Q: How do I save my SolidWorks™ model so it can be imported into Photopia?

A: Load your assembly drawing into SolidWorks™. Select File / Save As and set the File Type to STL. Select the Options button on the file dialog and use the following settings:

1. We recommend a quality setting of “Fine.”
2. Check the option that is labeled “Do not translate STL output into positive space.”
3. Specify a file naming convention that uses the part names along with your assembly name for the STL file names. This will create a set of STL files, one for each part.
4. Note that SolidWorks generally defaults the export units to mm, so if you want to export in a different unit such as inches, then click on options and change the units from millimeters to your desired units.

When importing into Photopia you can use the Shift and Ctrl keys to multi-select the entire range of parts you want to import. Photopia will assign default layer names for each part using the filenames.

Q: How do I export my PODT curves and import them into Solidworks™?

A: Inside of Photopia, select the reflector that you want to export. Go to View // Reflector Design from the main menu. On the left side of the screen there is a section titled "Exporting Curve Profile." Click the "Export Cuve to Profile" button and select the location where you want to save the DXF drawing. Name the drawing, and select DXF from the drop down menu.

In Solidworks™ open your existing assembly or part drawing, or create a new drawing . Select any plane. Choose Insert // DXF/DWG from the main menu. Select the DXF file that you just exported from Photopia. You can then select Next for the Layer Mapping screen. In the following screen, select the "as 3D curves/model" radio button under the CAD view. Then select finish.

Now you can construct the rest of the sketch so that you can extrude or revolve your PODT reflector inside of Solidworks™.