Announcements
Attention for Customers without Multi-Factor Authentication or Single Sign-On - OTP Verification rolls out April 2025. Read all about it here.

Create 3d cross sections from separate dxf files

Anonymous

Create 3d cross sections from separate dxf files

Anonymous
Not applicable

I'm trying to create an STL file for a 3D printer in AutoCAD. I have 12 separate dxf files, that I'd like to combine into cross sections, each layered directly above one another from 1 - 12 (have included 1-3 as attachments).

 

I can't work out how to combine the images as cross sections. I can import them into one file as blocks, but I don't think I can use LOFT with blocks? I'm totally new to AutoCAD. The images were originally raster, that I fed through inkscape and saved as dxf. I'm using the student AutoCAD in Windows 10.

0 Likes
Reply
1,039 Views
6 Replies
Replies (6)

tboehler
Collaborator
Collaborator

each file:

DXFIN

PEDIT all splines to polylines and join them. (this will add many verticies  - you can weed of needed)

SAVEAS dwg

 

You can loft or change the elevation of the poylines in the individual files or when inserted together.

INSERT them into one file.  @0,0,0

Do your stuff.

 

I think that should work - If I understand it correctly.  I just did that with those 3 files in a matter of minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

0 Likes

Anonymous
Not applicable

Thanks for the advice. I can get to the point where I insert them into one file, specifying different elevations for each, but when I try the LOFT command, I get: "selected cross section is not a valid type".  Also, if I hover my cursor over the shapes, instead of coming up as polylines, it says "Block Reference". I definitely saved them as polylines, so I'm not sure why it's importing them as blocks. Am I missing an option somewhere?

 

Also I realised my images have an internal cut out section, so would I need to use REGION to make the hole, then back to polyline, save then insert?

0 Likes

tboehler
Collaborator
Collaborator

You need to explode them after insert.  Or during insert.  Just the blocks - careful not to explode any of the shapes twice - you'll get tiny line segments.

 

Hopefully that allows to loft and do what you need.  I'm not familar with Loft.

 

 

0 Likes

maratovich
Advisor
Advisor

Maybe this will help ...

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Software development
Automatic creation layouts and viewport. Batch printing drawings from model.
www.kdmsoft.net
0 Likes

Anonymous
Not applicable

That works, and I can select the first cross section fine, but when I select the second, AutoCAD crashes!

 

Is there an alternative I can use to LOFT? Or am I overloading the program by specifying z: 10 for the elevation? (I didn't think that was extreme? And my images aren't that complex.)

0 Likes

tboehler
Collaborator
Collaborator

Maybe there are too many verticies on the polylines?  You could try to "WEED" some the verticies.

 

I did just look at the help file and tried LOFT.  I'm guessing there are to many verticies in your polylines.

 

-and it looks like you can use splines - i think your original dxf files were splines?

 

I guess i would weed the polylins or try using the splines  - test 2 of the original dxf's files.

 

I use Civil 3D - that would create a surface model quite easily from those polylines.

 

 

 

 

 

0 Likes