topic Importing .sat or .step, and creating viewports with minimal lines in AutoCAD in AutoCAD Forum

Importing .sat or .step, and creating viewports with minimal lines in AutoCAD

lane.pinyerd — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 18:59:05 GMT

We use a program called Codeware Compress to create pressure vessels.

We can then export the 3D model from this program as a recognizable format, to then import into AutoCAD.

I've been told that .sat is recommended first, then .step, then x_t.

My issue is that no matter what file type I use to import, when I switch to either hidden, wireframe, or 2D wireframe visual styles, there are dozes of lines all over this model, much of them unnecessary for what I need to dimension for my final drawing.

I've tried commands such as exporttoautocad, purge, and explode to see if that would help simplify the model, but those don't seem to do the trick.

I would love to do a screen share, to dive into this a little more, to see if there's a way around fixing this, besides hiding, and deleted lines on the ortho views on the paperspace.

I would think there's a way to clean this up directly on the model first.

[This post has been edited for clarity by cheryl.buck]

Re: Importing .sat or .step, and creating viewports with minimal lines in AutoCAD

cheryl.buck — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 19:35:02 GMT

Hi @lane.pinyerd,

Nice to see you in the forums Lane! These extra lines seem to be common when converting a model to one of the universal formats. I am not sure about Codeware Compress, but many applications provide options for the amount of linework that is exported with the model.

In AutoCAD, the Hidden visual style often helps for lines designating curvatures, as well as Realistic and Shaded, which do not normally show the framework lines.

I also heard from one of the Inventor specialists that the FILL command may improve the display in this case as well.

I hope this helps.

You can use the Accept Solution button to mark any posts that provide the answer or solution.

Likes are always welcome.

All the best,

Re: Importing .sat or .step, and creating viewports with minimal lines in AutoCAD

lane.pinyerd — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:58:20 GMT

I think the default option in Compress is "best" or "highest" quality, so that was the proper way to export/import.

I now have it more under control, using that FlatShot Command.

I did speak to a rep about another topic entirely, which was plotting and plot styles, and line weights.

He had notes from that call that he e-mailed to me (for your reference too).

He had provided some good tips, that I never knew about.

objects are still coming out in color as the viewport is set to Hidden, which will ignore applied plot style table settings
switched it to 2D Wireframe and that's better
reviewed the 'Display plot styles' checkbox within the page setup of the layout
turned on the lineweight display toggle button in the Status bar
default monochrome.ctb had been edited so that the colors all used their own object color, instead of being all black --> switched that back to all black
discussed setting the viewport properties, specifically Shade Plot, as that can be set to Legacy Hidden to get some plotted results which are not available any other way -- that visual style WILL adhere to plot style table settings