Thoughts on converting Solidworks Drawing files to DGN (microstation)

We have a client that would like our customer approval drawings
submitted in a DGN format. Anyone have any experience with this? As
far as I can tell, microstation will read DWG formats. There are also
programs that will convert DWG to DGN format. Is this the only way?
Is there a better way? Any thoughts on this would be greatly
appreciated.

 

IIRC There actually is a microstation newsgroup or two ....
comp.cad.microstation
comp.cad.microstation.programmer

Probably a BBS or several too if you search.

 

I used to correspond with people who used Microstation, and we sent
AC's dxf files back and forth. I haven't done any in depth comparison
lately, as I don't do too many 2D drawings, and when I do they ALL go
out as pdfs.

When I do have to do a dimensioned "clean" presentable 2D drawing, for
product manuals, advertising, etc., I have routinely moved linework out
of SolidWorks via dxf (or DWG) and then into my 2D program of choice
(PowerCADD on the Mac; no rocks please).

Bo

 

G'Day Double Ace,
Yep I use both Solidworks and Microstation. Microstaion will open a DWG
or DXF file format, and will be able to save as a DGN.

 

Yes dgn is Microstation. It converts and saves to dwg fairly cleanly. If
you want to maintain colors, layers, etc. you'll have to map the ACAD layers
to Microstation levels. There maybe other issues with Xrefs and borders,
depends on versions.

Good luck

Tony

 

I seem to recall finding a DXF to DGN convertor with google once... I think
it was a couple of (Au)$k, and the project was only worth a few hundred, so
we didn't bother.

I wouldn't mind knowing if anyone has a direct SW<->DGN translator though!