SOLIDWORKS - Re-orient an Imported File

Learn how to create a new coordinate system in SOLIDWORKS on imported parts that my have improper alignment to the existing planes.
Quick Tip presented by Jay Pierson of GoEngineer.
See more at: www.goengineer....

[@sarahmchugh6574]

I cannot tell you how grateful I am for this video.. I had to print of some work out due for this evening and all of a sudden my whole assembly was off. Thank you!

[@Deqster]

This video might have been for an older version of SW, but I can confirm the procedure still works in v2020! Perhaps this problem's been addressed another way now, but this worked. Thanks!

[@barsecevit3898]

You saved literally saved my life. I had prepared a geometry in Spaceclaim and suddenly, coordinate system has changed and there is no way to change it back. Thank you a lot :D Because of you my BCs will be correct :D

[@senslessog2890]

This was the most helpfull video i have watched in a long time, had a lot of struggles with that annoying problem. Thanks a lot man!!!!

[@goengineer]

Thank You. if you are interested in additional SOLIDWORKS Tutorial videos be sure to subscribe to our channel: kzbin.infovideos

[@ThisHandleIzntAvailable]

OH MY WORD THIS VIDEO JUST SAVED MY LIFE. Spent the last 3 hours going crazy trying to figure this out. Thank you!

[@goengineer]

You're welcome! . Be sure to subscribe for more great 3D CAD Design and 3D printing tutorials.

[@swampcastle8142]

Great tip. Still useful in 2022.

[@daniillinnik7092]

Thanks for the tip! I learned something new and I've been using Solidworks for about 10 years now. In my case the imported file was a STEP file and after adding a new coordinate system I saved it as a STEP again before re-saving as a solid part. So I guess the suggestion would be, after adding a new coordinate system, save the imported file as the same type as the original. It not necessarily would be ACIS, it could be other types.

[@MarkWinward]

At first I thought this didn't work. BUT a couple of important points I found out. When making the sketch you need to use a planar face I believe and not a plane of the model you're trying to change. Also I had to make a 2nd sketch as my original part imported as a Parasolid the "TOP" was actually FRONT which was SOOOOOO annoying. So I made 1 sketch for X and Y and another for Z. Then when imputting the "NEW" Z this would be the sketch that was actually on the X or Y of the reference model I wanted to change.! It took like an hour to figure this out but it worked!

[@auroprasaddas6335]

thank you bro, you helped me in the my machine design class

[@zxys001]

Save As "Parasolid" (X_T) Parasolid is the native geometric modeling kernel Solidworks uses,... Parasolid x_t is a clean native import/export. (SAT or STEP or IGES go through a translation)

[@keepleft99]

What a hero! Was struggling with this for a while but this was the video that helped!

[@goengineer]

Happy to help. Be sure to subscribe for more great 3D CAD Design and 3D printing tutorials.

[@rittirongch.5601]

Thank you so much. I had spent time through this week that estimately more than a haft handress vdo. This toturial can solve it at my hobby. :)

[@SAULSAAVEDRA]

Thanks a lot, finally I don't need to redo all my assemblies, a great way to teach and explain.

[@goengineer]

Glad it helped!

[@phongcaraven87]

Thank you.

[@markmusk521]

you are a savior thank you very much

[@binoytk5144]

Thank you so much its a great help for me.

[@jorge.000]

Man, this made modeling donwloaded parts 100 times easier

[@yugalsharavana8474]

u saved my life

[@nightRanger0077]

I think you can use move/copy command and use constraints in that command to move the part to the origin .

[@matjones9500]

Yep you can and it takes 1% of the time it took this guy

[@VictoryRangeHoods]

Thanks, looks promising ! What if you have assembly, not part?

[@Marticus518]

I love you for this

[@brian-_-]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@iroshanwickremasinghe4629]

Thanks a lot

[@maxgreen6838]

Thank you sir! Saved my a lot of time and nerves!

[@goengineer]

Thank you for sharing that. We love helping.

[@atharvadeshpande9782]

Thanks!! Saved me a lott of time.

[@muhammadhafizuldanish4065]

This was very helpful! Thank you sir

[@samsman007]

This video is 8 years old. Is there any update for the latest version of Solidworks?

[@zacharydonahue6378]

Excellent explanation.

[@pantona3d]

Thanks a lot. Very useful video.

[@goengineer]

You are welcome.

[@cezarsilva386]

Great help. Thanks for sharing.

[@muhammadhaziqmohammadzaimi9999]

THANKS A LOT MAN!!!!!!!!! REALLY HELP ME

[@goengineer]

Glad it helped!

[@olal449]

Thank you very much.

[@shubhambeniwalanddesigns2903]

Very helpful thanks 👍

[@vijaysai3618]

Great Video!

[@goengineer]

Glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to subscribe for more great 3D CAD Design and 3D printing tutorials.

[@6milesup]

Awesome!! Thank you!

[@miho8803]

Thank you Sir!

[@Rene_Christensen]

Brilliant! Just used this, thanks.

[@goengineer]

Fantastic!

[@lehgeng]

Thanks!

[@dabara2004]

how do we change the global coordinate frame in solidworks to something else for example, the aerospace North (x) East(y) Down (z) (NED) frame. I am a beginner and I am trying to do this with no luck. Thank you

[@larsvanbeurden5332]

nice video. useful

[@vinithara5004]

Thanks 😊😊😊

[@sofiaorzacaneda2991]

Thank you so much! I really needed this tutorial!

[@goengineer]

You are so welcome. We are so glad it was helpful. Be sure to subscribe for more great 3D CAD Design and 3D printing tutorials.

[@josephvo223]

very nice bro

[@electronige3444]

Thanks man that was causing me so much hassle

[@goengineer]

Awesome! That's why we create videos like this. Have a great day.

[@luchuard1352]

thank you!!

[@shooter7a]

This is not working at all for me. When I add the coordinate system, and select lines to define an axis, the functionality is all screwed up. When I select a second axis, the first one I selected moves, resulting in improper orientation.

[@Bianchi77]

Cool video, how can I rotate some imported step files ? thanks

[@akhtarkh]

Wow and thanks.

[@TeraBaap-ie6cw]

Wonderful bro thanks for the help

[@goengineer]

We are happy to help. Be sure to subscribe for more great 3D CAD Design and 3D printing tutorials.

[@RedBatteryHead]

Thanks for the explanation. Do think its a flaw in SW. You shouldn't need to rename a template cause of this. Template should need that setting Z upward standard. You can change Z-upward too in views. hing is this also needs to be done every file... Z is always Upright in coordinates. Why is it vertical in SW?!

[@goengineer]

Different industries standardize these orientations differently. Solidworks gives us the tools to create templates to accommodate whatever is the most practical for our different industries.

[@moch.ghifarifajrin5636]

the thing is i can't select face of the part. what sould i do?

[@goengineer]

There are a number of things that could cause that issue. The first thing to look into is making sure you have a proper graphics card and river combo www.goengineer.com/blog/checking-your-graphics-card-with-solidworks-rx If updating the driver does not help get with your VAR for further troubleshooting advice.

[@venkatareddyvadisela6780]

thanks anna

[@andrisvitus4086]

Good job!

[@goengineer]

Thank you!

[@user-yb3ml7dh5l]

brilliant! thank you!

[@goengineer]

Thanks for watching, DKIM

[@sureshch6412]

thankyou

[@goengineer]

We appreciate you watching!

[@srijankumar6438]

Thanks a lot you saved me

[@goengineer]

We are happy to help. Be sure to subscribe for more great 3D CAD Design and 3D printing tutorials.

[@sendwithafriend]

Why do you suggest saving as ACIS or SAT when the native kernel to Solidworks is Parasolid?

[@sendwithafriend]

Parasolid has the coordinate option as well. I'm just wondering why you would switch from the native kernel and risk data loss or corruption?

[@sendwithafriend]

Okay thanks!

[@iankavuma1581]

Thank you hugely..

[@goengineer]

You are very welcome

[@carlosbecerra9296]

PROBLEM: when you save as SAT and reopen, all the original defining geometry is lost. You end up with an imported file. Not good

[@goengineer]

Anytime you convert your solidworks file to another file type you are likely going to lose your feature tree information. This is a limitation of the generic file formats not holding the tree information. You can use feature recognition to get some or all of the feature info back, Or if you are trying to re-orient your model you can try to Update standard views like in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWKXoqWdh8plgKc

[@brahimlakhachib4121]

i tried to change cordonate system for step but it would not work and when i check my file i did not find my cordonate any more

[@brahimlakhachib4121]

I know i did the same option but it did not work for me i use solidworkjs 2013

[@kandasamyrajan]

Thank you

[@Creativity_DIY]

Thanks 4Ur solution..

[@goengineer]

Thank you for stopping by our channel.

[@ChineseNailArtists]

I use this to change my part with a hole, does not work

[@samuelvenegas2246]

thksss

[@imadatallah4703]

thanks

[@goengineer]

Thank you for watching.

[@monsterjesse]

Sweet

[@goengineer]

Thank you for watching!

[@philipmarkedwards]

Can this be applied to an existing assembly to remain as an assembly with the new coordinate system?

[@goengineer]

Hi Philip, There is no reason this same technique could not be applied to an assembly. An assembly should reconstitute itself as an assembly after going through this process.

[@philipmarkedwards]

I got it figured out. Thanks.

[@lf7161]

I couldn't reopen the ACIS (*.sat) file, it said how to you want to open this file ( look for an app in the app store....)

[@goengineer]

Hi Luke, ACIS (.SAT) files are not associated to SOLIDWORKS be default. These are a somewhat neutral CAD format that is read by many CAD programs. You can open this file in SOLIDWORKS by going through the 'File', 'Open' dialog, selecting ACIS file type, and opening the file directly though.

[@antoniodray8414]

Or you can open a new empty part in solid works and drag the file, it worked for me and I had the same problem

[@MrPunkb]

when i clear the slection, the lines disapper, what did you do friend?

[@daringrosser6242]

Hi there! Which part of the video are you referring to? I didn't create this content but can point you in the right direction. :)

[@MrPunkb]

@@daringrosser6242 Nevermind i found the solution, tks

[@besamahmed692]

Hi, Do you know please how I can switch from coordinate system to spherical system in SolidWorks?

[@goengineer]

Hi Besam, Reference Coordinate Systems in SOLIDWORKS are exclusively Cartesian coordinate systems. You don't have any options for spherical coordinate systems presently.

[@besamahmed692]

Thank you very much for your quick answer.

[@libinbabu2081]

thank you

[@goengineer]

We appreciate you watching! Be sure to subscribe to our channel.

[@antoniodray8414]

Thanks man

[@mktaha1341]

After saving as SAT i lost my model.........

[@goengineer]

Mk Tsha, in order to get accurate assistance with this, you would be best served by contacting your local SOLIDWORKS reseller. More information and details will be needed in order to adequately assist you. Thank you for watching.

[@SAULSAAVEDRA]

Save it as ACIS

[@asunaluna3006]

♡

[@fxsrider]

I was presented with three choices when I began a sketch. Top, Right, Front. To me the top is above the bottom. I was starting on the top, figuring I could design upward from the top plane, essentially making the initial information about it the bottom of my part. Extruding upward. So I thought. Wrong! This shit is as intuitive as hieroglyphics carved into rocks. SolidWorks, where up is not up, it's to the other side of the front. The one we chose for you. It pisses me straight off. I know you are trying to explain how to change it. I am wondering WHY? Why does the top of a sketch protrude from the front or side or whatever they decided to call it? Is there some legitimate reason Y is interchanged with Z? My CNC has Z as a waterline.

[@MrCoolios12]

I like how we need 5 minutes to simply "rotate" because solidworks is so trash and anti-user

[@batgandi]

Thanks a lot. Very useful video.