This is another reason I request the .easm files configured for eDrawings. I import the PDF into Adobe Illustrator and it comes in as vector art. I then can change the line weights delete unwanted lines if needed, use the masks, and add the other elements such as callouts. I did an entire parts manual this way. This same client had some very large SolidWorks files that I could not handle so I taught the engineer how to save the file as .easm, open in eDrawings and then make the PDF. When I needed specific components or views, I sat with him to get what I needed.
Tim Lewis Lewis Technical Communications, Inc. ltc.writer at comcast.net > -----Original Message----- > From: Alison Craig [mailto:Alison.Craig at ultrasonix.com] > Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 12:10 PM > To: Tim Lewis; framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: RE: off topic: e-drawings, eps files, frame and pdf > > Tim: > > What if you need to add "stuff" to the drawings, like I do? Can you do that in the > format you're describing? > > The AI files I get from the Mechanical engineers do not contain Part Numbers or > tool descriptions (for Service personnel). I also change the colour of some items > so they stand out from the B&W line drawings as well as add arrows to ensure the > correct part is identified with its part name and number. > > FYI: I got an e-mail from R&D yesterday. They were just at a SolidWorks demo > where they saw "3D Via Composer". I haven't done my homework yet, but > apparently it would allow me to grab a view and do things to it then pull it directly > into FrameMaker. It also allows for HTML conversion and video creation: > http://www.hawkridgesys.com/products/3dvia-composer/. The drawback is that a > single-seat server edition is $6,000. > > Alison > > Alison Craig, Technical Writer > Ultrasonix Medical Corporation > Tel: (604) 279-8550, ext 127 > E-mail: alison.craig at ultrasonix.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers- > bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Tim Lewis > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 11:07 AM > To: framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: RE: off topic: e-drawings, eps files, frame and pdf > > I like using the SolidWorks eDrawings and often prefer it because too many times > the engineers are either too busy to give me the drawings or the views I need. It > has been far easier to ask for .easm files that have been saved for eDrawings. > Then I open the file, rotate it to show what I need and hide those elements that I do > not need. Then I print the result to a PDF, which I can import into Illustrator if > needed. > > Tim Lewis > Lewis Technical Communications, Inc. > ltc.writer at comcast.net > > > -----Original Message----- > Jo: > > According to my mechanical designer (Alex has been great - teaching me about > what I can do via AI with his SolidWorks stuff) there is pretty much *zero* work > involved for the engineers to Save As an AI file (or a DWG file if your SoildWorks > is older than the 2009 version) when they Save As to an EASM file. > > Is there a company protocol that forbids saving as an AI or DWG? > > If not, I highly suggest you try to get the engineer to spend an extra few seconds > getting you what the user/customer needs - maybe bribe him with some doughnuts > or muffins ;-)). > > In the past, I've had to use non-vector SolidWorks images and *no one* has been > happy with the results. > > Alison > > From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com > [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Jo Watkiss > Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 2:28 AM > To: framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: RE: off topic: e-drawings, eps files, frame and pdf > > Thanks everybody for lots of advice and suggestions. > > We don't have access to Solidworks itself, only the 3D e-drawing (.easm) that is > supplied by the project engineer. We use the Solidworks eDrawings Viewer to > manipulate the model to get the illustration that we need. > Unfortunately, if we want to export a vector, its 'all or nothing' > - which is probably why the resulting image renders so slowly on screen. > > > I agree that in a perfect world the engineer would create all the illustrations we need > as 2D PDFs directly from Solidworks; or we would have another Solidworks > licence so that we could do it ourselves. In our imperfect world, we have to make > do with the eDrawing. > > I've concluded its best to use a bitmap wherever possible, and a vector only when > absolutely necessary. > > Cheers, > Jo > > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to framers as alison.craig at ultrasonix.com. > > Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com. > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com > or visit > http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/alison.craig%40ultrasoni x.co > m > > Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
