Converting 3D solids to polygons in AutoCAD 14

[John2002]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me if you can convert 3D solids to polygons in AutoCAD 14? Is there a freeware, shareware, or lisp program that can do this?

I want to import an AutoCAD dxf file containing 3D solids into the freeware program "3d canvas" but the program requires that the dxf file contain only polygons. I have also had this problem with other softwares.

Possibly something that converts from a solid to a mesh would work.

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
John

 

[CarlB]

I found the following which may be of some help:

[2.7.5] Creating meshes from 3DSOLIDs

With 3DSOUT and then 3DSIN
However, former invisible face edges are then visible.

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Subject: [2.10] How to set objects to Zero Elevation? FLATTEN.LSP

AutoDESK provides a PROJECT.LSP with two commands (PROJECT1,
PROJECT2) to project entities to a plane. This may be used to project
entities to z=0.0 and will be better than other lisps like
FLATTEN which only set the z-coordinate of all entities to zero.

Pro's: Handles Blocks and Polylines in turned UCS.
Contra's: Does not handle TEXT, 3DSOLID's and entities with a width.

For 3DSOLID's you'll need Mechincal Desktop or create meshes from
solids (see [2.7.5]), otherwise use this:

(defun c:flatten ()
(command "_move" "_si" "_all" "_none" "0,0,1e99" ""
"_move" "_si" "_all" "_none" "0,0,-1e99" "&quot)

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[cfee]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I've been able to EXPLODE a solid ONCE. It gives me "Bodies" which seem to act like surfaces. I've been able to dxf these out with good success. If however, there's something more, and your 3D CANVAS won't use them, keep searching.

The FLATTEN suggestions are not on the right track for this particular question. If they're answering ANOTHER question I'm unaware of, like "How do I get all of the ends of my vectors to Z=0 on my World Coordinate System UCS, Flatten is definitely the right answer.

Anyone know how to specify a different UCS than WORLD for flatten?

Anyway, Good Luck.
C. Fee