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Autodesk Multimedia Forum · Autodesk 3D Studio

Using Autocad DXF File

8 messages in this thread

#110453From: William A. DwyerJun 30, 1994 1:32 AM

I have two questions about using dxfed .dwg files in 3D Studio. 1) When using P-Lines in creating a dwg file, a closed pline will appear to have a surface skin in 3D Studio and will obscure everything below it. How can I prevent this? 2) When exporting a single object (all other layers frozen) a recent check of the file size showed a whopping 559k when the dwg file was only 250k. Should I wblock the object out prior to dxf? I was trying to avoid losing my origin point. Thanks again for your help and thanks to all of you who responded to my earlier question about importing dxf files into 3D Studio. Bill Dwyer

#110502From: Gary K. SimJun 30, 1994 9:56 AM

Hi there, and thanks for your thank-you. Into the breach, again… 1.) <<closed p-line capped>> Set the FILL-PLINES variable to OFF in the 3DS SET file, its default is ON, which forces them to be capped. 2.) <<dxf file size huge, lose origin?>> Your files will always be spatially aligned in 3D Space in both ACAD & 3DS if you follow a few simple rules: -always import and export using 0,0,0 -don't move your geometry around in space -make sure AutoCAD UCS is set to WORLD whenever importing/exporting geometry DXF files do balloon up in size, but the 3DS file size is much smaller. I tend to WBlock stuff out to a file called Tran (sfer) to ensure that I'm only exporting what I think I am. (Check for construction lines, rogue layers, etc.) Regards, Gary

#110606From: Arturo SinclairJun 30, 1994 4:38 PM

Gary, thanks the prompt response, We tried that right away. William and I work together, I am on the 3D Studio side by the way. New problem; now a message in the 3d editor says "no 3D entity found". Before, the dxf could be imported into the editor, but we had to remove a "plane" created by Autocad. Imagine a cilinder (no thickness), we dont want it capped. But when FILL-PLINE is off it does not import into the editor. Any idea why? Bye, Arturo

#110624From: Gary K. SimJun 30, 1994 7:23 PM

I noticed an answer to this in one of the "parallel" threads you seem to have been running the last couple of days. A Pline brought in uncapped becomes a set of vertices (thanks to Phillip Miller). I hadn't tried that, I just knew they didn't need to be capped. His suggestion was to give the plines a thickness in Autocad, which will bring them in as long thin solids into 3DS.

#110719From: Phillip L. MillerJul 1, 1994 9:29 AM

Just to clarify things – my suggestion was to give the pline a width (not a thickness), so the pline would still be flat and then actually capped across the width (no need to change the 3DS.SET). Giving the pline a thickness would work as well if the pline was not closed (non-closed entities nver cap). I'm still not sure what Arturo is trying to import and why. – Phil

#110741From: Gary K. SimJul 1, 1994 10:59 AM

Oops, I mis-terminologied. I meant to say width, as you had. But at least we've mentioned a number of ways to get the data into 3DS, tho' without knowing the precise needs… Regards, Gary

#110809From: Arturo SinclairJul 1, 1994 6:07 PM

Right, that did it for us. Thanks to all

#110663From: William A. DwyerJun 30, 1994 11:12 PM

Thanks Gary, your information on the capped plines worked beautifully and we have been having much success using this technique! Thanks again for your help. Bill