Often you have to use a drawing made in another program and use
Library | Import | DXF File
This option allows you to import a DXF file. After selecting this option, you will be presented by a DXF options dialog:
From the Library menu select Import>DXF
Browse and select a DXF file and press Open
Dxf options
First you get a list of options on how to import a DXF file:
| • | Remove not used objects Here you can specify if you want to remove any 'not used' objects from the DXF import. By not used objects we mean objects present in the file, which are not used in the actual drawing you are importing. |
| • | Join single faces Here you can specify if you want to join single faces (triangles etc) of an object into one object. The advantage is that such a joined object is easier and faster to manipulate and work with, the disadvantage is that the object can only be handled as 'one', which means for instance you can only add one material to the object. |
| • | Crease Angle |
The crease angle is used to smooth joint between surfaces (default is 45 degree)
Example:
| • | Minimal Line Width and Height. any lines imported in MSD Modeller must be converted into a 3D object. Specified the width and height for these line conversion to cubes |
Note: you can import a 2d Drawing of a plan view and then use the line converted to cube and extrude (scale) walls and other surfaces to the desired width and height
| • | Unit |
You can specify what 1 unit in the DXF file represents in real world coordinates.
When importing a file, it is important to know the unit used to create that file.
If it is unknown, try using (1 unit = 1 inch) or (1 unit = 1 meter), these are the most common
Then looking at the object size once imported will give you a hint if it is the right unit.
Example if you import an 12 inches object made with (1 unit = 1 inch) and when importing you choose (1 unit = 1 meter) the object will now have 12 meters...!
When all settings are chosen, click on OK
While the file is importing a status window will be shown where the different imported elements count are displayed.
This box will close automatically once the import is finish.
When you import a DXF file, objects defined in the DXF file will be imported as objects in the model library. The total scene in the DXF file will also be imported as an object and will get the name of the DXF file. For example, if you import a DXF file called 'c:\room.dxf' which contains a scene with 3 objects in it (a table and 2 chairs), There will appear 3 objects in the model library called 'room.dxf', 'chair' and 'table', where the object 'room.dxf' will contain the complete scene. If there was also an object 'painting' in the DXF file which was not put in the 'room' scene, it will or will not be in the model library, depending on whether the checkbox 'Remove not used object' was checked or not.
Since the Modeller is a 3D graphics program, it will only import 3D DXF objects, and lines if the 'Convert lines to cylinders' option is turned on.
Tips to import CAD drawing
Many CAD's use block and 2D lines to build objects, this can cause some problems when importing in a 3D modeler.
If the CAD as an option to export/Import to a 3D format such as 3DS, take the whole drawing and export it to that format.
Still in the CAD software, create a new drawing and re-import the exported drawing and this time save it or export it as DXF.