#Big DXF file
9 messages in this thread
I am trying to load a rather large .DXF file into 3D Studio ver.2 (I have Ver 3
coming in a couple of weeks) and I am having trouble with it. I have fixed my
3ds.set to the max of vertices allowed in the 2-D shaper, 9999, but this is too
small. Is there a way around this? I know I can have the original broken down
into seperate files, but this is rather cumbersome for the architect to do
since it takes up more of his time. He states that once the .DXF file is
loaded it should be able to be broken down into its original layers, but I
would think I would need to be able to load the whole file on first. Is this
true? Thanks for any help.
James,
I understand the problem & will be back to you next week with several
suggestions from my User's Group. Just tried to do a dxf-in price for an
architect & found 500+ objects. There was a nicely patterned marble floor.
Ouch!
Hope to start a thread on preparing DXF's before they are sent to the animator.
Rick Lapidus
Thanks Rick, I will be looking forward to the reply.
It sounds like your architect is missunderstanding the purpose of the Shaper and
is believing it to be the equivalent AutoCAD – well, it's not. Is this finished
geometry or that which needs to be Lofted? (the only reason to bring them into
the Shaper).
If it's finished geometry, then it should be imported it into the 3D Editor –
only their will 3DS's origin align with the DWG's – and that is VERY important
for the life of the model.
As for splitting DXF files taking too much time – when using the by entity
method it only takes seconds.
The primary reason for loading the max vertices would be to Loft a very large
selection. If that's the need, maybe the gemoetry can be made more concise with
arc entities.
– Phil
The architect only gave me the floor plan, I am the one who will extrude the
walls to the correct dimension. Again, I loaded the file into the shaper, but
it exceeds the max of 9999 vertices, what I wanted to know is if there is a way
around this max. Thanks.
If you insist on using the Shaper for the extrusion then you will need to
break the DWG into various sections and loft those in series. If the floor
plan is originally lines you may be in for some hurt unless ALL the corners
meet exactly.
If all you need is to simply extrude the plan why not use AutoCAD? Use PEDIT
to join all the walls into closed PLines, give them a thickness and DXFOUT to
the 3D Editor – a very managable 64,000 vertex limit per object now. Closed
PLines are capped with a mesh, top & bottom upon import to 3DS. There is no
advantage in using the Shaper for this simple application.
Most importantly the 3DS geometry will now align with AutoCAD's for future
additions and changes (architects have a habit of doing that). Unless you are
lofting along a prescribed AutoCAD DXF path, geometery imported into the
Shaper and lofted to the 3DE will never align with the AutoCAD model – not a
desireable situation.
– Phil
I need to get back with the architect on exactly what system he is using.. but
I know it is not Autocad. I cannot break the DXF down if it is too big to even
load into 3DS. I guess I will have to have the architect break it down for me
into multiple DXF's. Thanks again.
Another option is that you could DXFIN the plan into AutoCAD and do it for
him.
– Phil
Ok, last of the DXF suggestions: First, you can DXFIN to AutoCAD regardless
of the DXF's size. The other option is to import the DXF into 3DS's 3D Editor
and use Create\Face\Extrude to get the walls you need.
Good luck,
– Phil