forum.datacad.com

Good day all,

I have this elaborate Sketchup 3D model we did of an interior space for a presentation to a client. Now we are working on developing the working drawing for bidding the job. I have used the 3D Hide function in Datacad to generate the exterior elevations of a building from 3D models we had generated. Does anyone know how to use the 3D Hide for creating our interior elevations from the Sketchup model. I have tried a couple different clip cube techniques and haven't had it work. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Have you tried "Section" at S7 of the 3d Edit Menu?

When you used 3D Hide inside a clipcube, remember to turn on F0 ClipCube in the Hide menu. Roger's comment on using the Section tool is perhaps a better option as it appears to create a 'cleaner' HLR which can also be auto updated later if you change the model.

Rather than use Datacad-18, for the last few years I've been using Sketchup Layout for documenting Sketchup-generated construction documents. I have the same title-blocks and fonts loaded for Datacad and Layout, and just plot them out using .PDFs as printed drawings sheets and reintegrating them as one-master-set using PDFill Tools. Using Layout preserves the "live" connection between Layout's paper-space and the model, and you control the paper-space using Sketchup views. Update the model and the Layout paper-space updates for changes and revisions. Layout's great for notes, "OK" for dimensions, but a bit of a pain for direct drafting line-work.

I'm still hoping that eventually I can do the same between Sketchup (model space) and Datacad (paper-space**), but the interface isn't there yet.*
( * - Wishlist pleading.... )
( ** - I still don't understand using Datacad in 3d-space. [hangs head in shame])

While I haven't drawn a complete set of project elevations in Datacad, I still find Datacad's greater flexibility and graphics-power better for floor plans and details. But exporting model building sections form Sketchup is still a bit wonkie, ...and not as precise. I prefer to draft sections and details directly in Datacad. For some projects I'm back to hand-drafting or sketching construction details and scanning them as .PDFs and pasting them into either Datacad or Layout. As long as they're legible and to-scale, the local building departments don't seem to care. (All my final sealed documents are either letter-size or 11x17". I haven't used 24x36" in 15-years except for hand-drawn work. It's been at-least 25-years since I worked on a 30x42" hand-drawn drawing.)

I'm still looking for a fairly intuitive 2d drafting or sketching app for my 10" tablet for quick studies and details, but I have found a good one yet. Integrating my 10" tablet and my networked PCs is still a problem since I don't have an IT Guy to solve it for me.

Roger,

Sections command worked! I had to adjust the options. By default the "background" was toggled off, which only yielded an outline of the section. With "background" on, it gave me the elevations I wanted to generate. Thanks for the help. I could never get the clip cubes to work.