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Preparing an AutoCAD drawing for 3D

Introduction

Information technology is extremely important to prepare an AutoCAD drawing taking into consideration two principal issues

1. The drawing should be organised and fatigued and so as non to compromise the production drawing. This ways that it should be drawn in a manner 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 drawing should be organised to facilitate easy import / consign with MAX/VIZ. Keeping a handle on what elements volition need to be created equally single objects in 3D and which will demand to exist created as one object is very important. As well, making the layer organisation hands understandable and 'object focussed' is of import

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

Download Sample Data

In order to follow this tutorial, yous may desire to utilise the supplied files. Please read the sample data instructions before downloading.

kf301_files.naught (583kb)

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Layers and Cartoon Methods

Organisation of all elements that are to be used in 3D using layers is vital every bit well as a good knowledge of clean, accurate cartoon methods for 3D piece of work. Think that what looks acceptable in 2D may not work as y'all want in 3D and may look terrible. A good instance of bad drawing is the non-apply of arcs in the polyline command where a curved road section is represented past a serial of line segments. When turned into a kerb line in 3D it will look like the epitome below:

The right drawing method (which is easier) produces a proficient looking and accurate result in 3D

Clean and Simplify Drawing

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

• Purge the drawing of all items and nested items
• Audit the drawing
• Set UCS to Earth if some other has been used
• Demark Xrefs
• Detach Images
• Utilise Drawing Cleanup tools if using Autodesk Map to simplify linear features and remove duplicates etc

• Finally, display only 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 frontwards procedure that allows you to remember 'objects' correct from the offset

Open up kf301_01.dwg in AutoCAD. This cartoon contains an example layer arrangement used for easy import to MAX/VIZ

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

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Drawing Methods

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

NOTE: The cosmos of airtight boundary polygons and comprehensive layer organization is useful for other outputs from AutoCAD and 3rd party applications. Export to CorelDraw or Mcolour for programme graphics, hatching areas in AutoCAD and list of surface area quantities are good examples of extended functionality using these methods

TIP: Always draw 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 simple landscape scheme (shown completed below)

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Building

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

• Make Building layer current
• Draw > Boundary > Pick Points - pick a betoken in the eye of the edifice framework lines. This creates a closed boundary for the edifice on the correct layer

Note: If the Boundary command does not work check the following points:

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

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Machine Park

• Brand Framework layer electric current
• Draw a framework polyline from the lesser right corner of the building vertically upwardly using Ortho On (F8 toggles Ortho on>off)
• Offset this line 30 metres to the right
• Plow OSnap On (Object Snap) and change the Snap Settings to Endpoint. Draw a horizontal polyline from the tiptop correct corner of the  building horizontally using Ortho On so that it crosses the previously fatigued polyline
• Draw a ciclcle snapped to where these lines meet with a radius of five metres (this value tin be typed on the control line when creating the circle)
• Commencement drawing a framework polyline snapped from the acme right corner of the building with the second vertex of the polyline snapped (intersection snap) to where the circumvolve crosses the line. Then type A at the command line (this is a polyline sub-command - look at the command line - which allows y'all to draw an arc every bit part of a polyline). Snap the next vertex to where the circle crosses the vertical framework line. So blazon L at the command line (this takes you back to drawing a normal line within the polyline). Using Ortho On elevate the polyline down and complete the polyline as shown beneath. This process accurately offsets the car park edge and gives a rounded corner of radius 5 metres

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First Path and Road

• Delete the circumvolve
• Extend the bottom horizontal building framework line to meet the new motorcar park edge framework line and Offset the new automobile park edge line left five metres to the left. This creates a framework line for the road
• Get-go the extended framework line downwards 2 metres and the original right hand vertical framework building line to the right 2 metres. This creates framework lines for the commencement 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 route at the lower finish

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Grassed Area and Planting Beds

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

NOTE: Arc sub commands must only be used subsequently starting to describe a polyline in Line mode. Otherwise the arc 'balloons' due to it non having any direction

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

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2nd Path

• Draw a polyline using the Arc sub command and Line sub command to describe the eye line of the second path
• Start this line 0.75 metres to the left and 0.75 metres to the correct
• Delete the centre polyline to requite an initial framework for the second path

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

• Finally (to consummate the framework) Fillet the corners or the path entrances. Earlier filleting, Join the framework polylines using Pedit then utilize the Fillet command to create a fillet of radius 2 metres at each corner. Then use Snaps to snap a polyline to close the path ends
• Trim the circle for the small planting bed and so the lines do not interfere with the cosmos of boundaries

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Create Surface Boundaries

Making each layer electric current in turn use the Boundary control to chop-chop create boundaries for each element
Plough the Framework layer off

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Create Kerb Line

• Offset the Machine Park boundary by 0.fifteen metres
• Select the offset polyline and identify on the Kerb layer by selecting the Kerb Layer in the Layer Dropdown List then pressing Esc twice. This layer volition be turned off earlier importing into MAX/VIZ as edges are created from the boundary lines using the Loft compound object

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

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

Checklist of Commands

Get very familiar with the post-obit commands which were all used to quickly and accurately create this simple landscape programme. More complicated plans just echo these commands over and over again

Move
Rotate
Re-create and Multiple Copy
Offset
Trim
Extend
Boundary
Fillet > Chamfer
Pedit
Manipulation of Vertex Handles
Snap Mode 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 simply used as markers for 3D Objects or as objects for replacing with 3D objects. Replacing blocks with much simpler blocks earlier importing into MAX/VIZ is straightforward in AutoCAD using the Reference Edit dialog

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

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

NOTE: The Reference Edit dialog is a feature 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 proper name disappear and all other elements in the drawing turn greyness
• Zoom to the block and draw a circle in the same position and at the same size as the tree block

• Depict a circumvolve around the tree cake on layer 0, then delete the tree block lines
• Press the Save back changes to reference button to supercede all references of the block with a simple circle

TIP: Another option for replacing blocks tin be institute on the Express Menu/Blocks. Use Supplant cake with another block to apace replace a block in the drawing with some other

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Import Options

Before importing data from AutoCAD into MAX/VIZ two issues must be addressed

1. If the drawing has been created far from 0,0 on the Ten and Y axes, the drawing information needs to be moved closer to 0,0. This improves how MAX/VIZ handles the information in the later stages and makes sure the modelling is accurate and whatsoever blitheness smooth
2. The relationship between the layers and how they are configured to create objects on import needs to exist understood. Then simple routines using one of two separate import dialogs can be used to update the MAX/VIZ scene at any time

This section explains how to separate drawing information for MAX/VIZ from the production design drawings and how to configure the Import dialog for easy update of the scene from AutoCAD

Notation: If cartoon units are in millimeters, so also re-scale the drawing at this phase (it is not advisable to proceed in millimeters for a landscape scale project)

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Move to Zip

If AutoCAD geometry is created far from naught, then accuracy bug may occur when modelling this data in MAX/VIZ. This is due to the fact that AutoCAD is authentic to 64 decimal places, whereas MAX/VIZ is only (just?) accurate to 32 decimal places. The trouble unremarkably manifests itself when animating cameras along paths when 'camera shake' will occur. Large bounding boxes around objects are also a problem if the AutoCAD data is far from nothing because the bounding boxes start at 0,0

AutoCAD drawings created far from nil are ordinarily the result of using Ordnance Survey basemap information to start the drawing process. Most basemap tiles are hundreds of thousands of metres abroad 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 earlier creating the drawing and in the knowledge that other data need not be added in a 'mapped' environment or utilise a separate drawing for 3D work with a known basepoint for moving geometry to nil thus:

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

TIP: Employ Autodesk Map 3D to attach the project design drawing to the MAX/VIZ drawing and use unproblematic layer property queries to add elements to the MAX/VIZ drawing at any time. This is a very constructive method of filtering only the data needed for 3D work whilst keeping split up from the production drawings. It allows the original design drawing to be changed without having to worry near layers on>off and layers that are not relevant to 3D work (drawing for 3D work should be very straight forwards and virtually simplistic). Complicated blocks for copse, seats, lamp posts etc tin can fifty-fifty exist replaced with uncomplicated blocks as part of the process. Changing 2nd plans using GIS functionality and visualising these scenarios in 3D is another reward of using Autodesk Map 3D with MAX/VIZ

• Open kf301_04.dwg . This drawing is an case of a drawing containing these iii elements. Even so, if y'all wait at the coordinates of the data on the Satus Bar you lot volition notice that it is far from zilch

Circular these coordinates up to 320000,456000

• Zoom out and record on a peice of paper the rounded upward coordinates preferably to the bottom left of the site. The rounded up coordinates would be 320000, 456000 in this case. This happens to be in the centre of the scheme, but this is Ok
• Turn on and unfreeze all layers
• Select all the elements in the drawing and employ the Move command to motility the data to zero thus:
• When prompted for the base point or deportation type 320000,456000 on the command line then Render
• When prompted for the second point of deportation blazon 0,0 on the control line then Return. This moves the data from a known recorded betoken to 0,0

TIP: Another method involves drawing a rectangle around the site (on a layer that can be frozen) and using the bottom left corner of the rectangle as the motion base of operations point

The drawing is now ready for import into MAX/VIZ without any problems connected to being sited far from zero. Repeat this routine to move whatsoever new data from the original 2d blueprint drawing

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Import AutoCAD Drawing Dialogs

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

Importing using the Legacy AutoCAD dialog

This dialog is the 'quondam' version just does accept some useful features

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

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

• On the Import AutoCAD Dwg File dialog cheque the post-obit:

• 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, but not others. It is handy for the contours to be imported like this. So too the positioning blocks for mural objects such as bollards, seating and lamp posts. Nonetheless, objects such as the steps demand to be imported equally 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 Southward teps lesser.01, Steps pinnacle.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. You can 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 alter the Files of Type to AutoCAD Drawing (* . DWG ,*.DXF ). Select kf301_05.dwg and so Open
• On The Layers Tab cull Select from list and select the following layers:

• On the Geometry Tab select the following options:

• Press Ok to import the objects into MAX/VIZ
• Detect that the all objects have been named 'polyline' ie as the object 'type'. Apply the Layer dialog and Rename dialog to organise the objects further:
• Open up the Layer dialog and right click over Steps bottom. Cull Select from the right click carte du jour. This selects all the lesser pace boundary lines

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

• Tools > Rename Objects. On the Rename dialog blazon in the Base Name, cheque 'Numbered' and set the Base Number to 1

• Press Rename to rename all the objects selected

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

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