The problem I have is with archs, elipses and organic shapes. To render them well, I have to increase the polygon count, so export just leaves me with 3 million anchor points connecting straight lines. If they want something vector based, and in 2D, as architectural design is done, I would underlay a wireframe drawing in a vector based program and just redraw what they want in actual vectors. I have simlab and it’s a waste of money. Nothing properly converts polygons to vectors that I’m aware of, however, making a LO into a vector format then just going end point to endpoint with the proper tool in a cheap vector based program is pretty quick. Is there anything that converts a SU elipse to a vector without a million anchor points? Not to my knowledge.
I believe if you have 2d circles / arcs in SKP and export as 3d model they are true circles and arcs in CAD.
Exporting your SketchUp model as a 3D DWG gives you true AutoCad arcs and circles but as SketchUp is a face modeller, it doesn’t support spline curves or ellipses so they are basically just segmented polylines. If you need NURBS geometry then you must use a software that supports it. Not a bad feature request, though. Rhino, for instance, supports face, nurbs and quad geometry side by side, but its interface is crappy compared with SketchUp.
That’s not what SketchUp is for.
This should be proper AutoCAD geometry when exported as 3d DWG.
I usually just export the image into Illustrator or SolidWorks (I don’t have AutoCAD) and then just re draw the profiles with native tools. Takes a few minutes, but usually all people need are profiles, so it’s quick. SolidWorks has a Maker’s Edition that’s less than most plugins for SU. Then you make it a layer, or whatever the software calls for, trace what you intend to send, Delete the SU imported layer, and send it right off. That’s for 2D. 3D? No idea. Yeah. You can import something like this into a vector based program, but it’s useless to the guy on the other side because it’s all polygons and not vectors. But who cares? Render it with V-Ray and tell them to try and do better. Not a chance. It’s 1.9 million anchors. I say let them do their own work and stop using mine. If I have to draw it in 3D from a set of 2D drawings, they can too.
BTW, yesterday someone posted about (meant as ad?) an extension that converts SketchUp curves into series of arcs (like the old spline to polyline conversion in AutoCad). Don’t know anything about the poster, and it had no link to the actual extension.
I interpret the initial message as wanting in the PDF, the architect wants the line layers as digital line layers and not saved as raster flat images. Saving/converting DWGs to PDF can be done via flat images or via lines converted to PDF layers in that PDF allowing more accurate PDFs.
This is the 2nd time Ive mentioned this today. Strange.
Intensive testing continues. Now I need to push a little harder; the warpage problem will likely be completely eliminated during production. My CNC cutting continues with Arc Fit. Curve to arc elips ,spiline , poliline ,the problem of appearing curved, thousands of points, real arc outputs in production now sir
Exporting a 3D drawing from Sketchup creates a huge .dwg file which need considerable work to convert to solids or faces. It is much less work to create a 3D model in AutoCAD then attempting to modify the model exported from Sketchup. Sketchup produces a model that is not in parametric format which AutoCAD uses to create “higly accurate” line work. If you want a 3D model in AutoCAD forget Sketchup and start a new drawing in AutoCAD.
Convertsion to and from 2D models from AutoCAD to Sketchup usually yeilds good results however, considerable work is required to constuct a 3D model from the import. Decide which application will produce quality result BEFORE you decide if a 3D model is desirable.
Exporting Sketchup to AutoCAD only will result in splines and arcs aka polylines. If you want your rmodel to be lite then NURBS geometery is the only soultion. This type of geometry can only be created in parametric based modeling application such as AutoCAD or Rhino.
This conversation is perfect timing for me. Working with an architect and was wanting DWG’s from me on some floorplans. I agree with the earlier comment, keeping it simple and avoid arc’s keeps the architect happy with DWG exports. One question however, what about the 2D components from the warehouse? Would they be the same issue? I’ve noticed they aren’t vector based, at least I don’t believe so (ie sinks, toilets etc).