Object Viewer for ABS object

kolbinsky · 5 Apr 2010, 09:06

Is there a plug-in for sketch-up that allows you to import objects and surfaces from an Automated Building System (now AutoCAD MEP)file. I can explode the file a few times, but I lose all the round surfaces (i.e. pipe and round duct) when it imports into sketchup. I am trying to find a plug-in or new method for importing the ABS files into sketchup. Thanks for the help.

Anssi · 5 Apr 2010, 12:15

The problem with Autodesk's AEC objects and the like is that their format is proprietary. So AFAIK, the only thing you can do is to use the "Export to AutoCad" or equivalent command to produce a DWG file that only has standard 3D geometry. Importing into SU often unsmooths round surfaces, but they can be re-smoothed in SU.

Anssi

kolbinsky · 5 Apr 2010, 15:49

I did export it to a .DWG format, but when I imported it into SU, none of the lines transfered from the curved pipes. If I explode the drawings multiple times, I lose the pipes all together and get circles that were the end of the pipes. I was wondering if there was a way to convert the pipes, which seem to be object based, into a geometric form that would be recognized by SU. Thanks for the input.