Learning about converting an AutoCAD .dwg to a .STEP file

[ScottK]

Please move this if I put it in the wrong forum... Wasn't sure which to use.

We have a customer that is asking us to convert a 2D part assembly drawing into a STEP file.
Our CAD guy uses AutoCAD 2000 and when he goes to the export menu, the "STEP..." command is grayed out.

I have my own copy of AutoCAD Mechanical 2004... same thing.

is this translator an add on for an additional fee?
can you even convert a 2D drawing to a STEP file?
What exactly is a STEP file?
Are there pay services that will do this for us?

thanks for any help.

 

[Jim Wynne]

Please move this if I put it in the wrong forum... Wasn't sure which to use.

We have a customer that is asking us to convert a 2D part assembly drawing into a STEP file.
Our CAD guy uses AutoCAD 2000 and when he goes to the export menu, the "STEP..." command is grayed out.

I have my own copy of AutoCAD Mechanical 2004... same thing.

is this translator an add on for an additional fee?
can you even convert a 2D drawing to a STEP file?
What exactly is a STEP file?
Are there pay services that will do this for us?

thanks for any help.

If no one here has an answer, you might want to try the CAD Forum.

 

[ScottK]

If no one here has an answer, you might want to try the CAD Forum.

thanks Jim.
I'll surf around there too.

 

[M Caruso]

I could translate the drawing for you. The copy of AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop 6 that I use has the STEP translation. Unfortunately I do not know how or why my copy has this, I am just a user.

 

[ScottK]

I could translate the drawing for you. The copy of AutoCAD Mechanical Desktop 6 that I use has the STEP translation. Unfortunately I do not know how or why my copy has this, I am just a user.

Responded to you PM.
thanks very much!

 

[CarolX]

Hi Discordian,

My appologies for getting in to this discussion so late, I've been out for the week.

A great soruce of info would be this forum

http://www.cadchat.com/

The feature is greyed out because it is an add on.

What your customer is asking to have the file converted to a solid model in a format that many systems can recognize.

Here is a description of solid modeling from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_modelling

And info on file formats here

http://www.translationtech.com/glossary.asphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_modelling

There are companies that provide this service. Unfortunately, I don't have any links to them.