3D Model from pdf drawings

Discussion in 'Software' started by naupigos_gr, Nov 12, 2013.

  1. naupigos_gr
    Joined: Feb 2009
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    naupigos_gr Junior Member

    Hi,

    I am interested to make a 3D model from pdf drawings?
    which software should I use? and what method should I follow?

    Any opinions about bonzai3d?


    rgds

    John
     
  2. messabout
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    messabout Senior Member

    He will need a sufficiently long lever, a firm place to support the lever, and then a place to stand. Now he can move the earth.

    Which of those ancient Greeks posited this famous principle of physics?
     
  3. MikeJohns
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    MikeJohns Senior Member

    John

    I'd get hold of Rhino. It's something of a default package in boat design these days and has good plugins available for the designer.

    You'll also get a lot of help here with Rhino if you ask.

    cheers

    [edit added] Also importantly it interfaces directly with several other major cad packages and full professional suits such as Formsys and Solidworks.
     
    Last edited: Nov 12, 2013
  4. naupigos_gr
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    naupigos_gr Junior Member

    @ messabout :D google it lol

    @ MikeJohns Hi ! thanks for you reply. Yes I am experienced with rhino. the thing is I dont know how to initiate the whole process... I mean should I "raster image" it and then work line by line??
     
  5. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    If you can convert a PDF or section of a PDF into an image file format (.jpg, .tif, .png, .bmp, .tga. pcx) you can import the image file into Rhino using the PictureFrame command and then position the image and scale it as desired.

    There are numerous ways to go from drawings to 3D models in Rhino. The preferred methodology depends on:

    Knowledge and skill of the user, both about Rhino and 3D model creation, and about boat plans and construction.

    Information in the drawings. If the plans have offsets I start by importing the offsets into the plans into Rhino as 3D points and work to those points. If offsets are not available or other information is needed then I will import the image of the plans into Rhino and "draw" over the plans. If the image of the plans is distorted then I will use various commands in Rhino to rectify the image if possible before "drawing".

    Precision and accuracy of the drawings.

    How accurately the 3D model needs to represent the information in the drawings.

    Shape and complexity of the vessel.

    Purpose of the 3D model.
    What type of boat are you interested in and what is purpose of the 3D model?
     
  6. dougfrolich
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    dougfrolich Senior Member

    Archimedes
     
  7. MikeJohns
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    MikeJohns Senior Member

    With Rhino Background bitmap, or picture frame.

    There are good utilities that convert PDF to a line drawing look up PDF to DWG or similar. Then you shift and rotate the lines in 3D to get the shape.

    I do it a lot to get lines from older plans for hydrostatics studies for stability.
     
  8. swayinthewind
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    swayinthewind New Member

    Maybe you can use coreldraw open a pdf .Converting it to .dwg
     
  9. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

  10. SukiSolo
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    SukiSolo Senior Member

    If Bonzai3D is the old FormZ, then Rhino should beat it hands down, for hard transferable surfaces and curves. FormZ used to be OKish for mesh modelling but very limited with NURBS so useless for the design work we needed from it.

    Agree with David above, import the pdf Rhino as a background and trace it. After that it is the 'fun' bit, how best to build the model!. Watch for discrepancies from old 2D drawings though, they can throw a model a long way out.
     
  11. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    Drawings don't have to be old to have discrepancies. Designers sometimes distort the drawings they provide to publishers to use as illustrations or which the designers distribute as study drawings. Several months ago I tried creating a 3D model from drawings which I scanned from a magazine article and I found some of the lines had been distorted such that the various views did not correlate.
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2013
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  12. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member

    Somewhat of a detail but I find it generally works better for me to import an image of a drawing into Rhino using PictureFrame rather than using BackgroundBitMap. PictureFrame allows the image to be rotated as well as scaled and moved, and it can also be duplicated and rotated for use in different viewports.
     
  13. naupigos_gr
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    naupigos_gr Junior Member

    The purpose of the model is structural analysis
     

    Attached Files:

  14. DCockey
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    DCockey Senior Member


  15. TANSL
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    TANSL Senior Member

    The free version does not allow save the converted files.
    You can scan a file and save it in pdf format, from there, convert dwg.
    Some time ago I found a program on the web, free, fairly complete but now can not find it. Perhaps with more patience than I, you get to find it.
     
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