortest possible time.
More information about Pro/ENGINEER Import for AutoCAD and a download can be found at http://www.sycode.com/
