The Complete DGN to SolidWorks Conversion Guide.

This guide is part of the RapidPipeline 3D Formats Knowledge Database. It shows how to convert DGN to SolidWorks, if you'd like to know more about the formats, please check out the following links:

• Learn more about the DGN format
• Learn more about the SolidWorks format

There are various ways to convert between DGN and SolidWorks. With RapidPipeline, you can easily convert and and optimize DGN files, at scale. It supports SolidWorks, as well as many other file formats (examples: FBX, glTF, OBJ, PLY, STL, USD, USDZ, VRM), at high quality.

Below you can find a video explaining how to convert your files:

The DGN file is a format mostly used for CAD and infrastructure design data.
The SolidWorks file is a format mostly used for Professional 3D CAD software for mechanical design and product development.

The following limitations should be taken into account when converting DGN files to SolidWorks format:

DGN Feature (not supported by SolidWorks)

Limitation Details

Vertex Colors

Vertex Colors Support: DGN: Full support | SolidWorks: Partial support SolidWorks Notes: Limited vertex color support, mainly through part coloring and appearance assignments rather than per-vertex color data. Impact: Vertex colors allow the attachment of colors to each vertex of a 3D model. This can be useful in scenarios such as scientific visualization, or when converting/meshing data from a colored 3D point cloud, for example. On the polygonal surface connecting the vertices, the respective vertex colors are usually smoothly interpolated. In this example, different colors are attached to the different corners of a cube. Without support for this feature, the cube won't have any colors.

Doing 3D conversion right, especially at scale, can be tricky, as 3D data is in general a rather complex (yet very powerful!) medium. This also applies to DGN and SolidWorks files - the conversion guide above provides a rough first idea about that. Once you know what you would like to do, tools like RapidPipeline can help you perform the necessary steps, and to even automate the process for thousands or even millions of files.

Especially when introducing pipelines and workflows at scale in an enterprise context, it is usually good to rely on dedicated tools and expertise, making sure you do not introduce any steps into your 3D workflow that are detrimental to the final output's quality, or that take your team too much time (and money).

If you're interested to hire dedicated expertise from the best in the field to help your company reach your goals fast and reliably, please do not hestitate to contact DGG. Being the creators of RapidPipeline, and ambassadors for open 3D standards for more than a decade, we have been building some of the world's most advanced 3D pipelines, having processed many millions of 3D assets.

Therefore, our expertise will help you to reach your goals faster, at scale, and with the least possible friction, since we are focused on maximum interoperability.

To get started with 3D data conversion and optimization today, sign up for a free account!

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our human team.