Hello,
A little background first. I am somewhat new to 3D modeling (via SketchUp and then OSX Rhino) and have recently purchased MoI for use on OSX. Thus far I'm just thrilled with MoI and its unique interface which makes the modeling process very intuitive--well done Michael! I want to be able to produce 2D construction drawings from my models for shop use so am looking for an inexpensive tool that does that task in concert with models created by MoI. While Rhino could do this, I don't want to use Windows, and the OSX beta has not yet addressed this area.
Initially I looked at DraftSight V1R3.2 (free from Dassault Systèmes), and used the DXF export from the MoI 1-Aug-2013 beta. While the model (attached) showed up, there were artifacts that needed to be cleaned up (curves showing up as polylines for example) and the dimensioning process was cumbersome (though I've only just downloaded the app). One very odd aspect was dimensioning units. Most of the drawing elements showed up with inches as intended, but the pivot hole in the knee seemed to trigger switching to millimeters which I couldn't get to switch back to inches. Summary opinion of DraftSight: too cumbersome for the task at hand, particularly if I have to do a bunch of tinkering each time I import a revised model.
Seeing several references to ViaCAD, I downloaded the trial of the 2D3D version (8.0.3, build 1016). Seeing that it could read the .3dm files from Rhino, I figured that would be the best choice to get a faithful import of the model. Not so much though. I played with the import options and typically would find that two holes were missing, there were extra curves showing up, and many faces were missing (both curved and plane). Oddly there was part of one curved surface that had been deleted in MoI, but showed up in ViaCAD; I opened the .3dm file with OSX Rhino and the curved surface did not show up.
Next I began to run through the other file formats common to both programs hoping to find one that would result in a complete model and be easy to work with. After trying DXF, IGES, SAT, and STEP, I have not found it yet. I'm using ViaCAD's Model to Sheet command to produce the 2D drawings. I don't know if it is a function of the trial copy, but in any of these formats, there is no option to use the Precise method for the Model to Sheet command, only Polylines which results in curves that cannot be dimensioned so I can't even dimension simple holes.
So while I'm babbling about my fumblings with ViaCAD, my real goal is to arrive at a clean process (without a lot of editing) of producing 2D construction drawings from MoI models. It seems as though ViaCAD might be a good tool to do this with, particularly using its Model to Sheet command, but without being able to access the Precise method of translating curves, it seems broken.
Is there a preferred format to use when exporting to ViaCAD?
Do others who have ViaCAD 2D3D v8 see the Precise method available in the Model to Sheet command?
Is there another alternative inexpensive CAD program for OSX to do this task?
Any other pointers or encouragement on how to accomplish this task?
--Larry
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