extruding shapes imported from illustrator

[nadph10]

Hi,

I'm currently having some trouble using Illustrator shapes imported in Autocad 2013. The shapes are created using illustrator CS6 (no line / no fill), exported for Autocad 2004/2005/2006 as a dwg file. This dwg is imported as a block in Autocad without trouble. The shapes appear in Autocad as Splines. OK.

I designed a shape (using illustrator) that I want to extrude in Autocad, I can import it, it is nicely displayed as a spline, but the problem is I can't extrude it.

So I tried to do the same with simpler shapes :
- Square drawn using square tool -> Ok, can be extruded
- Circle drawn using circle tool -> Ok, can be extruded
- Hand drawn polygon using plume tool (closed shape) -> Ok, can be extruded
- Hand drawn shape with some curves using plume tool (closed shape) -> CAN'T BE EXTRUDED
- Complex shape (square and circle partially merged together using pathfinder) -> Ok, can be extruded
- My shape (heatsink section) closed shape -> Can't be extruded

You can see shapes here : http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/5466/capturedcran20130111162.png

It mostly works, but it seem that I can't extrude shapes that have hand drawn curves ?

Has anyone already experienced this ? Am I missing something (Autocad Newbie) or is it an incompatibility issue ?

Thanks for your help,

Julien

[wei503]

Hi Julien,

Are the objects imported shown as Spline type or block type? You can see the object type by selecting it and it is shown in Properties Inspector.

If it is block type, you can explode it and then extrude.

If it is shown as Spline type, can you please share a simple drawing with the object?

Thanks,
Wei

[nadph10]

Hi,

Please find the files here : http://cloud.julienmaire.fr/public/shapes.zip

Above the line, shapes created whith AI preset tools. Under the line, Hand drawn shapes using plume tool.

I thought I couldn't  extrude the hand drawn shapes containing curves. But I have been able to extrude a hand drawn circle, but if change the way I make it, I can not extrude it anymore (see the 2 circles at the bottom, one has handles on the closing point, the other has no handles on the closing point). I don't understand...

Thanks for your help

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi Julien,

I examined your files and have found, that when I attempt to extrude shapes, that you can not extrude, I get an error from AutoCAD:

Modeling Operation Error:
     Sweep self intersects
Unable to extrude the selected object.

That means, that these shapes (they are splines in fact) have self-intersections, but AutoCAD can not extrude such objects. You will ask: why they have self-intersections? - I don't exactly know, maybe Illustrator created them in such a way.

If you really need to make 3D Solids from these shapes you can, for example, use LOFT command instead of EXTRUDE. Just copy the shape in extrusion direction to the required distance and create Loft object using original shape and it's copy. In your drawing this works only for "comb". For others I first converted them to Polylines with SPLINEDIT or PEDIT command and then extruded as usual.

See attached DWG - red objects.

Maxim

[GroupFMG]

Hi Julien,

I had the same problem. Some of the splines extrude and some wont. Even after extrusion i've got problem with extruded shapes with union and subtract commands.

As a workaround, I've used the pedit command on splines and converted them to plines. Everything worked fine after that.

Hope this helps to solve your problem.

Regards,

Phani

[nadph10]

Thanks guys for your help !

[LivLuvLiz]

Could you please explain:

"If you really need to make 3D Solids from these shapes you can, for example, use LOFT command instead of EXTRUDE. Just copy the shape in extrusion direction to the required distance and create Loft object using original shape and it's copy. In your drawing this works only for "comb". For others I first converted them to Polylines with SPLINEDIT or PEDIT command and then extruded as usual."

i don't know how to do this.

Thanks,

Liz

[maxim_k]

Welcome to the Autodesk Forums!

Hi Liz,

Here is some links to video tutorials about using LOFR command:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsktTFZe6ho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArkJwtAZKrY

Maxim

[LivLuvLiz]

My shapes I imported with illustrator wont "loft" either. I can use the loft tool when i draw shapes with the autocad tools.

[LivLuvLiz]

I have a logo I have imported from illustrator. I want to extrude the entire thing .03". It has some holes in it which illustrator would call a "compound path." I am capable of extruding most of them. What I need to do is subtract some of the shapes from the other shape. This is seemingly simple but this is day 3 of this project and I don't understand what the problem is. What I would like to do is extrude the entire thing and use the press/pull tool to subtract the parts that I need removed. My computer stops working when I select this tool. I am trying to find a way to use the subtract tool but so far have not been successful.

[maxim_k]

Could you attach the problem group of shapes here?

Maxim

[LivLuvLiz]

Hi Maxim,

Sorry I just replied to your email. I expect you didn't get it. any way here is the problem I am having with autocad. 

I have attached a .dwg file that I am trying to extrude. I want it to look like the shape in the jpg I have attached. So I need the solid black shapes to be .03" thick and then the negative white areas to be cut out of the disk.  I have been trouble shooting this for a while. I can't seem to get it to work. Like I said this was a vector made in illustrator. I am new at AutoCAD so there is also a learning curve.  What I would like to do is use the press/pull option but my computer freezes up.  I can't get the add subtract to work and I have tried the suggestions in this post.  Thank you very much for your help.

[maxim_k]

Hi Liz,

Yes, splines exported from Illustrator sometimes make troubles in AutoCAD, and my advice is to convert them to polylines (with PEDIT command) and then make 3D objects from resulting polylines.

I attached DWG file wit your LOGO, you can see 4 stages in it:

1. original splines from Illustrator

2. polylines converted from splines, i also marked polylines which can not be extruded: yellow - open polyline and cyan - self-interseting polyline. I corrected them

and in stage

3. you can see region objects created from closed polylines with REGION command. I also used SUBTRACT command for creating these regions

4. then I extruded regions

Maxim

[LivLuvLiz]

i keep trying to respond. I cant tell if you're getting my mesages.  

[LivLuvLiz]

just saw this. thanks!

[maxim_k]

And...
Does my respond solved your problem?

Maxim

[LivLuvLiz]

I can't open these with my version of autocad.  I have 2012. Can you save it for that version?

[maxim_k]

Yes, please

Maxim

[maxim_k]

Yes, please

Maxim

[LivLuvLiz]

What do you say when it says "specify percision?"

what do you say when it says "enter an option?"