CAD Model Transfer Process

Resources

A tentative process for transferring 3D CAD Models between different platforms would be through *Autodesk's free FBX Converter.

From DesignCAD.com:

• If you have used SketchUp, you know that it works all the time in the

3D environment unless you tell it otherwise. SketchUp encourages you to build your model in perspective mode and to apply materials to surfaces as you go. Despite this level of sophistication, SketchUp still operates very quickly, even on fairly modest computer equipment - there is no noticeable deterioration in performance as you add new parts to the model.

• SketchUp can do this because it builds its models

using triangular meshes; many surveying packages do the same when they are asked to create terrain models of land surfaces. Complex 3D entities such as Coons patches, surfaces of revolution and so on which are used by software such as AutoCAD, IntelliCAD and MicroStation are not used.

• This fundamental difference in storing model geometry places severe

limitations on the model when it arrives in the CAD environment. The figure below shows the warehouse model above in the AutoCAD environment after we had exploded it and selected one of the faces. Note the appearance of many triangles. Incidentally, AutoCAD translates these triangles to to 3DFACES.

• To See Figure Below, Click Link Above to Source
• To sum up, we suggest that movement of models should be towards SketchUp from your CAD software, not the other way around.