TpwUK, a lot of things would be helpful, lol. Importing dwg files from AutoCAD and assigning them a 3rd dimension automatically(to prevent the typical this is not 3d error... everything I've tested except Houdini gives me this common error -- atleast, importing the other fbx compatible format - nothing seems to import the now native dwg format... which would be really helpful. -AutoCAD LT only exports editable files as dwg and fbx... go figure), dimensioning tools, geometric tolerancing tools/display, leaders, tables for a dimension organized list, that kind of stuff(Of course completely nodal modeler would be awesome also, as models get more complex). And all of this cad type stuff would be even more helpful knowing someone who was doing it now that SketchUp is being sold.

Essentially... a 3D CAD program that was easy to model(moi has got this in spades), yet fully supported the autodesk dwg format(or fbx), so it was an effective go between of AutoCAD light and a nodal workflow without metric and imperial measurements like Houdini.

Mr. Michael is right though... the popups can definitely detract from modeling, yet the live input commands that AutoCAD has make modeling much faster. It's kind of a catch 22.

Have you tried Rhinoceros 3D - It's like MoI but offers many more import and export options - including DWG , and if I remember rightly it was always meant to play with AutoCAD even sharing the same Accurender format at one stage - Don't know if it still does though. It's gone beyond my basic needs, I am a garden designer but have no formal drafting knowledge other than what i learnt when at school, so the more pro features the more i get lost.

I can agree with the pop-up window but still see it as a non problem, move the mouse it closes, it don't appear unless you hover over an object and an ability to turn it off and on as needed and to set a timer event for it to close even if you don't move the mouse again, all would keep it's interference level to a minimum whilst providing a quick info sheet without having to scroll through layers and properties sheets to find the one you want - kinda made sense to me, but each to their own. :)

As for live commands - Press the TAB key and you can type in commands from the MoI command set available for here http://moi3d.com/2.0/docs/moi_command_reference.htm
you can even get the manual and print it for yourself if you're like me and need that tactile connection with a book/manual - That can be found here http://moi3d.com/2.0/docs/moi_help.pdf

All the best SouthPaw

Martin

Martin,

Well, tried importing a dwg file from AutoCAD LT to Rhino Evaluation... nothing shows up, regardless of zoom. Then I exported to a 2010 dxf and nothing showed up. Guess Rhino is out for me. dxf imports in Shade3D and Houdini. Shade3D handles everything as a drawing, so everything that is not the object is still the drawing... a sure argument for layers. Houdini does import dxf(vertically.. have to rotate it -90 degrees) Guess I'll download a 30 day trial of autocad... lol.

Can you post a sample dwg file to look at?

Hi southpaw,

> yet fully supported the autodesk dwg format(or fbx),

Unfortunately Autodesk basically goes out of their way to make dwg format difficult to deal with... In the future I would like to try to support DXF format though which is actually documented (for 2D drawing entities anyway, not for 3D solids).

Usually though Rhino does a good job with DWG and DXF files, so that's kind of odd that it is not working for you. Like Burr mentioned, can you post some kind of simple example DWG file that is not working for you? That would let us try it with a couple of different programs to see if there would be any other good way for you to transfer stuff.

You might try ViaCAD also. It's really inexpensive at $99 and can be a pretty useful tool in the CAD toolbox:
http://www.punchcad.com/p-9-viacad-2d3d-v8.aspx

- Michael

Mr. Michael,

I kind of figured that Autocad did that with their default dwg format. I appreciate that you're looking into the dxf format at some point in the future.

Bought the ViaCAD 2D/3D on your suggestion. It imports the older dxfs and dwgs well. Looks like it'll hash up a blueprint pretty quick. Rather 3D model in anything else though, lol. I'll try to like it this summer.

Brian