3d Model size too big to handle

[RevolverSly]

Hello.

 

Recently I have been modeling a dock with cranes and a container yard. Everything is going fine until I decided change the boxes -solid primitive- that represent the containers for a more detailed container model, also wish to change the color of these individually.

 

I've tried to simply copy/paste several container models, but the file became huge and the AutoCad performance is deeply affected. So I try inserting blocks of these models with the same effect, even I tried to convert the container model to a brep before paste in my overall model, in order to keep the file manageable, but no much difference.

 

How can i get what I want? Lot of containers (3270 more or less) who being capable of change their color randomly and individually.

 

Thanks in advance. I attach the container model for further explanation/solution.

contenedores_guayaquil.dwg

Edited September 21, 2011 by RevolverSly
Add a picture

[ReMark]

Have you purged the file?

 

What are your system specs? Nevermind, I see them now.

Edited September 22, 2011 by ReMark

[JD Mather]

Looking at any reasonable distance it is not possible to tell if 1 rectangular box representing thousands of containers or thousands of rectangular boxes.

I would use 1 box (or a handful) with an image texture applied to make look real.

[SLW210]

You need a better graphics card for starters, the one you are using is not certified for AutoCAD 2010. What is the exact file size?

 

You need to equip your machine to handle the large file size or use image textures as suggested by JD Mather.

[ReMark]

Assuming you had 3200 large shipping containers in your drawing at roughly 500,000 bytes each that would be one hell of a dwg file size not to mention the dock, crane, etc. No wonder you are experiencing problems. I'm with JD on this one.

[Patrick Hughes]

For working with the model efficiently you might want to consider using the original simple block without any detail. Then, when you desire the extra detail re-insert the block to redefine it in the drawing which will update all insertions.

 

I personally would stay away from copy/pasting. The anonymous nature of the block name that is assigned can lead to a huge amount of memory usage, not to mention the inability to identify just what the heck a block named $Alk54sd1fg16hhrtjbna is.

[SLW210]

For working with the model efficiently you might want to consider using the original simple block without any detail. Then, when you desire the extra detail re-insert the block to redefine it in the drawing which will update all insertions.

 

I personally would stay away from copy/pasting. The anonymous nature of the block name that is assigned can lead to a huge amount of memory usage, not to mention the inability to identify just what the heck a block named $Alk54sd1fg16hhrtjbna is.

 

That only occurs when you paste as block.

 

You might try xreffing them in.

[RevolverSly]

Thanks for the awnsers.

 

Guess is too impractical to have many details on a render. I'll try to simplify the container block and add textures to the get effect of rugged metal instead to create the solid block. Also give a try using xref, but guess I'll needed to have many individual containers files to get the color variation that I want.

 

You need a better graphics card for starters, the one you are using is not certified for AutoCAD 2010. What is the exact file size?

 

You need to equip your machine to handle the large file size or use image textures as suggested by JD Mather.

 

The larger file that could handle was 210Mb around. Yeah, three months ago I worked with a PIV, 1Gb Ram, Integrated graphics, AutoCad 2007, Win XP computer. When the department chief ask me to create some renders, I requested a better machine, something with a dedicated graphics...and that was the best my IT department gets me: a cheap, game-oriented card .

[ReMark]

Never let someone in an IT department spec a graphics card for a CAD machine. Lesson learned.

[David Bethel]

Maybe a bit smaller dwg for the container and use color ByBlock for the box

 

38KB for a 20ft -David

3d-c20.dwg

[RevolverSly]

Thanks for the new block David. I never figured that a polyline can be modeled to appear opaque, I thought regions, faces and meshes was the only way. Glad to learn something new.

[SuperCAD]

I wouldn't use blocks for something like this. I would save each solid as it's own file and then XREF it into the main file. By using blocks, you're still adding all of the geometry and data to the file. If you use XREF's it will really cut down on your file size and make the drawing easier to work with.