Hello, I have been using Sketchup for years to create house models. I was recently hired by a house producer. I continue to create the models on Sketchup because it is by far the best tool I know for design. But now I also need to create production drawings that are used by wood processing machines to create posts and beams. For this I have to use AutoCAD and DWG files.
There are different ways to import files from Sketchup to AutoCAD. I tried to export my Sketchup work to DWG, I also found a Sketchup extension to export SKP to DWG, I found a plugin in AutoCAD that allows you to import SKP to DWGā¦ so apparently there are several ways to do this and apparently all of these solutions work. BUT the problem is that imported 3D drawings are not recognized as solids in AutoCAD, which means that yes the model is imported but I canāt use it for production drawings.
Has anyone faced this and if so is there a solution?
Thanks for your help.
Martin
What software are you using in AutoCAD? HSB or something else? Are you exporting to a CNC to create machine code (Hundegger?) or other machine file, or is there some other process being used?
I export my timber work from SketchUp to IFC format and folks using CadWorks use my files for creating their shop / production drawings and eventual machine code. Iām not sure if this creates solids but I have had no complaints from clients.
For 3D printing projects, I export Sketchup to STL files, then open in MS 3D Builder which has a nice auto-repair feature for any gaps and inconsistencies. I then save the repaired STL and import Raise3D IdeaMaker.
What is the final format format your production team needs?
Hi, thanks. Indeed, within AutoCAD we use HSB. We use HSB to apply numbering and edit summary at first and finally to create the .bvn and .bvx files for the production mostly with Hundegger.
I am discovering what IFC is, so fare I worked alone without machine production behind so I am not familiar with those possibilities. But from what I read, IFC should be exactly what I need.
In your case, how do you export your .skp files to .ifc? I have seen that there should be Sketchup extensions, is that the way you proceed?
When I was managing production we kept everything within ACAD / HSB for production. SKP models from the design teams would be isolated to timber frame with layers (Tags now) and extracted, then brought in as a DWG block as an reference only and quickly rebuilt to ensure accuracy and no issues.
If the IFC output doesnāt work I would reach out to HSB CAD and see if they can help. Perhaps they can write something based on the input (SKP or IFC).
Hi, thanks for your answer. Good to see that it is actually possible and that you have experience from making a ābridgeā between Sketchup and production. I will explore further and I will also check with HSB if they have some information to share about using Sketchup together with HSB. And I fixed my profile
When I ran the production side of the office we used SKP for sales / presentation and the architecture team used it for design.
We never used a direct SKP to production workflow - always rebuilding the timber frame in HSB direct. Iām not sure if that has changed since Iāve been gone.
Now I am 100% SKP - LO and my clients range from small shops that hand cut to companies that have multiple CNC machines. The CNC companies take my SKP model and extract only the timbers and I believe they are all using CadWorks so they bring in IFC.
In the last version of IFC manager I added an option(a bit experimental) to export extrusions for super simple geometry like a straight beam or floor slab. It does not work when there are cutouts.
Than you do get the best type of solids in IFC.
For example: Classify wall frame as an IfcElementAssembly, the beams as IfcBeam/IfcColumn or IfcMember, and inside the beam an object classified as IfcExtrudedAreaSolid.
So you are the Autor of IFC manager?
I will have to check out with our IT dpt to install it, due to security stuff I am not allowed to download it straight away.
Hi and thanks for your inputs so far. The problem with solids imported from Sketchup to DWG that are no longer solids can be solved. I found a video explaining the steps to take and I tried it out. IT WORKS! I am now able to import a model created in Sketchup into AutoCAD and to convert it further into a HSB project so it is possible to create the bvn. and bvx. files for the production: https://youtu.be/xMuHABVwR4M?feature=shared
The video on Youtube is already 6 years old, Thanks to Timothy for posting it.
Martin
