Why, oh why can't they handle it? They're OK with all that horrifically complex 3D data, but import a relatively simple 2D PCB layout to a sketch and it's time to go and make cup of tea while you wait for something to happen!
I think it's usually because of the way that PCB design tools create the geometry, they use a lot of small lines and splines to create the 2D board layout which results in lots of 2D geometry to be processed. Are you using DXF or another format to transfer the data from PCB to SolidWorks? Steve
I usually import the PCB layout into a 2D package (the DWG editor that comes with SolidWorks). I then delete all the layers I don't need, then delete as much geometry as possible that's unnecessary, then smash it all to 1 layer.
DXF into SolidWorks ...such a pain. I'm currently going through the pain of handling a "massive" 2MB DXF file. Just impossible to work with... Such a shame that DraftSight is so crap (more info on why here). It would be good to be able to do a decent editing job before improting to SW.
I think it could be that the 3d modellers are trying to add auto relations to all of the entities and is thinking long and hard about it. Try turning off auto relations and see if it speeds up
