AutoCAD to FormZ Any Tutorial ?

[muzzy]

Hi All,

 

My AutoCAD students ask me to import AutoCAd files to Form Z (especially 3d solid models). I have no idea about form Z. Is there any tutorial, I can forward to my students.

 

Thanks a lot,

 

Mustafa Tutar

[mbr]

I don't know of any tutorials, but I do it almost daily. The default imports should be fine for 99% of the time.

Make sure the 3D models are made well, as I've run into problems trying to import 3D acad that was made of lines with heights (and not 'real' 3D objects). It will still work, but will be a nightmare to edit.

 

It should be a 1 minute process:

 

1. Make sure to save the acad as a 2000, and not 2004 (you export out of acad as a 2000)

2. Select IMPORT in FormZ, select the dwg, and viola!

 

 

You can open dwg s in FormZ, too. Depends on the version how it comes in. In v 4, it opens a new window, so just copy and past it from the new window into the one you want it in.

 

That should cover it. If you have specific questions, let me know.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

a couple of ways to spped things up...

 

before importing, turn off 'undos' in formZ. speeds things up. if you want to move the file, do so now, while the undos are turned off. then turn the undo's back on.

 

once inside, i would do a select by, and delete the individual points.

 

another thing to remember. formz brings in all of the information, even something that is not visable in autocad. this probably will not matter on a student project, but in a firm, autocad drawings have a butt load of information that is not relavant to building a model in formZ.

[mbr]

That's true, I get drawings all the time that have demo layers and such, which I don't notice until I get it into FormZ. Unfortunately, most clients don't want to take the time to overlook what they send out. Understandable, but if there are entire drawings lurking around for me to discover once I am in 3D (and consequently spend a few hours figuring out the layers in the acad drawing - very recent experience, but it's common).

 

I haven't tried the 'select by'. Do you mean select by 'points' and delete the selected acad points?

The undo is a good idea, too. If your acad file is large, it will take a while to move it around and surely crash your computer if you try to undo a move.

[muzzy]

Thanks a lot.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

when i import autocad files i always have single points that represent the reference points of cells placed in autocad. i suppose it doesn't hurt to leave them there, but i feel like the file is a little cleaner, and easier to read when they are gone. the select by feature is really useful, you should try it.

 

i have often thought i should do a better job matching my non-existant formz standards to our comapny autocad standards. ...but i never have.

[mbr]

So do you delete these points in acad or formz? I always clean the acad files up as much as possible (text, hatches, etc.), but am not sure what you are referring to.

 

The 'select by' is a great feature in any program - also of use when you bring formz sections into illustrator and need to select certain lines.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

actually if you can clean the files in autocad, then you are several steps ahead of me. i try to clean in formZ, but i am sure it would be better done in autocad. i have been known to bring files from autocad into microstation to clean and clip them. i know microstation really well, but never took the time to learn autocad.