Import block from AutoCAD

[Lawmate]

Hi

 

I was wondering whether there is an easy way of importing data from an AutoCAD 2010 block into Inventor, rather than from the DWG.

 

When the line is a block, it is a nice slender spline, then when it imports into Inventor, it's a gargantuan polyline that takes 20 seconds to perform any function on.

 

Also once imported, whether as a polyline or a spline, what is the best way to extrude the outline? When i perform an extrude function on it, just the actual line is extruded, not the surface.

 

Thirdly, all of this is to create a 3D shape in Inventor from a 2D shape in Illustrator so that it can be milled out on a CNC machine. Is there a way to quickly copy a path from Illustrator into Inventor to create an area to extrude?

 

Thanks for any help that may arise.

 

Laurence

[MarkFlayler]

Can you attach a simplified version of this block for testing? I usually just copy and paste it from AutoCAD. It also might have something to do with how you are bringing it into the Sketch environment.

[Lawmate]

Hi

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

I've attached the original DWG. I'm not sure exactly how to export the block itself.

 

cheers

Swan outline.dwg

[shift1313]

When you are in a sketch and use the DWG insert function there will be a pop up window giving you some options. On the second window(import destination options) there is an Acad block to Inventor Block option. If that doesnt work you can always import the dwg and Create a block from it on the layout section on the sketch tab. However the difference in spline creation i believe is going to give you that segmented spline every time. If you notice while creating a spline if you right click and go to Fit method there is an autocad fit. The acad spline creation is different than how inventor does it and when things are translated there will be some discrepancy i believe.

[MarkFlayler]

The import from Illustrator to AutoCAD and then Inventor is a little rough as mentioned above, but I was able to get a valid profile after fixes two gaps in the geometry. (See attached, the red box is where the geometry was not connected). As far as the smoothness of the splines, this is because of illustrator not creating G2 Smooth boundaries I believe and the Illustrator import to AutoCAD also had the same gaps.

 

As far as my process goes...

 

Open AutoCAD, Open Inventor and start a new part and sketch

 

In AutoCAD select the geometry and RMB and select Copy

 

In Inventor, RMB in the sketch and select Paste, but before clicking to place it, RMB again to select Paste Options. From here just check the Constrain Endpoints button. You probably applied geometric constraints and that is why your sketch is so heavy and took so long to work with.