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Preparing an AutoCAD drawing for 3D

Introduction

It is extremely important to fix an AutoCAD cartoon taking into consideration two main bug

1. The drawing should be organised and drawn so as not to compromise the product cartoon. This means that it should exist drawn in a style that benefits both the AutoCAD outputs and the 3D outputs. Correct layering, closed polylines created from a framework and simplified object positioning are examples of this process
2. The cartoon should be organised to facilitate easy import / export with MAX/VIZ. Keeping a handle on what elements will need to exist created as single objects in 3D and which will demand to exist created as one object is very important. Also, making the layer system easily understandable and 'object focussed' is of import

This tutorial explains the main issues to consider when drawing in AutoCAD and preparing a cartoon for use in 3D piece of work

Download Sample Data

In club to follow this tutorial, you lot may want to use the supplied files. Delight read the sample information instructions before downloading.

kf301_files.zip (583kb)

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Layers and Drawing Methods

Organisation of all elements that are to be used in 3D using layers is vital as well as a adept cognition of make clean, accurate drawing methods for 3D work. Recall that what looks acceptable in 2D may not work as you lot want in 3D and may await terrible. A good case of bad drawing is the non-use of arcs in the polyline control where a curved road section is represented by a series of line segments. When turned into a kerb line in 3D it will look like the prototype beneath:

The correct drawing method (which is easier) produces a good looking and authentic result in 3D

Clean and Simplify Drawing

Before using an AutoCAD drawing for importing into MAX/VIZ only those elements that are going to be used for 3D work need keeping in the drawing. Extraneous lines and text should be removed and a 'buffer' drawing used instead of a chief product drawing. The following checklist should also be implemented before starting to utilize AutoCAD information:

• Purge the cartoon of all items and nested items
• Inspect the drawing
• Prepare UCS to World if another has been used
• Bind Xrefs
• Detach Images
• Use Cartoon Cleanup tools if using Autodesk Map to simplify linear features and remove duplicates etc

• Finally, display just those elements that are going to be used and Copy and Paste into a New Drawing. Use Edit > Copy then Edit > Paste to Original Coordinates

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Layers

The principal method of creating objects in MAX/VIZ outlined in these tutorials is to create objects from layers. This is a straight forrard process that allows yous to think 'objects' right from the start

Open kf301_01.dwg in AutoCAD. This drawing contains an example layer organization used for easy import to MAX/VIZ

Note: Creating divide objects from one layer in MAX/VIZ is handled on the import options dialogs in MAX/VIZ

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Drawing Methods

Good clean drawing techniques are essential to produce adept looking scenes and do good the drawing as a whole. Together with a comprehensive layer system based on 'objects' and the use of closed boundaries using a framework layer, and the boundary command, the use of appropriate AutoCAD tools make transition into 3D much easier. This tutorial explores some of the bones useful commands to create clean, uncomplicated, accurate lines in AutoCAD

Note: The cosmos of airtight boundary polygons and comprehensive layer organisation is useful for other outputs from AutoCAD and 3rd party applications. Export to CorelDraw or Mcolour for plan graphics, hatching areas in AutoCAD and listing of expanse quantities are good examples of extended functionality using these methods

TIP: Always depict lines using the Polyline command. Using the Line command produces fragmented and less managable drawings

• Open kf301_02.dwg . This drawing contains some layers for a creating surfaces and a kerb for a unproblematic mural scheme (shown completed beneath)

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Building

Detect that a layer called 'Framework' has been created and at that place are building framework lines already drawn. These take been created using the Offset command. The landscape drawing is constructed by referencing the known positions of points and lines of the edifice - as it would exist constructed on-site

• Brand Building layer current
• Depict > Boundary > Selection Points - option a point in the middle of the edifice framework lines. This creates a airtight boundary for the edifice on the correct layer

Notation: If the Boundary command does not piece of work check the following points:

1. Elements such as blocks are frozen and not turned off (AutoCAD still includes off layers when searching for a boundary)
2. The purlieus extents can be viewed on the screen (just graphics on the present screen brandish are included in the boundary search)
3. All existing polylines and framework lines are 2nd at naught height (ie not 3D polylines)
4. There are no gaps in any of the polylines

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Car Park

• Make Framework layer current
• Describe a framework polyline from the bottom right corner of the edifice vertically upwardly using Ortho On (F8 toggles Ortho on>off)
• Showtime this line xxx metres to the correct
• Plow OSnap On (Object Snap) and change the Snap Settings to Endpoint. Draw a horizontal polyline from the top right corner of the  building horizontally using Ortho On and then that it crosses the previously drawn polyline
• Draw a ciclcle snapped to where these lines meet with a radius of 5 metres (this value can be typed on the command line when creating the circle)
• Get-go drawing a framework polyline snapped from the tiptop right corner of the building with the second vertex of the polyline snapped (intersection snap) to where the circle crosses the line. Then type A at the control line (this is a polyline sub-command - expect at the command line - which allows you lot to depict an arc equally part of a polyline). Snap the adjacent vertex to where the circle crosses the vertical framework line. Then type L at the control line (this takes y'all back to drawing a normal line within the polyline). Using Ortho On drag the polyline downwardly and consummate the polyline as shown below. This process accurately offsets the car park border and gives a rounded corner of radius v metres

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Offset Path and Route

• Delete the circle
• Extend the bottom horizontal building framework line to encounter the new car park edge framework line and Kickoff the new motorcar park edge line left 5 metres to the left. This creates a framework line for the route
• Get-go the extended framework line down two metres and the original correct paw vertical framework building line to the right 2 metres. This creates framework lines for the first path
• Trim the lines and Delete unecessary lines so the framework looks like the image below. Using Ortho On draw a framework polyline that closes the road at the lower end

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Grassed Area and Planting Beds

• Using Grips with Ortho On drag the left building framework line downwards and the line created to close the road across left so they cross
• Using Ortho On draw a polyline line starting from the corner of the path downward and using the Arc sub polyline command then Line sub polyline command describe the large planting bed

Notation: Arc sub commands must only be used later on starting to draw a polyline in Line mode. Otherwise the arc 'balloons' due to it non having whatsoever direction

• In the left corner of the grassed area framework create a circle snapped to the edge corner of the path framework to describe the minor planting bed

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Second Path

• Draw a polyline using the Arc sub command and Line sub control to describe the eye line of the second path
• Starting time this line 0.75 metres to the left and 0.75 metres to the correct
• Delete the centre polyline to give an initial framework for the 2d path

• To splay the entrance points to the path Trim both ends of the path:

• Finally (to consummate the framework) Fillet the corners or the path entrances. Before filleting, Join the framework polylines using Pedit so utilise the Fillet command to create a fillet of radius 2 metres at each corner. And then use Snaps to snap a polyline to close the path ends
• Trim the circle for the pocket-size planting bed so the lines practise not interfere with the creation of boundaries

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Create Surface Boundaries

Making each layer current in turn use the Boundary command to chop-chop create boundaries for each element
Plow the Framework layer off

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Create Kerb Line

• Offset the Machine Park boundary by 0.15 metres
• Select the offset polyline and place on the Kerb layer by selecting the Kerb Layer in the Layer Dropdown Listing and then pressing Esc twice. This layer will be turned off before importing into MAX/VIZ as edges are created from the boundary lines using the Loft compound object

This small tutorial shows how elementary the geometry should be when importing to MAX/VIZ. The cartoon should contain no edge information apart from the closed boundaries that delineate all surfaces seamlessly (the subject of this tutorial). Secondly, objects such as trees, benches, lamp posts etc should exist represented by simple circumvolve and rectangular blocks on the correct layers. These unproblematic 2D blocks are replaced in MAX/VIZ with 3D objects, merely are positioned in AutoCAD. Thirdly, 3D landform information in the form of contours, 3D polylines (strings) or a triangulated mesh is needed in social club to transform the second programme into a 3D scene

NOTE: This sequence of tutorial files has been saved as four drawings: kf301_02a/b/c/d.dwg for reference

Checklist of Commands

Become very familiar with the following commands which were all used to quickly and accurately create this uncomplicated landscape plan. More than complicated plans only repeat these commands over and once again

Move
Rotate
Copy and Multiple Copy
Offset
Trim
Extend
Purlieus
Fillet > Chamfer
Pedit
Manipulation of Vertex Handles
Snap Manner On>Off and Snap Settings
Ortho

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Simplify Blocks

Complicated 2nd blocks should not be imported into MAX/VIZ if they are merely used as markers for 3D Objects or as objects for replacing with 3D objects. Replacing blocks with much simpler blocks before importing into MAX/VIZ is straightforward in AutoCAD using the Reference Edit dialog

• Open kf301_03.dwg. This cartoon contains four detailed graphic blocks for trees which need simplifying by replacing them with circles

• Select 1 of the blocks (they are all the same cake reference) and double left click. This opens the Reference Edit dialog

NOTE: The Reference Edit dialog is a characteristic of AutoCAD 2004 plus. Replacing blocks in previous versions of AutoCAD entails 'redefining blocks'

• Press Ok to isolate the block and open it up for editing. A small toolbar appears and only the block is available for editing. All other blocks of the same name disappear and all other elements in the drawing plough grayness
• Zoom to the block and draw a circle in the same position and at the same size every bit the tree cake

• Describe a circle around the tree cake on layer 0, then delete the tree block lines
• Press the Salve back changes to reference button to supersede all references of the block with a uncomplicated circle

TIP: Another option for replacing blocks tin exist found on the Express Menu/Blocks. Utilise Replace block with another block to quickly supervene upon a block in the cartoon with some other

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Import Options

Before importing data from AutoCAD into MAX/VIZ ii bug must be addressed

1. If the drawing has been created far from 0,0 on the X and Y axes, the cartoon data needs to be moved closer to 0,0. This improves how MAX/VIZ handles the data in the later stages and makes certain the modelling is authentic and any animation smooth
2. The human relationship between the layers and how they are configured to create objects on import needs to be understood. Then simple routines using ane of two separate import dialogs can be used to update the MAX/VIZ scene at any time

This section explains how to separate cartoon information for MAX/VIZ from the product blueprint drawings and how to configure the Import dialog for easy update of the scene from AutoCAD

Annotation: If cartoon units are in millimeters, then besides re-calibration the drawing at this stage (information technology is not advisable to keep in millimeters for a landscape calibration project)

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Move to Zero

If AutoCAD geometry is created far from nothing, then accuracy problems may occur when modelling this data in MAX/VIZ. This is due to the fact that AutoCAD is accurate to 64 decimal places, whereas MAX/VIZ is only (only?) accurate to 32 decimal places. The trouble normally manifests itself when animating cameras forth paths when 'camera shake' will occur. Large bounding boxes around objects are also a trouble if the AutoCAD information is far from zero considering the bounding boxes outset at 0,0

AutoCAD drawings created far from zero are unremarkably the result of using Ordnance Survey basemap information to start the drawing process. Well-nigh basemap tiles are hundreds of thousands of metres away from zero on the X and Y plane. Needless to say, landscape drawings are often created far from zero

• Either move the basemaps to zero before creating the drawing and in the noesis that other information need not exist added in a 'mapped' surround or utilise a separate drawing for 3D work with a known basepoint for moving geometry to goose egg thus:

• Open up and manage a new split drawing for importing into MAX/VIZ
• Import the following 3 elements needed for visualisation piece of work into this new cartoon: Closed boundary lines delineating all surfaces / Simple blocks for objects / Landform data in the class of Contours, 3D polylines (strings) or Triangulated Mesh or Grid

TIP: Use Autodesk Map 3D to adhere the project design drawing to the MAX/VIZ cartoon and employ simple layer holding queries to add together elements to the MAX/VIZ drawing at any time. This is a very effective method of filtering just the data needed for 3D work whilst keeping split up from the production drawings. It allows the original pattern drawing to exist changed without having to worry near layers on>off and layers that are not relevant to 3D work (drawing for 3D work should exist very straight forward and almost simplistic). Complicated blocks for copse, seats, lamp posts etc can even be replaced with unproblematic blocks as office of the procedure. Changing 2D plans using GIS functionality and visualising these scenarios in 3D is some other advantage of using Autodesk Map 3D with MAX/VIZ

• Open kf301_04.dwg . This cartoon is an example of a cartoon containing these three elements. Notwithstanding, if you await at the coordinates of the data on the Satus Bar y'all will notice that it is far from cipher

Round these coordinates up to 320000,456000

• Zoom out and record on a peice of newspaper the rounded upwards coordinates preferably to the bottom left of the site. The rounded upwardly coordinates would be 320000, 456000 in this case. This happens to be in the centre of the scheme, but this is Ok
• Plow on and unfreeze all layers
• Select all the elements in the drawing and use the Movement control to motility the data to zero thus:
• When prompted for the base point or deportation type 320000,456000 on the command line and so Render
• When prompted for the second signal of displacement type 0,0 on the command line then Return. This moves the data from a known recorded point to 0,0

TIP: Another method involves cartoon a rectangle around the site (on a layer that tin be frozen) and using the bottom left corner of the rectangle as the move base signal

The drawing is now ready for import into MAX/VIZ without whatsoever problems connected to beingness sited far from zero. Echo this routine to movement any new data from the original second design drawing

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Import AutoCAD Cartoon Dialogs

To command how AutoCAD data is imported into MAX/VIZ one of two Import Drawing dialogs is used depending on how the data has been organised in AutoCAD and how the objects need to exist organised in MAX/VIZ

Importing using the Legacy AutoCAD dialog

This dialog is the 'old' version but does accept some useful features

1. You can import text
2. Objects are named the aforementioned as the layer they were created on in AutoCAD to assist with object organisation

• Reset MAX/VIZ
• File > Import. On the Select File to Import dialog modify the Files of Type to Legacy AutoCAD (*DWG). Select kf301_05.dwg and so Open up
• On the Dwg Import dialog select Merge and press Ok

• On the Import AutoCAD Dwg File dialog cheque the following:

• Press Ok

• In the Select by Name dialog note that all the layers have been turned into objects and that all the steps, for instance, are one object. This is Ok for some objects, merely not others. It is handy for the contours to be imported similar this. So as well the positioning blocks for landscape objects such as bollards, seating and lamp posts. Notwithstanding, objects such as the steps demand to exist imported as separate objects. To import those objects that have been imported incorrectly delete the objects and re-import having changed the import settings as follows:

• Delete Due south teps bottom.01, Steps acme.01, Sundial.01 and Wall.01

Importing using the AutoCAD Drawing dialog

This dialog is the most recent version and has other useful features

1. Yous tin select objects on layers you want to import from a layer list
2. Objects, however, are not renamed but organised in layers in MAX/VIZ

• File > Import. On the Select File to Import dialog change the Files of Type to AutoCAD Drawing (* . DWG ,*.DXF ). Select kf301_05.dwg so Open
• On The Layers Tab choose Select from listing and select the post-obit layers:

• On the Geometry Tab select the following options:

• Press Ok to import the objects into MAX/VIZ
• Observe that the all objects have been named 'polyline' ie as the object 'blazon'. Use the Layer dialog and Rename dialog to organise the objects farther:
• Open up the Layer dialog and right click over Steps bottom. Cull Select from the right click bill of fare. This selects all the bottom step purlieus lines

TIP: If the Layer dialog is not displaying right click on the main toolbar (not on an icon) and select Layers from the list

• Tools > Rename Objects. On the Rename dialog type in the Base of operations Name, bank check 'Numbered' and set the Base Number to i

• Printing Rename to rename all the objects selected

All objects are now in the correct format and named correctly in social club to make the modelling procedure easier

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