MODO for SolidWorks

MODO for SOLIDWORKS

Kit for MODO 901, 801, 701, 601 and 501

The MODO for SOLIDWORKS kit is for design and engineering visualization professionals wanting to import SOLIDWORKS parts, bodies and assemblies into MODO. In MODO, you can select import the data by appearance, part, body or face and create new layers in MODO to apply materials to specific parts of your design. The kit also provides user interface and navigation controls similar to SOLIDWORKS and PhotoView 360.

As you load SOLIDWORKS parts, bodies and assemblies into MODO, their original appearances and decals are retained. The kit provides options for efficiently importing your data, providing access to MODO data structures that conserve memory and leverage instanced geometry across the scene. Inside MODO, you are presented with a familiar SOLIDWORKS-style layout and navigation controls, along with drag and drop support for changing materials and selecting lighting environments.

Key features include:

- Loads SOLIDWORKS 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 model sldprt, sldasm (Windows 32-bit and 64-bit)
- Reads material edits from files saved in PhotoView 360 (2010) including appearances and decals
- Allows you to import .sldprt and .sldasm files directly into MODO.
- SOLIDWORKS viewport navigation style (zoom, pan, rotate)
- PhotoView 360 component selection modes (Part, Body, Face, Appearance)
- Drag/drop material and drag/drop environment preset application
- PhotoView 360 style render quality presets
- Convert bodies to meshes and/or static meshes
- Convert parts to meshes and/or static meshes
- Select Connected by face/art/body/appearance (select a polygon and then choose the command to select all polygons tagged with the same data)
- New mesh from selection (performs Select Connected, and then places them into a new mesh item with option to rename new layer
- New mesh from face/part/body/appearance (user sets mode, selects a polygon and runs the command to create new mesh with option to rename new layer)
- Includes nine training videos (described below)
- Library of pre-built studio lighting environments (Studio Environmental Set 1) are included in the kit

What's included?

Enhanced SOLIDWORKS import

The MODO for SOLIDWORKS kit provides additional import options for bringing SolidWorks parts, bodies and assemblies into MODO. Benefits include reduced memory usage for large files and the ability to use instances for ease of editing and reduced overhead.

PhotoView 360 compatibility

Your model opens in MODO with the same appearance and decal information as shown in SOLIDWORKS.

Familiar navigation for SOLIDWORKS users

The kit provides user interface and navigation similar to SOLIDWORKS and PhotoView 360 so you have a comfortable and consistent set of controls to work with as you leverage the advanced capabilities of MODO.

Efficient tools for selecting and reorganizing imported models

The kit provides tools for the often complex task of re-organizing your model data so that it is easier to apply materials. You can select imported data by appearance, part, body or face and create new layers in MODO to highlight specific parts of your design.

Studio lighting environments let you quickly light your models

The MODO for SOLIDWORKS kit includes the Studio Environments Set 1 kit at no extra charge. This provides a set of 51 HDRI spherical images complete with ground planes for easily obtaining professional-quality studio lighting for product shots and engineering visualizations.

Training videos get you up to speed fast

Training videos prepared by experts in both SOLIDWORKS and MODO guide you in the use of kit, including the SOLIDWORKS-specific user interface, CAD tools, workflow and rendering creation.

Note: You do not need to have SOLIDWORKS available on your system or network to use the MODO for SOLIDWORKS kit. It is currently only compatible with the Windows versions of MODO.

MODO for SOLIDWORKS Kit training videos include:

MODO for SOLIDWORKS kit overview

Product overview
Download instructions
User Interface overview
Where to get help

SOLIDWORKS kit user interface

SOLIDWORKS layout
Render tab
Scene Setup tab
Tool palette
Import options
Navigation tools
Selection tools

Prepping the SOLIDWORKS model

Applying appearances
Applying decals
Image quality settings

Importing the SOLIDWORKS data

Explore import options
Explain mesh types and optimal usage
Explain item list
Explain Shader Tree

Brief introduction to MODO

MODO default layout overview
Where to get help
Replicators
Texture basics
UV mapping
Fur material
Displacement
Animation
Morph mapping
Sculpting

Render specific workspace

Explore Shader Tree
Explore presets
Apply and edit material and environment presets
Explore navigation tools

Scene setup specific workspace

Explore item list
Explore assets (mesh, light, camera)
Explore selection tools
Explore transform tools

Output

Selecting cameras
Explore render settings
Render presets
Processing a render and saving to file

Basic animation

Turntable
Camera

Trouble shooting SOLIDWORKS file issues

Handling surface normals
Hidden geometry
Model reorientation
Importing SOLIDWORKS files prior to “ SOLIDWORKS 2009-2011” version
Mesh selection issues
UI conventions
Render preview control
Transform tools use