AutoCAD 3d to AutoCAD LT 2d 2

[Muellme60614]

Is there any easy way to generate a AutoCAD LT 2D drawing from an AutoCAD 3D model. I have the plan & elevation views in my layout tabs, but I need to export these into a 2d file for a AutoCAD LT user.

 

[borgunit]

We found that creating viewports of the views in Layout space in AutoCAD allows you to copy the views to the clipboard. Paste the 2D view in a new drawing's modelspace. You can save it and have a 2D drawing.

"Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects." — Will Rogers

 

[Muellme60614]

Thanks borgunit. I tried this, but could not get the views to copy over. The border & dimensions from my layout tab would copy over into the model space of the new drawing, but the viewport would be blank. Tried multiple ways of copying/paste (with base point, as block, etc.). I am using AutoCAD 2004. Any other suggestions or is there a setting on the viewport I need? (tried locking, but that did not help)

 

[cfee]

This ONLY works with 3D SOLIDS. Surfaces and objects made up of surfaces won't project:

In your 3D Model drawing, create a viewport in one of the P-S Tabs using SOLVIEW (BEST way is to get it from the 3D "SOLIDS" toolbar, as the command is already set up for your use). Then position the model any way you want in that viewport. This could be an ISO style zoom position or any of the ortho views. I like to create 4 viewports and have the same SOLID model showing up in each (TOP, FRONT, RIGHT & ISO), so that I can keep track of what I am doing. Now that you have the view port, run the SOLDRAW command. Pick the viewport.

The SOLDRAW command will project forward to a plane parallel to your view. It will project simple 2D lines that are the view of the 3D Model you had in the viewport. They are all co-planar (z=0). ACAD will turn off the layer showing the 3D model for you, and will leave showing ONLY the 2D linework you are seeking (Solid lines and Hidden lines, if you selected that option, or visible lines only...). This is true for all viewports, even the 3D ISO view.

You then go into each viewport and W-Block out the 2D picture made up of the lines projected from the 3D model. Collect these W-Blocks together into one drawing, and give them to your user.

Side-note: I think early versions of acad LT contained this same functionality- you could make a 2D Soldraw of the 3d Model, but you couldn't edit the 3D model itself. I think this has changed, where you have to do all of this in the full ACAD and hand it over, but I'm not sure; I haven't had my hands on a session of LT for some years now. Any thoughts?

Tks & Good luck-
C. Fee

 

[Muellme60614]

Thanks C.Fee....unfortunately I am not working with 3D solids. Still looking how to do this with a 3d model built from wireframe objects.

 

[ELECTRICAD]

Muellme60614,

You can print a dxb file that essentially takes a 3D drawing and "flattens it" into a 2D model. Here is a link to the Autodesk Instructions.

Note: The DXB plotter configuration converts all color data to black and white, and places all drawing geometry on layer 0.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=2876115&linkID=2475323

Everything on the z-axis is removed from the drawing when you use this method. Let me know if this works.

Good luck,
Electricad

 

[Muellme60614]

Thanks a lot ELECTRICAD. That worked perfectly. It even worked from not only model space, but my layout space.