How to creat a 2D drawing from a 3D drawing

[manchest]

Hi

 

I have a 3D drawing of a steelwork structure and want to know how to create a 2D drawing of the front, side, top views so I can insert them in a different drawing

 

Thanks for your help

[ReMark]

You have a couple of options. You can use the SolProf command or the combination commands of SolView / SolDraw.

 

You might also want to take a quick look at the FlatShot command as well.

 

Did you use surfaces or solids to create your steelwork?

[manchest]

It is not my drawing I know it has been created with AutoCAD 2000

 

Looks like solids to me

 

When I try to use flatshot I am told there are no solids or surfaces

 

They have used the 3D drawing to crete 2D drawings of different views put I dont know how

[ReMark]

Perhaps you have been given an isometric drawing.

Edited July 19, 2010 by ReMark

[manchest]

I am still fairly new to 3D but I am sure it is a 3D drawing

 

I can view the front, back,left, right ,top & bottom sides and I can orbit round it

 

Think I might have a problem because it was produced in 2000

[ReMark]

The fact it was created in 2000 has no bearing on the problem.

 

What Visual Style are you using?

 

Have you tried doing a LIST on the object(s) to check whether or not it(they) are solids or surfaces?

 

Can you post the drawing? Drawings exceeding CADTutor file limits can be zipped prior to posting.

[manchest]

Sorry can not post the drawing it is 667k when zipped

[JD Mather]

Sorry can not post the drawing it is 667k when zipped

 

So don't post the entire drawing - just a part of it, perhaps as little as one part so that someone can see what you have to work with.

 

As suggested do a List to see what you have for yourself.

[manchest]

G1203_Model PART.zip

 

Small part of drawing attached

[ReMark]

Looks like you are dealing with a polyface mesh.

 

Who created the drawing? Just curious.

[manchest]

I dont want to give there name

 

It is a steelwork fabricator based in England, They produce fairly small structures for use for use in Electricy sub stations

[ReMark]

The drawing was created by an outside firm. Fine. What software did they use to create it with?

[manchest]

Fairly sure they use AutoCAD 2000

[JD Mather]

With a modern 3D CAD program like Autodesk Inventor you could stitch to solids, but they would still be faceted.

Not sure if Sculpt in AutoCAD 2011 would solidify - didn't try it, and as you are using earlier release....

[ReMark]

Fairly sure they use AutoCAD 2000

 

I'm puzzled as to why they would use mesh surfaces.

[ReMark]

The only thing I can suggest at this point would be to download the mesh-to-solid lisp routine (m2s.lsp) found here at CADTutor in the Application Archive section of the forum and see if you can convert a sample object from the drawing.

[JD Mather]

I'm puzzled as to why they would use mesh surfaces.

 

I would bet money they were using a 3rd party add-in for this work. I forget what it was called, but I have seen a lot of work like this.

[ReMark]

3rd party add-on? OK. But it does seem odd the objects are created using meshes and not solids or is that how more advanced CAD programs do it?

 

From the small sample drawing provided it looked like square tubing, plate and nuts/bolts. I can understand the use of meshes for creating freeform design but not for something as generic as structural shapes.

[JD Mather]

3rd party add-on? OK. But it does seem odd the objects are created using meshes and not solids or is that how more advanced CAD programs do it?

 

No, looks like ancient technology to me. Not sure why even back then they did it that way, something about ease of programing for the 3rd party. I think the parts were created by filling information in dialog boxes.

[ReMark]

I see. Well thank you for the information JDM.