Extruding .dwg doesn't extrude full letters (pic attached)

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I imported a .dwg from illustrator, exploded it, and when I come to extrude it, the parameters get shrunk into a weird shape. So when I subtract into another object, It's no longer an "h" but the awkward shape in the letter shown below.

 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I would like to try this process. Is it possible to share the Illustrator file so I can try this too?  My version of Illustrator is part of CS5 so you might experience something different than I will.  I suspect that the output from Illustrator is not "flat" (all in one plane).

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[maxim_k]

I believe the shapes, which came from Illustrator (after you explode block) are splines.
Have you tried to convert them to poly lines with SPLINEDIT command:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-for-mac/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/E...
before trying to extrude.
Plus - are you sure you use EXTRUDE command?
Have you trued PRESSPULL?
Can you attach sample Illustrator file, which you are trying to import to AutoCAD?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous

I am coming back to your thread to see if the issue or question you posed has been resolved.  If so, please mark the post or posts as Solution(s) to help others find the answer quickly. If your issue persists, please give me a bit more detail on this issue so we can continue to work towards getting this solved.

[Anonymous]

The imported illustrator .dwg file creates a Block Reference.

I explode this, then extrude. When I select press/pull, my mouse pointer turns into the turning colourful swirl, and just continues to spin and AutoCAD goes unresponsive.

Attached are the file and .dwg - illustrator created file.

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Yes, I see the problem.

Looks like slines, created by AI exporter are very complex for EXTRUDE command in AutoCAD.

The workaround I have found is to convert splines to REGIONS using REGION command, then you will be able to extrude them (see attached drawing - red are splines, converted to regions).

[Anonymous]

@maxim_k,

Did you perform the SUBTRACT command from each "a" and the "b"?

I tried two ways. EXPLODING the .dwg file, REGION, SUBTRACT the inner pieces of 'a's, when I try subtracting the 'b' I get an error 3006. Googled it but nothing on it  😕

I tried to EXPLODE > REGION > EXTRUDE, but then the inner parts are extruded as well. How did you get the b to be empty in the middle?

I can't thank you enough for your continuous help as well Maxim, I truly appreciate it

[Anonymous]

Forgot to attach file

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

>>>>>Did you perform the SUBTRACT command from each "a" and the "b"?

Yes

I forgot to mention that for some reason AutoCAD unable to extrude the inner parts of a and b letters if they are converted to regions. So I tried to extrude initial splines which came from AI and they were extruded (!?).

Then I used SUBTRACT command to make "holes" in a and b letters - see attached DWG.

[Anonymous]

So when you exploded the illustrator file the letters were a spline?

When I exploded them they became a hatch. I can use the file you edited, but I just want to understand how to do it for myself for future projects.

Import file > EXTRUDE to break reference objects (becoming a hatch) > Create a REGION from the hatch to be able to extrude.

How did you get splines?

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

>>>>>So when you exploded the illustrator file the letters were a spline?
After exploding you get not only Hatch, but also hatch boundary in a form of Spline.
So I erased hatches and used splines for creating 3D Solids (some of which had to be converted to regions).