Best (free) way to import DWG to SU 8 Free?

Zoom123

Hello,

On my previous computer I had both Sketchup 7.1 Free and Sketchup 8 Free and I used SU 7.1 to import DWG files.

Is there a better (and still free) way to do this that would not require the installation of 2 SU programs?

Thanks!

numbthumb

If you can save your DWG as a DXF, you can use a DXF import plugin with the free version of SU:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=31186

simon le bon

The plugin well cited by NumbThumb is from our regretted honoluludesktop:

Here is a post from Jim Foltz into the thread which links to a free dwg/dxf converter : [Plugin] Dxf_In v1.2

-->>Teigha File Converter

Please notice that Jim is also the author of the same idea plugin: [Plugin] FreeDXF Importer 2011-12-21

I don't know the differences between them.

++simon

Zoom123

I am currently using DWG Viewer to view the plans send to me, I don't create the plans myself. I don't think DWG Viewer would allow me to save as DXF (since it is just a viewer).

Is there any other free and easy to use application that would allow me to view the DWG files and also save as DXF?

And when importing DXF using the plug-in, is the result the same as when importing DWG directly in Sketchup? (scale, layers preserved etc)

Bep

Take a look at http://www.doublecad.com/Products/DoubleCADXTv3/tabid/1100/Default.aspx

Bep

Zoom123

Thanks, but I think that might be a bit too complicated for me. I am not really a CAD user. I just tried AutoCAD WS and it seems to give you the option to save as DFX. Anybody tried that?

andybot

As mentioned above, The Tiegha file viewer is a good solution - it's just a viewer that allows you to save DWG files in different formats. Don't need to learn anything to use it.

Zoom123

I got the Teigha File Converter and it worked OK, but the DXF import plugin I tried (the first one listed) didn't work well with the files I had (it was slow and gave many errors)

I think I will just install both versions of SU (7 & and continue working as I did so far.

andybot

Good to know. I use the SU7 import typically, hadn't tried the dxf importer. I guess I will stick to that for now too.