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In SketchUp, geometry that's many miles or kilometers away from the origin (0,0) can cause performance problems. To avoid a bunch of empty layers in SketchUp, you may want to purge any unused layers through Statistics on the Model Info dialog.
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However, SketchUp won't discard the layers holding these entities. In an imported CAD file, SketchUp automatically discards any entities that have no 3D relevance, such as text, dimensions, hatching, and so on. If you explode the CAD block entities into polylines, the polylines import into SketchUp as lines or polylines. If you need to import unsupported CAD elements into SketchUp, try exploding those elements in CAD so they become primitive CAD drawing elements that SketchUp does support.įor example, when you explode CAD objects into block entities, they import into SketchUp as components. Remember to create a copy of the CAD file and prepare that copy for importing into SketchUp. Tip: You don't want to lose details in your original CAD file.
HOW TO EXPORT FROM FORM Z TO ILLUSTRATOR TO SCALE HOW TO
The following sections outline what you need to look for and how to resolve any potential conflicts between CAD elements and SketchUp. When you take a few steps to check and prepare your CAD file before import, you can make sure all the data you need imports into SketchUp and streamline the import process. Preparing a CAD file for import into SketchUp If an element isn't supported, SketchUp simply ignores it when you import the CAD file. The following table outlines what CAD elements SketchUp does and doesn't support. Understanding what CAD elements SketchUp can import Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 3D CAD file.
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This is important, because copying the information with the origin point will allow you to bring all of the drawings into the new “Master Drawing” at the same point. “Copy Base” with, CRTL+SHIFT+C, then specify the origin point as 0,0,0 (x,y,z, respectively). Next, type “Select” and “All” to select everything on that layer. In this case, we’ll start the the layer called “buildings”. Freeze all layers, then unfreeze the first layer that you want to convert into an external reference. It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it - I’ve had to stitch multiple CADMapper files together before because I left out some important information when I created my initial file, and it’s a real pain to go through that process. You never know when you might need the information in the future. CADMapper is free, but up to 1km of information.Īlways try to capture more information than you think you need. Look between Google Maps and CADMapper to hone in on your site, and create a box in CADMapper that captures the information you need from your site. Once you find your site in Google Maps, head over to and type in the approximate address - or two intersecting streets.ĬADMapper only provides vector line information, so it might be cumbersome to try to search for your site starting in CADMapper. Searching for the site in Google Maps gives me a better understanding of what my site looks like from an aerial perspective. Oftentimes, there is little information given that specifies coordinates or a physical address of a site. I like to start by finding my site in Google Maps.
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