Set of Lines from Rhino to Autocad

Discussion in 'Software' started by Mat-C, Oct 9, 2007.

  1. Mat-C
    Joined: May 2007
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    Location: Australia

    Mat-C Senior Member

    I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to using Rhino, and I could do with a bit of a step-by-step on how to get a set of lines into Autocad.

    I've used Rhinomarine's "section" command to give the required stations, buttocks, waterlines and diagonals, and have saved each of these onto their own separate layer.

    But now what? I tried the "Make2D" command and the "Save as DXF" with the flatten to Cplane option. I thought it would then be a simple matter of opening this in Autocad or doing a "DxfIn", but in both instance I don't get a simple 2D representation of my set of lines - in fact I don't seem to get anyhting much at all. At 1st I thought I might just be looking at it in the wrong viewport in Autocad, but changing that doesn't work. I've tried zooming in and out too....
    There's probably a simple step I've missed, but blowed if I can find what it is!
     
  2. RThompson
    Joined: Nov 2004
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    Location: New Zealand

    RThompson Senior Member

    Hi there,

    I don't know much about rhino marine, but anyway.

    I'm assuming rhinomarine gives you a bunch of curves in 3D.
    So now select all the curves and press the make2d button.

    now you should have a 2d drawing (i think on the Cplane World top, so make sure you are in the world top Cplane viewport or you won't see it)

    you should be able to "save as" a .dxf then simply open in autocad.
    if you have already made the drawing 2d then you do not need to "project to Cplane" so uncheck that box in the exporter. (that might be your problem).

    I realise what i said is pretty much what you jhave done, it should work.

    if what i have just said does not work then maybe you should talk to rhino or rhinomarine (the rhino website has the best and most active / helpful software specicfic newsgroup I have come across. ) -you will usually get an answer within an hour or two (day or night).

    also, if you use the "save as" method to export the drawing you will export everthing in the file. if you want to export the 2d drawing only then select the 2d drawing and right click on the floppy disk icon (top left) save button, then go through the "save as dxf" process in the dialogue box presented.

    Rob
     
  3. snakefeet
    Joined: Sep 2002
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    Location: Savannah, GA, USA

    snakefeet Junior Member

    my step-by-step

    It may be a little tedious but it gives me good and consistent results:

    1) Make a hull

    2) Put stations, buttocks, waterlines and diagonals onto it. It is helpful to put each type of line onto its own layer. Section or Project works well for this but Contour can be even easier, especially for stations. If you know how to have RhinoMarine do this for you, that's fine too. I only have used RhMarine for hydrostatic calcs & don't know its other capabilities.

    3) On another layer use DupEdge to make curves anywhere there are edges on the hull, incl. sheer line, chines, keel edges, spray rails, etc

    4) Turn off hull surface layer(s). You should now have a 3D wireframe of every curve you want to show in your lines plan.

    5) Select the curves and use Make2D to make flat drawings of the lines in plan, profile & end view.

    6) When you're happy with the flat lines, select them and use Export to export them as a dwg, dxf or whatever kind of file you want.

    Notes:
    - to get the traditional body plan (fwd stations on the right, aft stations on the left) make a copy of the 3D wireframe some distance away from the hull model. Then trim the lines in plan so that the end view looks the way you want your body plan to be. Then Make2D will give you the body plan you want.

    - take some time to learn the settings in the Export command. (especially if you're in Rhino4) How you export the curves will affect all autocad work you do with them. So take some time and find the compromises that suit you.
     
  4. Willallison
    Joined: Oct 2001
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    Willallison Senior Member

    Mat
    I suspect your problem is not with Rhino, but AutoCAD. I've had this happen too - but don't know why.... When you open the dxf in AutoCAD don't zoom out with the mouse - use the view/zoom/out buttons repeatedly - I think you'll find the your lines are there. If you use the mouse, it very quickly says it's zoomed out as far as possible - still too far in to see the image.

    Back to Rhino. Using Rhinomarine to get your sections is an effective and quick way of getting them - as you've done.
    Use the Make2D command, ensuring that the 'TOP' view is active. I do the 4-view US layout and then delete the perspective view once in AutoCAD, that way you have all 3 views of the boat for your lines.
    Now, when you export the dxf check the 'include tangent lines' - this will give you the outline of the boat as well as the sections.
     
  5. Mat-C
    Joined: May 2007
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    Location: Australia

    Mat-C Senior Member

    Aha! Thanks Willallison - you're right - it was probably there all the time! I wonder why Autocad says it can't zoom out any further...?
     

  6. Magno
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: Rio de Janeiro

    Magno New Member

    I think that, for memory management and faster drawing of the objects (remember that AutoCAD uses software renderer by default), it uses only a portion of the drawing in the memory and simplify the small objects.

    When you zoom out or zoom in too much, it cannot draw more objects without re-generating the view. You can avoid that by setting a new view (SE, NE, Top, Botton, etc.) or by typing the REGEN command, and zooming in/out again.
     
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