3D Drawing not displaying

[nialb]

Hi all

 

I have a 3D drawing made up of surfaces which has been converted from a STEP file. I have two versions, ACAD 2010 and ACAD 2004

 

I can open both in ACAD 2010 but if I try to open the 2004 version in ACAD 2006 the drawing does not display! If I go to file/open the drawing preview displays. If I open the 2004 drawing in TrueView the drawing is intact and I can rotate it, render it etc.

 

The drawing appears to load in ACAD 2006 (blue progress bar etc), I get no error messages but it just doesn't display. The drawing is on one layer and there are no other hidden layers. I have changed the layer and background colour without success. I have zoomed extents, zoomed all and the drawing is just not there.

 

Does anyone have any ideas? The reason I need to open the 2004 version in 2006 is because we use 2006 at work. Is there some control that needs enabelling to view surfaces in 2006 (just a thought)?

 

Many thanks

 

Nial

[JD Mather]

Can you attach the original STEP file here. If not, can you attach one of the dwg files here. I'll see if it can be stitched to a valid solid body.

[nialb]

Hi JD

 

Private message sent

 

Regards

 

Nial

[nialb]

Hi JD

 

Just to let you know the current status of my drawing problem - I surrendered and bought ACAD Inventor

 

Regards

 

Nial

[JD Mather]

Hi JD

 

Just to let you know the current status of my drawing problem - I surrendered and bought ACAD Inventor

 

Regards

 

Nial

 

 

Uhmm, should have checked back with me - I forgot about this one. I don't think Inventor is going to help you as it appears they modeled only one side. You can still get a drawing and you might be able to Thicken to solid.

 

This one is going to be a bit of a job for a beginner.

[nialb]

Hi JD

 

The problem I had was opening the file in ACAD 2006 which I have now overcome by upgrading to Inventor and ACAD 2010.

 

I opened the surfaces drawing in ACAD 2010 and created a series of construction lines at deck level as I was able to select end points on the surface. I could verify that the construction lines where correctly positioned as they were visible in both plan and bottom views when the surfaces were shaded. The construction lines are to position a steel support structure.

 

I then saved the construction lines grid as an ACAD 2004 file which I could then open in ACAD 2006 which has our Advance Steel structural steel software.

 

I created the structural steelwork using Advance Steel and exploded the structure to ACIS. I could then copy/paste the resulting ACAD solid model back into the ACAD 2010 surface model and position the steelwork using a pre-positioned point as reference. I was then able to check my steel support structure against the surface model for collisions etc. I can also send the 3D solid model of the support steelwork to our engineers for finite anaysis.

 

It is not as long winded as it sounds. I can create all of the structural steel and joints in Advance Steel so the only reason I copied it into ACAD 2010 was to check fit on the boat deck, which as you probably remember, I couldn't open in ACAD 2006.

 

Once this job is finished I will load the 2010 upgrade of Advance Steel and run it in ACAD 2010/2011 so in the future the problem will not occur. I will have Inventor to convert the STEP file to ACAD, ACAD 2010 to handle the output and Advance Steel or Inventor to create the steel structure. For now I am happy to jump between versions as I do not have time to resolve any issues that may arise when I upgrade.

 

Regards

 

Nial