Measurements from a 3D DWG file?

[Anonymous]

Morning all,

I have been asked to create something this morning that will use existing geometry as a limitation,

Basically I am attaching something to a frame that already exists and has few openings for me to work with,

I have been given a 3D DWG file and nothing else, Can I somehow get measurements from this or will I need to ask for more information?

Cheers in advance,

Dylan

kelly.young has embedded your image for clarity.

[TheCADWhisperer]

When Opening the file select Options and then 3D rather than 2D.

You will now have 3D geometry that you can Measure.

If the -dwgunits we’re not set correctly in AutoCAD you might have to Scale.

[Anonymous]

Hi thank you for your time! 

When opening the file no options are available, its a pretty large file to so it takes a long time to open, it also automatically opens in a 3D model which I can't seem to measure anything on 

[TheCADWhisperer]

You must click Options in the dialog box BEFORE opening.

Your image shows 2D.

Zip and Attach your original dwg File here and end all doubt.

[Anonymous]

Ahh thank you, I always seem to forget about the options tab! 

After selecting Import > Open > Standard Options > 3D ticked > Finished

It opens up an empty drawing sheet and leaves it blank, now when I try to re-open the DWG file in the same way (To alter some options), it automatically opens an empty sheet each time,

Have I messed this up for myself? haha

v ZIP file attached v !WARNING RELATIVELY LARGE FILE! 

[TheCADWhisperer]

This file needs to be repaired before importing into Inventor.

I recommend you post the file over here in the AutoCAD forum

and explain that you do not now how to use AutoCAD.

State that the part is unusually large file size for the relatively limited amount of geometry that it contains.

Limits or Properties indicates Blocks, where you need it as Solids and/or Surface bodies only.

I would expect the dwg file size to be <5Meg for this simple geometry.

You might include link back to this discussion when posting in the AutoCAD forum.

But the mention of Inventor might scare off the AutoCAD gurus.

1. The dwg file should be smaller for limited geometry it contains.

2. The geometry should report only as surfaces or solids in AutoCAD.

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon all,

I have been sent a DWG file this morning and would like to open it up into a 3D model using Inventor, 

I have been told that this is a much larger file than it should be and needs to be repaired, I have little knowledge of the software so would it be possible for one of you fine people to help me out?

I am in need of opening the file in Inventor to gather a few measurements to guide in the creation of a new product which will hang from one of the frame legs.

At the moment it is impossible for me to open this file in inventor and have been prompted to request some help on here,

Forum post made this morning with more information

Any help is much appreciated as going to site to measure is almost an impossibility,

ZIP file attached,

Thank you all in advance! 

[Anonymous]

Ahh not good news, on the other hand, im glad its not me just being a fool haha,

Thank you for the tips, I will head over there now and see if somebody can help a brother out,

I will post back here if I get any advise or help,

Cheers again TheCADWhisperer! 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I ran AUDIT and PURGE on your file and I was able to Import it into Inventor 21019 without issues.  The assembly is extremely large though.  I did a Pack N Go and attached it to this post.  I will move this thread to the Inventor forum for you so you can get some better answers.

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

[JDMather]

@john.vellek

John, can you post screen shot of what you see in Inventor?

When I open the Inventor file that you attached - the surface bodies were missing?

[john.vellek]

Hi @JDMather,

I am sure you are likely correct.  I n my post I should have indicated that while it took a long time to come into Inventor and without reporting any errors, it was not likely suitable for use.  This is why I moved the thread to the Inventor forum.

I will try to get this open and show an image of what I see but you are the expert in Inventor - not me by any means.

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous

Here is your assembly in Inventor 2019 format.

https://a360.co/2QEbqII

[john.vellek]

Hi @JDMather,

This looks good. Can you explain your steps to get it to work better than I did?

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

I created 3 layers -

Solids

Surfaces

Block References.

Turned on Properties.

Selected everything.

Filtered Block References and moved to Block references layer.

Exploded Block References - this returns Solids and Surfaces.

Moved Solids to Solids Layer and Surfaces to Surfaces layer.

Checked for Block References again and repeat above steps.

Deleted Meshes.

Apparently Inventor does not import Block References.

Edit: Care must be taken to not Explode Solids or Surfaces down to lines and arcs.
Edit 2: Save Often - I saved at every step lest I lose any work I completed on a very large file.

[JDMather]

@Anonymous

Did you get this all figured out?