Importing SOLIDWORKS Parts into Creo - Missing Planes for Modification

[ENGINEERINGXYZ]

I'm in a situation where I have to modify a SOLIDWORKS part from Mcmaster using Creo Parametric. I successfully imported the SOLIDWORKS file into Creo, but it appears as a 'dumb solid' and I don't see any original planes that were used in SOLIDWORKS.

Has anyone else faced this issue? If so, what's the best way to go about creating planes for modification purposes? 

[tbraxton]

SW files imported to Creo are "dumb solids".

Use the STEP file data from McMaster for the part.

1. Import the STEP file
2. Insert mode above the import feature and below the model csys
3. Create DTM plane feature (this should create 3 default planes using csys)
4. Edit the part as needed using Creo 

[pausob]

Perhaps there is a setting in Creo's import function for SOLIDWORKS, which controls whether or not Datum features are imported.  Don't know... 

I typically import McMaster-Carr models as "STEP" and use a template, so that the model will come in with planes and layers as per my company standards.

I assume the 3 planes are the original "default planes" from the Solidworks model:

[BenLoosli]

Are doing an Import into your company standard start template file or opening the SW file directly in Creo?

My users have been instructed to always create a new file, then do the import into that file when they import things from McMaster-Carr. 

[ByDesign]

Creo does not play nicely with SolidWorks.  (Actually SolidWorks does a better job at importing Creo files - but that's a different story.)

As others have said, use a startpart (template), then import the STEP data from McMaster.  I usually create another Coordinate System in my starting file before the import, then insert the data with reference to the new CSYS.  That allows me to change the orientation of the component, or to move it with respect to the default datums if needed.

You are right, it comes in as a "Dumb Solid".  For some control, you can pull in a STEP file as SURFACE, solidify some of it SOLID, and leave some SURFACE, then use MOVE for the surfaces as needed, prior to solidifying them.  I have found that a lot of the McMaster parts have multiple enclosed surfaces that will solidify separately if you want to move them around prior to making them solid.

Hopefully some of the above helps.