AutoCAD 2013/2014 DWG Format

[#1]

Hi,

do you have these 2 objects as DWG?

- alfred -

[#2]

Yes, as a single drawing.

[#3]

Hi,

including that errors too?

IMG1, upper issue: Large arcs get small arcs and lines

IMG1: lower issue: Same again, double-arc is converted to straight segment (twice, I marked only one position)

IMG2: upper issue: an arc is converted in a wrong direction (looking like a bumb)

IMG2: lower issue: a segment is missing at all

As long as there are only polylines (not curved or splined, just arcs and streight segments) I would guess such a tool should be done quite fast (as long as you are willing to get no elliptical arcs in the projection). Don't you have other geometry types included like symbols or text? Because that objects are the ones that makes up the work for development.

What do you do with this new geometry then? Is it just used to plot or do you use that within other drawings (or whatever goes on with that geoms)?

- alfred -

[#4]

Including the errors?? No, not including the errors. You didn't take long to find the reason i'm looking for another way. This is why i'm looking for an app to accomplish this for me, error free. And yes, we would like elliptical arcs/circles. And yes, we would like text to be converted also if possible.

I thought i had seen this mythical app before but i can't find it again. I wouldn't ask anyone to re-create it because i'm fairly possitive it is out there, somewhere.

[#5]

Hi,

no elliptical arcs (as in your sample, but free of bugs I think. Only TrueType-Fonts will not work that way I did .. just with plain AutoCAD, no tool necessary for that except ExpressTools!

Look to the attachment.

- alfred -

[#6]

That looks beautiful! Did you do this with an express tool? I must be missing that one.

So you have me hooked. How can i do this too?

[#7 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The main steps are:

• first rotate the geometry about the Y axis for 45°
• use ViewCube to look to the model from 45° from below (how do I that say in english?)
• then set the UCS to the current _VIEW
• use command _FLATTEN (that projects the current geometry to the current view
• copy the projected geometry into a new drawing (as the UCS is now rotated) to get it plane to XY

Look also to the attached video with higher resolution (any internet-browser or IrfanView or ... it's a flash).

HTH, - alfred -

[#8]

Alfred, this is F A N T A S T I C ! !   And you are fantastic.

Thanks for your time to put together the step-by-step AND the flash.

[#9]

Hi,

you are welcome. Glad that I could help

Be careful for any other object-types as I don't know all limitations that came with command _FLATTEN. At least I think you get a lot of objects clean projected going that way.

- alfred -

[#10]

Nice job Alfred! 

I have an alternate method of also doing it, probably not any better, but I have experienced bad results with the flatten command at times.

Rotate the part (not the view) 30° (or what ever you want) in the Y.  I used the "rotate3d" command with the "y" option.  Rotate again by the same amount in the X.  Again, I used the "rotate3d" command with the "x" option.  Next, I used the "planesurf" command (surface tab -> Planar) with the "O" option.  Select the geometry and a surface will be created.  Finally, I used the "Flatshot" command to create a 2D view of the surface.

As for text, you can add that after - in either mine or Alfred's solution - and Truetype fonts will work.  First, find the angle of any of the "horizontal" lines ("properties", "list", etc.).  Create a new text style (with what ever font you want) and set the oblique angle to match the horizontal line's angle.  Create your text. Finally, rotate the text to the same angle used as the oblique angle.

Sorry, no fancy flash