Is AutoCAD still a necessary tool with Lightwave?

[Nicolas Jordan]

I am looking at getting into Architectural Visualization work and I am Curious how many of you use Lightwave without do any of the work in AutoCAD. I am under the impression that since Lightwave has some proper CAD tools in LWCAD version 2.0 that there is no need for AutoCAD. Some insist that AutoCAd is needed for drawing and modeling, but is this the best workflow? I really prefer not to work with AutoCAD because it reminds me of 3DSMAX and Maya a bit. No wonder Autodesk bought them. Any feedback from you Arch Viz guys is appreciated.

[Wade]

No need for Autocad with lightwave. I have worked along side 30 or so Architects who use Autocad but never needed to touch it to do what I do with LW. - Make thier work look good. :)

I have worked off the odd napkin sketch, "blue prints", EPS files, or verbal instuctions at times printing something our for the cad guys to work from... this was all pre LWCAD 1 or 2. :lwicon:

[manholoz]

for those files you recieve in dwg format, download Progecad LT, a freeware Autocad clone.
www.progecad.com

[ColinSmith]

I do most CAD modeling in Rhino from McNeel, and that has good import export options for file from other apps.
I'd like to get up to speed in LW modeler and LWCAD as I see some nicer workflow for some things, but coming from a CAD background Rhino was very easy to get started with.

[tommymamn]

I have never modeled in LW only because I always modeled in AutoCAD and then rendered with a cheap app called Accurender from within AutoCAD. Now for the past two years I have rendered everything with LW, but I still model in AutoCAD only because I am fast with AutoCAD and haven't taken the time to get up to speed on LW modeler. Frankly I can't see how you could model as quickly in LW as you can in AutoCAD for arch viz, but that is a limited view I'm sure.

With that said, I absolutely love LW and if I ever had the time to play around with modeling in LW I would, but the work load keeps me buried!

Tom

[Matt]

Was there ever a need for AutoCAD????? One of the worst packages I've ever had the unfortunate "pleasure" to experience!

[tektonik]

using form-z to model and LW to render animate

some model with LW but for small parts of projects...

frankly ACAD or Form-Z (another real CAD tool) are absolute musts because of the sheer complexity and exchange of information with engineers and cost consultants alaong a project...

the "3d" part and visualisation part are only about 10% of the total energy put into building development... :)

a+

[Pavlov]

Tommymamn: are you kidding, right... ;)
Modeling in Lw is faster than Autocad, there are just some thing you'll miss and you'll need workaroud for, bot overall you cannot compare the two since it's a different approach; once you'll get rid af a rigid "cad" approach you'll model faster and better in LW.
Consider also an Autocad model imported in Lw wont ever be as clean and manageable as a LW's one, so if your work needs to pass through LW, modeling in Autocad is a nonsense unless you love it so much that you cannot get rid of it.

Paolo

[Exception]

Modeling in LW is much faster and pleasant in LW, but much less exact. LW does not replace CAD because it is not a documentation program, but for visualisation, you need nothing else (besides fprime or kray).

[Nicolas Jordan]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Very informative. :) I have come to the conclusion since Lightwave is what I know the best I am going to do most of my work in it and ignore AutoCAD for the most part. I may learn just the basics in case I need to read and modify AutoCAD files with it that I get from others etc.

The main reason I wanted to find out is because my boss was pushing me to learn AutoCAD only because thats what he is familair with and he has never worked with Lightwave so I needed some opinions from people who have experienced both for this type of work. Thanks. :lightwave

[ravantra]

AutoCAD is not required. I use it to model sometimes because I am extremely fast with it. I usually model in LW. or Sketchup. Lately if I get plans in AutoCAD I open them in Sketchup and model there and then exports to LW. I guess there are many roads to Milwaukee.....:D

[Matt]

Regarding importing 2D plans into LW, this is the route I go:

2D DWG / DXF -> Illustrator CS2 -> .AI (v8 or below) -> LW

Works perfectly, never had any problems.

3D DXF - straight into LW, although depending on the program that has written the data, sometimes they can come in with poly directions all messed up, some faces will be one way, others another. On a complex model it can be a real pain to flip them all in the correct direction.

[tommymamn]

Tommymamn: are you kidding, right... ;)
Modeling in Lw is faster than Autocad, there are just some thing you'll miss and you'll need workaroud for, bot overall you cannot compare the two since it's a different approach; once you'll get rid af a rigid "cad" approach you'll model faster and better in LW.
Consider also an Autocad model imported in Lw wont ever be as clean and manageable as a LW's one, so if your work needs to pass through LW, modeling in Autocad is a nonsense unless you love it so much that you cannot get rid of it.

Paolo


Pavlov,

I'm sure you are right - my background is purely AutoCAD. I first started doing renderings using AutoCAD and have stuck modeleing in it ever since. I'm sure if I dedicated the time to it it would be worth it, but I am running my own business trying to feed 3 kids and a stupid dog at the same time! :)

It takes me about 10-13 hours to model, export, import, render, and post process a rendering. I don't know if learning to model in LW would cut that much time...

Tom

[tyrot]

for those files you recieve in dwg format, download Progecad LT, a freeware Autocad clone.
www.progecad.com
dear manholoz
thanks for the link. i was looking for a decent CAD alike. This is the one.

BEST

[Pavlov]

tommymamn: no, probably it wont. It depend on the complexity of the model, but that times are reasonable - and short for many tasks too.

Matt - To import from Autocad, explode all blocks and hatches, then save DXF2000 and import with LWcad, works perfectly.

Paolo

[daug]

Since we also do construction drawings, Autocad is obviously needed :)

We have an architectural add-in to autocad that makes modelling MUCH faster than in LW. We have a library of custom windows, doors, walls, and stairs that are fully parametric. We also have a roof builder thats nice for valleys and hips, etc. The nice part is we can derive 2d drawings from this.

As far as model export is concerned, Pavlov is 100% right. The model can be problematic and unclean. I had a side project going for a bit writing some lisp and lscripts to facilitate the process. It would clean up and layer exported models properly. Let's just say that production work took priority :)

[manholoz]

dear manholoz
thanks for the link. i was looking for a decent CAD alike. This is the one.

BEST
It is quite good, and the free price is unbeatable! It does have some minor issues once in a while, but nothing that cannot be solved easily.

[Nigel Baker]

Just to add to the work loads and work-rounds,

Sometimes I find it helps to see the plans as meant to be and illustrator does not show all the information that is in the CAD file. (names and measurements, especially)
To bridge the gap and not having Auto CAD, I use Turbo CAD for the Mac to open my DWG to read and print out from.

I also still like to work off printed plans at times and this I find useful.
I have to give a shout out here to Viktor Velicko, LWCAD 2 is really fantastic and is the next best thing for LW since FPrime.

Eager to see what the next Worley labs release will be soon for LW9.

Regards to everyone.

[Wade]

From AUTOCAD -Plot to PDF -
Open in Adobe Illustrator.
save as or export as EPS <8
Import in Modeler
Scale with "Set Scale" - see flay.
Off and running with True to scale linework to build from.

PDF will bring in all the stuff that shows up in a hard copy print... it is a great way to go when you need to use Autocad drawings as a refrence.

[Haven1000]

From AUTOCAD -Plot to PDF -
Open in Adobe Illustrator.
save as or export as EPS <8
Import in Modeler
Scale with "Set Scale" - see flay.
Off and running with True to scale linework to build from.

PDF will bring in all the stuff that shows up in a hard copy print... it is a great way to go when you need to use Autocad drawings as a refrence.

Or just export to DXF from what ever CAD package you use and import into modeler.

[Reflexion]

why dont you guys dont use accutrans?

ive been importing models from cad to lw and it was very impressive.

Never had problems.

And you can select a lot of 3d format to export or import.

and you can try it for 30 days full working.

http://www.micromouse.ca/downloads.html

[daug]

I do use accutrans. It works great with 3ds and dxf files. It takes all the autocad layers and puts them them into seperate lightwave layers. Very nice for texturing and manipulating.

[robk]

Accutrans for me also. Wayne (Accutrans's author) is working on some other neat features. Which reminds me i was supposed to send him something! OOP's i better do it right now.

[Mr Furious]

Downloaded AccuTrans (latest demo): doesn't appear to import DWG files......

[MicroMouse]

AccuTrans only reads DXF files.

Search the NewTek forums using DWG as the search term and you will find links to free CAD programs that convert DWG files to DXF files.

For DWG conversion, probably all non AutoDesk companies, use the conversion software from http://www.opendesign.com/

Check the "alliance members" link for links to companies doing DWG conversion.

As of Sept. 11, 2006, the Open Design Alliance is providing support for AutoCAD 2007 DWG files. It will probably take some time for the other companies to update their software for this change.

Wayne