Export sketchup to CAD
-
Hi,
I tried to export my self created topographic map in sketchup and the file units is set to meters, after saving I exported it into a 3d Autocad file, but when I open it as Autocad the units become inches instead of my default millimeters, I checked all the options in exporting skp to 3d autocad but the only options there are autocad version, dimension, etc and nothing about units.. Did I missed something or the problem is in the units in Autocad??
P.S.
I checked the default units in Autocad and everytime I open it the units is still in millimeters. -
This is a known issue with 3d dwg/dxf.
These export using the current SKP's units.
The 'insert_units' settings for 'recent-version' CAD formats ought to be either the model's units, or as a fall-back position 'unitless'.
However, unfortunately it is always [incorrectly] set to be 'inches' by Sketchup when it makes the exported file
This has been discussed at length with the powers that be, and has been formally reported as a bug.
It's something that ought be be easily fixable, but it's getting the SketchUp guys to address it that's the main issue...If you export it as an earlier version - say r12 - then because the 'insert_units' is not support in this earlier format it is then made as a 'unitless' version. So now when you insert it into a CAD file it assumes the CAD file's units should be used. This is OK provided your SKP and CAD parent are using the same units.
Using a more recent version for the CAD file export has no tangible advantages at the moment because the exported geometry is virtually the same, but the 'insert_units' is then wrong, unless you are working in 'inches'
.This bug fix is long overdue.
If you export as DXF it IS possible to change a single value, read from a lookup table of different integers representing an 'insert_units' setting.
It's not possible to do the equivalent with a DWG file.
$INSUNITS 70 **1**
The '1' here says 'inches', or a '0' says 'unitless' -depending on the CAD version chosen.
The applicable 'units' list is:- 0 Unspecified (No units)
- 1 Inches
- 2 Feet
- 4 Millimeters
- 5 Centimeters
- 6 Meters
This edit can be done by hand using a plain-text editor, or easier as a short Ruby script that stream-edits the selected DXF file, substituting the desired units integer for you... [that script doesn't exist but would be simple enough to write... but wholly unnecessary IF they'd fix the flippin' bug!]
-
HI, yes, as TIg said, it is a known bug. Another simple workaround is to open the exported file, type units and set them to the units you used on the original sketchup file.
Advertisement