Import DWG / DXF files as reference geometry in the 3D scene

Sometimes you need to import DWG/DXF files into your 3D scene in IRONCAD to use as a reference. For example, if you want to create a virtual representation of a factory or facility in 3D and want to use a 2D base as a guide for placing machines and other equipment. One method is to import the DWG/DXF file into a 2D sketch plane, but since the primary purpose of it is to create and manage 3D models, this method can be slow, especially if the file contains a lot of data.

‍

To make this easier, there is a separate feature called "Import Reference 2D " that allows you to quickly and easily import 2D drawings intended solely for reference purposes and not directly for creating 3D models. These objects appear in the history tree, where all layers are also available for selection, making it easy to show or hide specific parts as needed.

‍

Thanks to this, you can import very large DWG/DXF files—a process that previously (when importing to the sketch plane) could take a very long time, but now takes just a few minutes or less.

‍

How to use the Import Reference 2D tool

Start by clicking on the Import Reference 2D button from the Tools tab.

‍

Locate and open the file to be imported.

‍

First, an overview of the imported 2D drawing is displayed, and you can change the unit of measurement, hide layers, zoom in and out, and more.

When you're done, click OK.

‍

Next, select the "work environment" in the 2D drawing—either Model Space or Paper Space—from which the lines should be imported. Model Space is usually the most common choice, but sometimes you'll notice that it "just flashes" and no lines are imported—in that case, you'll need to repeat the entire procedure and select Paper Space instead.

Apply with OK.

‍

Then press OK to confirm that the import has been completed. If there are problems with the file, the message will indicate this.

‍

Now we have received our relatively large DWG/DXF file for the 3D scene. In our example below, the import took less than 10 seconds.

‍

In the tree (Scene Browser), we can choose to hide or show certain layers by expanding the imported DWG/DXF file and right-clicking on a layer.

‍

A convenient feature is that you can drag and drop geometry from a directory and snap to all the imported reference lines.

‍

You can also project lines from the reference file onto a sketch plane.

To do this on an existing model, click down to the IntelliShape level under the part and right-click. From there, select “Edit Cross Section.” You can also create empty sketches (2D Shape) and project selected lines onto them.

‍

Use the Project tool in the sketch to project the lines you need.

‍

If you render the 3D model onto a 2D drawing (ICD), you need to disable the filter that excludes these 2D references, which would otherwise not be included in the selection of objects rendered on the 2D drawing.

When you create new views using Standard View Creation or edit an existing view layout by right-clicking an existing view and selecting "Edit View Orientation "—click the "Select Part/Assembly to Project " (1) option, uncheck " Imported 2D Reference Curves " (2) from the list of objects to be ignored, and click the " Apply " button (3) to confirm.