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CAD ELEVATIONS

SketchUp provides a basic 2D CAD export function to support the exporting of 2D CAD elevations from SU.  If the SU model is not prepared correctly for CAD export, the exported result can be a vector mess.  If the SU model is pre-planned for CAD export, using proper layering methods, along with staged scene preparation, groups, and hidden layers, the 2D cad export from SU can be much easier to format into a useful set of cad elevations. The 2D CAD Elevations Package can be a very useful system for getting clean and accurate representing CAD elevations prepared for your construction documents.

CAD FILE FORMATS

AUTOCAD .DWG

Drawing Exchange .DXF

OUTPUTS

CAD EXPORT

When exporting 2D vectors from SketchUp, the model is prepared to remove unwanted data.  In this scenario, we will want to hide the mission clay tile and remove the transparency of the window glass, along with other CAD exporting techniques. Not doing so will give you the result shown in the image below marked as BAD.

CAD IMPORT (BAD)

When SketchUp exports 2D vectors from a SketchUp file all the line work when imported will come in on Layer 0.  With no layering control, cleaning up the drawing can get to a point where it would be quicker to just draw the elevations from scratch.

CAD IMPORT (GOOD)

If proper setup and model creation conforms to the system of preparation of CAD export, the result with basic clean-up inside AutoCAD is a clean set of vectors for your CAD document.  Additional work is still needed to fully prepare your elevations for use in a CD set. If you wish to finish the work at this point, Residential Realities will be turn over a .DXF file for import into your documents.

EXTENDED CLEANUP

As an additional service, ResidentialRealities will provide deeper cleanup with layering, block creation, hatching, and basic grouping to provide a clean an usable CAD file for your use.

FINAL CAD DOCUMENT

The final cad result after cleanup and formatting is a properly constructed cad document. With a minimum effort, this file can be easily migrated to meet the internal standards of your company.  Thus saving lots of time in the CD preparation, by avoiding the need to generate elevations.

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