import AutoCAD to Lightwave :(

[wilky9]

I've started working at a company that uses Lightwave for 3D, and I'm going crazy trying to import AutoCAD drawings. I've tried importing dxf, 3ds, and eps files, all to varying degrees of success, which is to say not much!

Is there a step-by-step process for exporting from AutoCAD for importing into LightWave? Keep in mind I'm new to both of these programs, so dumb it down for me!

chris

[Hector]

I ussually import dxf files to Lightwave but from Vectorworks. However, it may be helpful for you to know this:

1.- Lightwave doesn't seem to recognize dxf layers and imports everything into a single lightwave layer. So, it is better if you export each layer separately as a dxf file and then import them one by one into lightwave. As every imported file becomes an individual lightwave file you can copy paste everything into several layers in a "single" lightwave file. Another option is the "load object into layer" command, so you avoid the copy and paste.

2.-Lightwave works in meters. So if you import a wall that is 6000 x 3000 "units" it will become a 6000m x 3000m wall. You may need to scale your model if your do your cadwork in mm.

3.-Sometimes when I import extrude geometry I have to flip the normals so they point to the right direction.

4.-I create my dxf files from vectorworks while being on a 3d front, back or side view, so the model loads into lightwave oriented properly. This may not be an issue with autocad.

5.-Sometimes is useful to merge points upon import. When you have several point sitting on top of each other the polygon to which they belong seem to be "darker" when you choose a shaded viewport mode.

6.- You should also try a plug-in called lightwave-cad which has a series of very useful commends, specially cad-like snaps.

What are the problems you are experiencing?.

[Pavlov]

Originally Posted by wilky9

I've started working at a company that uses Lightwave for 3D, and I'm going crazy trying to import AutoCAD drawings. I've tried importing dxf, 3ds, and eps files, all to varying degrees of success, which is to say not much!

Is there a step-by-step process for exporting from AutoCAD for importing into LightWave? Keep in mind I'm new to both of these programs, so dumb it down for me!

chris

simplest one is:
open DXF/DWG in Rhino
convert curveas to polylines
save in LWO format.

[wilky9]

Well, the problem is that when I import the file to Lightwave, it is always missing most of the lines from the AutoCAD file. It seems that the only things that reliably come across are circles, and even they aren't always %100.

Is there some kind of prep work that I need to do in AutoCAD before exporting? I usually try and get rid of as much extraneous information as I can.

[IC]

Personally, I draw polylines around the walls and extrude them within AutoCad/ADT. Then I export to LW as a 3ds file and model the details in Modeler.
Works perfectly as you're only exporting the basics and it's already 3D geometry.

Once you learn modelling in LW itself, you'll boost your workflow by at least 100%. It's a very intuitive and flexible program and offers so much more than Cad programs, as do most of the 3D apps.

For interiors, I only use the Cad file as reference and model it all in LW.

[wilky9]

Don't tell me, tell the drafts(persons) that give me the CAD files!
I don't really have much control over the quality of their drawings, especially as the new guy who doesn't know AutoCAD from MS Paint.

I remembered that I had an old copy of Deep Exploration at home, and I've managed to get it to export DXF's pretty well.

Thanks for the help

[claudioarchi]

Yeah!!!!1 so what i do is export form Autocad an EPS file open it with illustrator save as eps file version 8 or earlier and then import to modeler...it works for me....BTW don't forget to sacale before modeler...
good luck

see ya!!!!

[warprat]

well I found one way.
Scale in auto cad to 1/100000. Then explode everything. save as DXF. then open in lightwave the whole plan intact. Voila!