SU to AutoCAD

[kd]

I'm new to this..
Can someone lead me thru the process of taking a view from SU to an AutoCAD drawing and add notation, titleblock, etc.
I have AutoCAD LT 2004
thx

[boofredlay]

What kind of views?
Sections, Plan, Elevations?

[f700es]

Sure, slect the view that you want (front, left, right, whatever) and then turn the "perspective" off (should be the "P" key). Then you go to export and select the 2D graphic and export as a dwg. You will have to either clean-up the file when you bring it into AutoCAd or trace over it (use it as a base).

[boofredlay]

Well, anyway, it is real simple.

If you are doing say elevations. Pick the view you want, it is easiest for me to select Front, Right, Left or Back from the toolbar. Then turn off perspective: Camera Pulldown, un-check Perspective.

Then: File / Export / 2D Graphic. Then in the file type pulldown, select AutoCAD DWG (*.dwg). Then Export.

You can look at the options prior to export. Make sure you have the Drawing Scale & Size set to Full Scale 1:1 (unless you want to bring your model in at a different scale than what you drew, I never have). Also make sure to check the AutoCAD version, 2004 in your case.

Easy.

Now if you want to cut a section through a model and export that, you just add a couple of steps.
Cut your section with the section plane tool: align to whichever plane you want and click. Then select the section with the select tool and then with the move tool push it to the desired location.
Now right click one of the section plane arrows and select "Create Group from Slice".
Then go to File / Export / Section Slice (no need to set a view or perspective as the section is already 2D).
Then follow the same steps above to finish out.

Easy.

When you open the AutoCAD file, it might be in Metric, why I don't know. Just change your units back to Architectural and you are good to go.
If you copy and paste into an existing drawing using Architectural units, it will import fine.

I hope I was clear :?

Edit: I see f700es got there first. :oops:

[kd]

f
what to you mean "clean up the drawing"

[boofredlay]

I think he means you will have to do some layer management, color management or convert lines to polylines or blocks as you wish.

[kd]

do i explode the object after i bring into autoCAD or is it better to just trace and create a new dwg.

[boofredlay]

It is up to you really.

The model should already be exploded.

If I am bringing it in to an existing drawing, I might create a block out of it and trace over.
However if I am starting a new drawing I usually just start assigining colors and layers, convert whichever lines I want to be polylines and so on.

Now the arcs in SketchUp are not true arcs, so you might have to redraw them as needed.

Hope this helps.

[f700es]

It is up to you really.

The model should already be exploded.

If I am bringing it in to an existing drawing, I might create a block out of it and trace over.
However if I am starting a new drawing I usually just start assigining colors and layers, convert whichever lines I want to be polylines and so on.

Now the arcs in SketchUp are not true arcs, so you might have to redraw them as needed.

Hope this helps.

Exactly. some items come in good some don't. Acs and circle don't so these are things that I redraw in Acad. Some lines will be broken into differnt line segments and will need to be fixed (joined or redrawed).

[kd]

Where is the file type pull down?

[boofredlay]

Where is the file type pull down?

Sorry, it is actually called "Export Type" in the Export 2D Graphic window.

[kd]

It worked! Where do I go to check the scale and sizing of the model to make sure it's 1:1 before i export?
kd

[f700es]

It worked! Where do I go to check the scale and sizing of the model to make sure it's 1:1 before i export?
kd

Under the options tab on the 2D export window.