Hi,

I am using BricsCAD which support open DWG format, for STEP and IGS import I have to purchase the Communicator addon which cost $610.

I am testing MOI trial but found it cannot export to DWG, while Rhino can, but cost 3x more.

Is it going to have DWG support in MOI v4?

If I buy MOI v3 now, is it eligible free upgrade to v4?

Hi,

there are plenty of inexpensive standalone DWG to DXF and vice versa converters out there.

Maybe you can test one as long as your MoI trial has not expired.

Regards
Stefan

Hi flim,

> Is it going to have DWG support in MOI v4?

No, DWG is not a publicly document format and so the only way to use it is to license some special libraries to do it. Right now I don't have any plans for that. MoI does support DXF format though which is very similar and usually also supported by programs that use DWG, but for MoI it's primarily used for 2D drawing conversion and not solids or surfaces.

But on the BricsCAD Communicator web page (https://www.bricsys.com/en-us/communicator/) it says:

"All editions of BricsCAD export drawings and models in ACIS, DWG, 2D PDF, and a variety of raster formats"

ACIS is the .sat format which MoI does support writing solids and surfaces too, so try using that for model data transfer between MoI and BricsCAD. MoI also supports 2D curves in PDF format as well so that's another format that could work for you for 2D curve transfer.


> If I buy MOI v3 now, is it eligible free upgrade to v4?

Sorry no, there will be a free upgrade to v4 if you purchase v3 within a couple of months of the v4 final release but the final v4 release is further out than that right now. I don't have an exact timetable set, my current guess would be something like 6 to 9 more months before the v4 final release is ready. The v4 beta period only started pretty recently and will continue for a while yet.

- Michael

I tried DXF but only 2D.

BricsCAD import very few format, dwg/dxf, Windows Meta Format, Collada, SketchUp. That's all!

I don't have Bricsys Communicator, it cost $610. If I purchase Communicator ($610) + MoI ($295) will cost more than Rhino.

Why not try this advice ?

<< there are plenty of inexpensive standalone DWG to DXF and vice versa converters out there.rt

And take a look at this free thing! ;)
Maybe you can import any 3D format then export in any 3D format! ;)
http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-products/simlab-composer-lite.aspx
(just carreful : the 3dm from Moi is not supported so use stp/Step, iges/IGS or Sat )

Hi flim, so it doesn't support ACIS like it says on their web page?

I guess if I read it a little more carefully:

"All editions of BricsCAD export drawings and models in ACIS, DWG, 2D PDF, and a variety of raster formats."
(https://www.bricsys.com/en-us/communicator/)

I guess it says that all editions _export_ ACIS - is it that it exports ACIS format (.sat files) but not imports it?

- Michael

Hi Michael,

What you mentioned is BricsCAD Communicator, that required a seperate ($610) license.

BricsCAD export a little more format than import, but still no .sat support.

I want to export from MoI to BricsCAD

Hi flim

re:
> What you mentioned is BricsCAD Communicator, that required a seperate ($610) license.

It's on the BricsCAD Communicator page, but what it says is (bolding added):

All editions of BricsCAD export drawings and models in ACIS, DWG, 2D PDF, and a variety of raster formats.

That's a sentence just after it says what BricsCAD Communicator additionally supports.

But I guess it doesn't matter if it's not accurate anyway.

Sorry but I don't think it will be possible to export solid models from MoI to BricsCAD without their communicator module - that's a decision that they made to limit BricsCAD's import/export functions like that. I don't expect to support DWG in MoI, it's a difficult format to work with, there is no documentation for it and Autodesk even goes out of their way to encrypt it to make it difficult for other programs to work with it.

- Michael

Hi Michael,

Would you consider Teigha libraries for dwg support?

Hi flim,

re:
> Would you consider Tiegha libraries for dwg support?

The last time I checked they were pretty expensive, and their base level licensing for commercial products only allowed distributing 100 licenses which seemed pretty weird so it didn't seem like it would work for me.

It would make sense to license it if DWG support was a really core central focus of the product (like for an AutoCAD "replacement") but for MoI that isn't the case.

- Michael

Hi Pilou,

since the OP does not reply to our suggestions, i tried it myself.

Because MoI exports .dxf as 2D drawings one has to use free
Software like Autodesk 123D Design or Inventor Fusion etc.

MoI = .step -> Autodesk 123D Design = .DWG -> BricsCAD ;-)

Regards
Stefan

And I believe that free https://www.turbocad.com/content/doublecad-xt-v5
can also make the trick! ;)
Worked fine also for SketchUp! ;)

Hi Stefan,

Thank you for suggestion. However 123D is no longer available now.

Not sure about DoubleCAD as it is 2D only I think.

Regards
Frederick

Hi Frederick,

yes, it is discontinued. But the Windows version is still available at Softpedia.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Science-CAD/Autodesk-123D.shtml

Regards
Stefan

Or Autodesk Fusion 360 might work for that purpose.

- Michael

Hi Stefan,

Thanks. I will check it out.

Regards,
Frederick

Hi Michael,

To convert format it must upload to A360 cloud and download another format via email link. Very inconvenient.

Regards,
Frederick

<< It's only 2D (Double CAD)

I used it like this :)
Import format skp (3D) inside Doublecadxt (free) export as DXF 2000 2003 for Blender (3D)

Sorry I can't test it anymore because i have not more it!

Having never used BricsCAD, it appears that:
ACIS solids (.SAT) CAN be imported, by typing the ACISIN command, (without communicator.) (???)
Please see the next two links:
https://forum.bricsys.com/discussion/23380/acis-import-and-export-no-longer-supported-under-v14-without-communicator (FALSE)


https://forum.bricsys.com/discussion/18131/supported-import-format
.....Bricscad can also import/export ACIS solids (.SAT) via the ACISIN and ACISOUT commands. There are also third part opti.....


*************

A free manual:
https://www.bricsys.com/bricscad/docs/en_INTL/V18/BricsCAD-V18-for-AutoCAD-Users.pdf (Page153-156)


- Brian

SYCODE had an import addin for versions 8,9,10, but was acquired by 3DSystems, (and seems to have disappeared?)

But i refound that! (with the complicity of Patrick ;)
so cost = 0 $ except for Autocad & Moi if more than simple export DWG needed on another process wanted! :)
SketchUp Make free on local computer is now only SketchUp Make 2017 : https://www.sketchup.com/download/all/

(Moi export) --> Format Skp --> DoubleCad -->DWG ---> Autocad (Briscad etc...
(take export SKP V 8 for more compatibility)

So can be directly Moi --> DoubleCad --> AutoCad etc... :)