DWG files to any LW readable format.

[etyrihje]

Hi I am making a model of an appartment building which i s beeing renovated, and the architect has provided me with several documents in the DWG format, most likely from AutoCAD, does anyone know if it is at all possible to import these into LW on a MAC, and if so what would the workflow look like?

[Matt]

If you own Adobe Illustrator, this route works for me everytime:


DWG -> Illustrator -> .AI/.EPS (v8) -> Import into Modeler.


Piece of cake!

[yazan]

I haven't had luck with dwg in adobe illustrator, but I have had luck with the export from Auticad as .dxf 2000 to open in modeler right away. All he has to do is save as, or if you have deep exploration for file coversion.
Yazan

[etyrihje]

Thanks for the feeback guys,

I couldn´t get the data into LW by using Illustrator, that is to say - I got something, but not the walls and other stuff that was in the original files.

In illustrator though I managed to export out JPG files that I use in the viewports and that makes it quite easy to recreate the walls and windows, instead of wasting my time trying to get the files converted - I choose to do this.

Autocad isn´t at Mac OSX at all, or is it?

Thanks

[Kuzey]

It's PC only but there are a few cad programs for the Mac that might help:

TurboCAD 3D (http://www.streetwise.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=48_156&products_id=3749)

Canvas X (http://www.streetwise.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=48_156&products_id=3529)

DenebaCAD 2 (http://www.pica.com.au/software/design/deneba.htm)

Those are Aussie links but you get the idea :thumbsup:


Kuzey

[Kuzey]

Having said that I don't think any of them exports to .obj format which would have been cool, but you can still use both Illustrator or dxf formats.

Anyway it's worth a look.

Kuzey

[pixelinfected]

export like 3ds, is best format that you can use to exchange data, it mantain only geometry in triangle form, it keep uv, group and other item that lw can read. and is same from years, not like dxf which change every month and from application to application...
have a nice day.

[Matt]

The Illustrator method is clearly for 2D plans etc. only, which works flawlessly.

For 3D you need to start looking elsewhere. But OBJ works better than DXF (3D) on most occasions.

It really depends on which application wrote the file.

Either way, LightWave's import / export filters need drastically bringing up to date.

[gerry_g]

Having said that I don't think any of them exports to .obj format which would have been cool, but you can still use both Illustrator or dxf formats.

Anyway it's worth a look.

Kuzey
I keep a copy of Amapi pro for things like this on my Mac, imports - obj. vrml, stl, iges,dwg, dwf, open inventor, illustrator3, acis, step and udafs and outputs obj's to Lightwave just fine

[terdim]

Try SketchUp.SketchUp imports dwg/dxf and makes a decent job of exporting either 3Ds or object

[Kuzey]

Ahhh...I forgot about Amapi, I still have v6.1 archived on my HD.

Used to be a very cool but buggy app :D

Kuzey

[pdrake]

i can convert them with formZ if you need it. i do it all the time at work.