How to take a 2D section of a 3D mesh?

[ConradSimpson]

Refer to this thread as background: http://forum.123dapp.com/123d/topics/how_to_i_slice_a_3d_into_a_2d_newbie_question

 

I am a noob. Please do not assume I know much about AutoCad--honestly about an hours worth is all I know. I do have a couple of reference books.

 

Here is the problem: I have a 3D model in the format of 123D (Freeware by Autocad). I converted this to .DXF then imported into AutoCad 2012 and saved it in .DWG format. The 3D model is of a crocodile. I wish to take cross-sections of this model so to generate width traverse sections from the longitudinal head to the tail of the animal. This is so I can form a model of the animal out of wire.

 

So how to best do this? Apparently the model in .DXF/.DWG became a 2D "mesh" so I must first convert to a solid? (I say 'became' because originally it was in .123c format, but my version of Autocad 2012 does not recognize this format, so I had to convert to .DXF, which I believe rendered the 3D into a 2D mesh) Or can AutoCad take a 2D "mesh" and generate cross-sections?

 

Top-down general advice is good but even better is a detailed step-by-step explanation of how to do this. I did "select" the entire animal and tried to make a "solid" out of it using a button icon on the ribbon panel (as opposed to a "surface") but I think I stopped prematurely--there was no progress bar so hard to tell. So then I guess you generate a cross-section once you generate the solid by doing what? is there a dialog box that ask for your end points (of the plane, defined by a line?)

 

I appreciate any help I can get. I will check this thread in a few days as this is not urgent. Thank you very much.

[Randolph]

Remark remarked in another thread: "AutoCAD 2012 has a command that converts a mesh to a solid (CONVTOSOLID). "

If this works with your crocodile, you can then use the slice and solprof commands.

[3D generator]

You might have better luck sticking with Autodesk 123D. They have a new app called 123D Make that will convert 3D designs into 2D patterns for assembly.

[f700es]

Why did you save as a dxf 1st and not just as a dwg?