CAD DRAWING EXPORT

[paulhankin]

TO ALL

Really Desperate,

need to know how to export hidden line / back edges details on dwg export

what i want to do id select a part , put it in the correct elevation, perspective off, export to cad showing part in normal way and create a back edge / hidden detail layer. Or even better still export all elevations with this detail from multiple views/elevations etc to one cad file ( DWG or DXF ) Dream idea - Line them up in first or third angle perspective ( now im dreaming of such things )

Ie web of steel beam when taken in plan view etc..

i have been putting in wireframe mode export to cad , convert to hidden line underlaying over profile mode export.
very time consuming when you have to condider multiple parts and different elevations.

is there a plugin or could someone write me a plugin for it i would pay them for their time.

Appreciate your quick response

Paul Hankin

[Dave R]

I could be wrong but I don't think back edges can be exported. I don't think they qualify as real edges but rather as a sort of style.

[Gaieus]

Back edges are kind of a "face style" really, not edges (they cannot even be vector rendered in LayOut for instance - so definitely will not qualify as exportable vectors).

[paulhankin]

I thought as much, but how about a script that exports the normal view , switches to wireframe mode and exports exactly the same view / camera angle, overlays and puts in one dwg. So i would have one layer in autocad with normal and one which is on another that i can apply the hidden edge line style to.

As i said before, i can export them manually but it takes ages bringing into autocad and sorting it all out.

Cant write scripts sorry, dont know what is feasible and what isnt.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Paul

[TIG]

Paul

Is this what you want ?
You select a component-instance/group and all of the 2d ortho's are auto-generated ?
It could be coded...

[dedmin]

Yes, Yes!!!

[Dave R]

Jim has already done the ortho views plugin. We just need the hidden lines.

[TIG]

@dave r said:

Jim has already done the ortho views plugin. We just need the hidden lines.

Exactly!
Although a 'flattened' version of all views in a 'collection' would export to CAD better...

[Dave R]

True, true. And you've already got a flattening plugin, right?

[TIG]

@dave r said:

True, true. And you've already got a flattening plugin, right?

The 'Project to Plane' type tools would be relatively easy to adapt [I hope...]
It's just arranging the pieces and working out what goes onto the 'hidden line layer'...
I'm just going to think about it over a pie and a pint in the pub down the hill...

[paulhankin]

The main thing is control over everything - so many variables

For example projection type- first angle / third angle

Hidden line details.
viewing details from behind that are hidden with dashed lines

Perimeter profile
The outline of the item thicker or on a different layer , ( Much like outline mask )
I used this style a lot in Italy when working on Autocad

Iam sure there is more we could do with this

Thanks

Paul

[TIG]

@paulhankin said:

The main thing is control over everything - so many variables

For example projection type- first angle / third angle

Hidden line details.
viewing details from behind that are hidden with dashed lines

Perimeter profile
The outline of the item thicker or on a different layer , ( Much like outline mask )
I used this style a lot in Italy when working on Autocad

Iam sure there is more we could do with this

Thanks

Paul
I'm thinking.........
I can [easily?] project the component's vertices onto the 6 ortho planes, in silhouette and also 'all'.
I have to think of ways to move the various edges to layers for CAD to use [including working out edges that are only partially hidden at say one end]...
You'd need t set up a CAD template that has pens mapped to thickness, where say 3D was white-continuous, 2D was red-continuous [thin], 2D-OUTL was yellow-continuous [heavy] and 2D-HIDN was grey-dashed [thin-dashed]. What CAD do you use? I could probably make you a ACAD template...
Be in touch later... off now...

[paulhankin]

I use obviously Sketchup, Rhino 3d, Autocad for all detailing of parts

Must be able to Handle single groups, components , whole model

Have options maybe to select the parts you want to produce elevations / drgs and produces seperate files for each element in the model or selection.

There is so much you could do with this

also a weight added option based on the volume of the item x mass index ie for steel would be volume x 7.85
from this you could itemise each part say in the name of the component and it would produce a CSV file or excel sheet based
on group name / id , gross length of part say and weight. it then could be exported to autocad or simply print for estimating purposes.

i think the profile plugin already recognises the part from the selection menu. maybe with permission the profile plugin could be utilised to save time re-writing the code for steel selection of parts etc.

Another element is developing intersections on tubes and the male female relationships of all cuts - thats for another time though i think!!
I think if this was developed right it could give other programs a run for their money

Paul

[paulhankin]

just downloaded ortho views from smustard

in the plugins folder it goes

it doesnt do anthing when you press button on toolbar what is all this about

Just brought it and i cant use it

Paul

[Dave R]

Make a group or component of the model or at least select the group or component for which you want the ortho view. Select it and then click on the button.

You'll wind up with something like this.

Wish I could have a pie and a pint.

[paulhankin]

Tried component / group everything and when i click on it nothing happens

Thanks

Paul

[honoluludesktop]

I like what TIG is suggesting, especially if it can be applied to interior elevations, and scenes. Architects requirement are unique when it comes to sections, and interior elevations. Would be nice to get input from engineers of different disciplines.

[Anssi]

A simple solution might be to export two views: a wireframe view and a hidden-line view. Then you import the first into CAD, assign the dashed linetype of your choice to all the lines, and then import the hidden-line view and place it directly over the first one. If the excess lines worry you, you can use the "Overkill" feature in AutoCad (I think it is part of Express tools) to delete at least part of them.

Anssi

[paulhankin]

@anssi said:

A simple solution might be to export two views: a wireframe view and a hidden-line view. Then you import the first into CAD, assign the dashed linetype of your choice to all the lines, and then import the hidden-line view and place it directly over the first one. If the excess lines worry you, you can use the "Overkill" feature in AutoCad (I think it is part of Express tools) to delete at least part of them.

Anssi

Thats not the point, i have already been doing this up til now and when you have 100s of single parts it becomes very time consuming.

The idea of this discussion is to find an automated way of exporting these elements and improving work flow.

NOt being funny just want to hit the nail on the head so we can find a solution to this weekness of Sketchup when it comes to final detailing of drawings.

Thanks

Paul

[TIG]

I'm on to it...