I need to convert some cabinet parts done in solids to StereoLithography .stl form. I have software that will convert a .dxf to .stl but when I open my files done in Intellicad, it prompts to export from autocad as a .3ds file. It will not open the .sat file from Intellicad. any suggestions?
Kerry
#3
Thanks for the reply John,
That is what I have been doing, I "save as" AutoCad 2000 ASCII DXF then when the conversion software tries to read the file I get "3DSOLID entities are NOT converted. Export the drawing from AutoCad as a 3DS file." I am using AccuTrans 3D to try to convert the files. I need the files in .stl to use in my cabinet design software. I was hoping someone might know of another conversion software or something to get me there.
Kerry
That is what I have been doing, I "save as" AutoCad 2000 ASCII DXF then when the conversion software tries to read the file I get "3DSOLID entities are NOT converted. Export the drawing from AutoCad as a 3DS file." I am using AccuTrans 3D to try to convert the files. I need the files in .stl to use in my cabinet design software. I was hoping someone might know of another conversion software or something to get me there.
Kerry
#6
John,
I am also unable to open any solid models done in Intellicad with Rhinoceros.(which would convert the files for me) I "Save As" AutoCAD 2000 ASCII DXF or Standard Drawing/ Auto CAD 2000 (dwg) and when I try to open them in Rhinoceros it states "Skipped x amount of objects" x being however many objects I had saved. Just simple cylinders, spheres, and boxes for this test. I am a complete "newbie" to CAD so can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong. Solid Modeling is the easiest way for me to create the parts I need, but I must convert them to StereoLithography .STL format.
I am also unable to open any solid models done in Intellicad with Rhinoceros.(which would convert the files for me) I "Save As" AutoCAD 2000 ASCII DXF or Standard Drawing/ Auto CAD 2000 (dwg) and when I try to open them in Rhinoceros it states "Skipped x amount of objects" x being however many objects I had saved. Just simple cylinders, spheres, and boxes for this test. I am a complete "newbie" to CAD so can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong. Solid Modeling is the easiest way for me to create the parts I need, but I must convert them to StereoLithography .STL format.
#7
I just downloaded and installed ICAD version 4.0.27.1 as per the email I recieved yesterday. I was hoping it might solve my problem. It didn't. I don't know if it is something I am doing or a problem with ICAD. I have two utilities to convert CAD files. "STL Toolkit" and "Accutrans 3D" I also have demos of "Rhino", "DesignCAD 3D Max" and "SoftCAD 3D" None of these programs will open or import an ASCII Solid drawing "Saved As" a DXF or DWG file in ICAD. Drawings done in any of the other CAD programs and "Saved AS" DXF or DWG files can be opened and converted by all. Does anyone have suggestions as to what I can do? It is only "Solids" that I am having trouble opening and converting.
Kerry
Kerry
#8
roscoe,
Solids are relatively new to ICAD and this could be the problem. In early ICAD versions the solids were ignored and not displayed when AutoCAD drawings were imported.
ICAD has only recently provided a display and now with the latest version editing tools.
You can read DXF files in wordpad because they are ASCII representations of the drawing and I would test solids by comparing AutoCAD's and IntelliCAD's dxf files.
Try this :
1/ Draw a solid.
2/ Type this lisp code at the command prompt. (entget(car(entsel)))
3/ ICAD will prompt you to select an entity.
4/ Select the solid.
5/ Press F2 to see the dxf representation of the solid.
6/ Right click in the prompt history window to copy the history.
7/ Paste this into wordpad.
8/ Use "SaveAs" to create the dxf file.
9/ Open the file in wordpad.
10/ Compare the wordpad files to see if the solid's information exists.
11/ Report your findings on the Forum.
------------------
Regards
John Finlay
Solids are relatively new to ICAD and this could be the problem. In early ICAD versions the solids were ignored and not displayed when AutoCAD drawings were imported.
ICAD has only recently provided a display and now with the latest version editing tools.
You can read DXF files in wordpad because they are ASCII representations of the drawing and I would test solids by comparing AutoCAD's and IntelliCAD's dxf files.
Try this :
1/ Draw a solid.
2/ Type this lisp code at the command prompt. (entget(car(entsel)))
3/ ICAD will prompt you to select an entity.
4/ Select the solid.
5/ Press F2 to see the dxf representation of the solid.
6/ Right click in the prompt history window to copy the history.
7/ Paste this into wordpad.
8/ Use "SaveAs" to create the dxf file.
9/ Open the file in wordpad.
10/ Compare the wordpad files to see if the solid's information exists.
11/ Report your findings on the Forum.
------------------
Regards
John Finlay
#10
roscoe,
I can't be of any direct help, but I would suggest you post your problem on the Cadopia forum as well (www.cadopia.com). Cadopia is a reseller of Intellicad too. They have bundled their compilation with Rhino/Flamingo.
Despite that their forum is generally less responsive as this one, you might the help you're looking for.
gerrit
I can't be of any direct help, but I would suggest you post your problem on the Cadopia forum as well (www.cadopia.com). Cadopia is a reseller of Intellicad too. They have bundled their compilation with Rhino/Flamingo.
Despite that their forum is generally less responsive as this one, you might the help you're looking for.
gerrit
#11
roscoe,
The 3D Solids information is saved in the dxf file.
You can test this by using "SaveAs" and save the drawing with a Solid in it as a *.dxf file.
Then open the *.dxf file in IntelliCAD and you will see the Solid.
The only reason I can give you is your program for reading the dxf file cannot understand the Solid dxf.
------------------
Regards
John Finlay
The 3D Solids information is saved in the dxf file.
You can test this by using "SaveAs" and save the drawing with a Solid in it as a *.dxf file.
Then open the *.dxf file in IntelliCAD and you will see the Solid.
The only reason I can give you is your program for reading the dxf file cannot understand the Solid dxf.
------------------
Regards
John Finlay
#12
John,
Thanks for your help and sorry to take so much of your time. I was hoping you might find a miracle cure. I think you are right though. All of these conversion utilities etc. can read a 2D or 3D drawings saved as .dxf or .dwg but if I save solids they either skip the objects, want it saved as .3dS, give a command failed error etc. I thought someone out there might know of another way to convert the files or something that would read and convert the .sat file. I'll keep hunting.
Thanks again for the help.
Thanks for your help and sorry to take so much of your time. I was hoping you might find a miracle cure. I think you are right though. All of these conversion utilities etc. can read a 2D or 3D drawings saved as .dxf or .dwg but if I save solids they either skip the objects, want it saved as .3dS, give a command failed error etc. I thought someone out there might know of another way to convert the files or something that would read and convert the .sat file. I'll keep hunting.
Thanks again for the help.