Importing CATIA wireframe to Solidworks

[Silverbolt]

Hi, my team has been using CATIA v5R17 to model the frame. Now, I used one of the old frame models and thought of improving it in Solidworks 2013, since I am not really proficient in using CATIA. But when I try to import the .catpart file in SW, it doesn't open. I did a fair amount of search and tried saving it with a number of different extensions. Then again the model doesn't open. I want to know if there is a solution to this.

[SNasello]

Even though Solidworks and CATIA are both from Dassault Systems, you cannot open a CATpart into Solidworks and vise versa. You have to save the file as a generic format (STEP or IGS) or rebuild the frame in solidworks, which IMO is the better solution. You only need to model the points and then its just a matter of connecting the dots.

[Silverbolt]

Thanks. I saved the CATIA model in IGS and that opened in SW, but I couldn't add weldments feature on it. Rebuilding is the only solution left.