Problem importind DWG file - elements in diferent Z-planes!

jfguedes · 21 Nov 2010, 03:51

Hi

I'm quite new using SketchUp, but I have looked for answers to this question and couldn't find anything...

I'm importing a DWG file, that has a 2D floor-plan of a home. After importing, the elements are in several diferent Z-planes! So, when I look from the top (Camera -> View -> Top) the drawing is correct, but when I look from the side, it is a complete mess... So I can't do anything with the model.

Have anyone seen something like this? Is it possible to "flaten" a model, so bringing every "point" in the model to the same Z-plane?

I don't have Autocad (I've received the DWG file from another person), so I have to figure out a solution using only SketchUp.

Any help will be very apreciated!

Thanks

Jose

Gaieus · 21 Nov 2010, 04:00

Hi Jose,

Yes, there is a Flatten plugin ($10):
http://www.smustard.com/script/Flatten

You could however draw a big rectangle at Z=0 and use the Drape tool to srape yur geometry on it.

Maybe best would be to drape different groups (if there are) separately, on different aces and also group these separately so that you can manage your model easier.
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95045
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95046

Gaieus · 21 Nov 2010, 05:24

How about this one then?
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=31895

mac1 · 21 Nov 2010, 05:25

@gaieus said:

Hi Jose,

Yes, there is a Flatten plugin ($10):
http://www.smustard.com/script/Flatten

You could however draw a big rectangle at Z=0 and use the Drape tool to srape yur geometry on it.

Maybe best would be to drape different groups (if there are) separately, on different aces and also group these separately so that you can manage your model easier.
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95045
http://sketchup.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95046

SU 7.1+ free
Have tried the latter approach of drape but I go from zero stray lines in the original to hundreds in the drape version. Have tried to find reasons but no joy yet.FYI the model http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=972cfaaf7b8a6af9f30f02514717f00
Flatten will be worth the money if it avoids that type of problem

jfguedes · 21 Nov 2010, 05:51

The Flatten to Plane plugin was the one with which I had the best results, although some of the lines are still not flattened (even when I select everything before activating the plugin).

The Drape tool didn't do anything for me.

I'm not sure, but I think that my problem is that not only I have lines in a diferent "Z-level" (lets say, still in the same plane as the plane made with the red and green axys, but some meters above 0), but some lines are in completely diferent planes... Those lines seems not to be affected by this plugin.

Still looking for a complete solution.

Thanks for the help so far.

Jose

mac1 · 21 Nov 2010, 06:08

@gaieus said:

How about this one then?
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=31895

Joy in mudville! Batter struck out first time. Think I did not have work plane .rb loaded and probably not paying attention to error message No added stray lines
Thanks for second look!!

mac1 · 21 Nov 2010, 06:35

@jfguedes said:

The Flatten to Plane plugin was the one with which I had the best results, although some of the lines are still not flattened (even when I select everything before activating the plugin).

The Drape tool didn't do anything for me.

I'm not sure, but I think that my problem is that not only I have lines in a diferent "Z-level" (lets say, still in the same plane as the plane made with the red and green axys, but some meters above 0), but some lines are in completely diferent planes... Those lines seems not to be affected by this plugin.

Still looking for a complete solution.

Thanks for the help so far.

Jose

Couple of suggestions /questions: 1) Go to TIG's post for the flatten plugin and read his usage write up and the other post to make sure you are applying correctly; 2) I cleaned up the model I was working with as much as I could such as deleting stray lines , correcting off axis lines etc as much as I could " reasonably do". . Have you done that?; 3) Can you post your model so we can take a look at it? The difference plane issue above has me confused. A line at a different z level is not in the red / green plane ( x,y)

mitcorb · 21 Nov 2010, 14:32

This is no consolation, but you have acquired a DWG from some source who did not employ good drafting discipline. Autocad, for instance, has always been a 3d modeling program. The drafter must constrain 2d work to the "ground plane". Poor use of snap controls is what caused the problem in the first place. Corrections should have been made while still in DWG.
If one is going to draw what "looks good", or is "close enough" on the screen chances are the exported file will have these problems.

Anssi · 21 Nov 2010, 18:20

One more flattening technique that works if you have SU Pro:
Export a 2D DWG (from plan view, parallel projection, full scale) and re-import.

Anssi