Oribit tool issues with CAD import?
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I do a fair amount of models where I import a CAD drawing and I sketch over it to make a 2D drawing a 3D model.
Most of what I do is houses, so I am importing a typical single family house plan.
I find that almost every time I import a plan, the orbit tool "loses focus" as does the zoom tool with the wheel.
Let me see if I can explain:
If you have a giant Sketchup model and you have the whole thing zoomed out on the screen you can orbit and zoom into it. The orbit and zoom tools are smart enough to know that a "push" with the mouse across the screen will rotate the model a certain amount. Now, on that same model, lets say you wanted to work on a tiny detail, you zoom into the area that you are working on, and the zoom tool and orbit tool become more sensitive. What I mean is that when you are zoomed in and you orbit or zoom by either pushing the wheel one click, or dragging the orbit tool just a little the model doesn't move the same amount as when you were zoomed out.
So this is the way Sketchup always works for me, BUT...
When I import a CAD model, things go badly. After the import when I zoom in real close half the time even the most minute orbit or zoom will send my model orbiting WAY more then I want, and the zoom tool will go from being on one corner of the house to all the way through it with only one bump of the wheel.
Does anyone else have this issue? And if so, do you know how to fix it?
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If the imported objects' axes are miles off this can cause issues.
Model Info > Components > Show Component Axes... If so then change them. Select a Component, right-click context-menu Change Axes > pick a more logical place and set the axes there...Also, if you keep your cursor over some 'geometry' as you use Orbit it is more stable/consistent.
If the imported CAD file is only 'lines' then add a large rectangular face under the main part so that you have a face below the cursor when you go into Orbit... -
None of the geometry is miles away, only a block or two!
I didn't think about the axes though, I will check that out!I did check for hidden stuff, and "strays" but not the axes...
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Eric, what happens if you draw a large rectangular face on/under the imported lines? What I'm thinking is that since the CAD file comes in with no faces, SU might have a problem getting focus in the first place.
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Another great suggestion. I will try that tonight and report back!
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