Tag: sketchup

Vectorworks can assume object identity when importing Sketchup

Luke Johnson

I haven’t really played with this, but theoretically you could:

  1. Import a Sketchup file into Vectorworks
  2. Vectorworks will attempt to create floors, roofs and walls
  3. Export to IFC
  4. Import into your BIM program of choice…

When importing a sketchup document, by default it will attempt to import the file as if it were an architectural design document, it will try to determine which objects are floors, roofs and walls.
via
Vectorworks KnowledgeBase :: 3rd Party File Formats – Google SketchUp

Bring your Minecraft model into Blender

Luke Johnson

Have you made something cool and architectural in Minecraft and you want to make it real?  How about sending it out to Blender?  Direct CG has made a tutorial to show you how …

This tutorial covers:

  • downloading and installing the mcobj Minecraft to .obj exporter by quag
  • converting your Minecraft world into usable .obj format
  • importing your Minecraft world into Blender
  • rendering your first Minecraft image
  • how to showcase your world with clay materials with Fabio Russo’s Clay Render addon

If you then want to move the OBJ file between formats, check out my previous posts:
Sketchup tools – DWG import / export, OBJ importer, IFC importer

Convert OBJ, DXF, DAE and 3DS to FBX for free

Read on at:
Minecraft to Blender – directcg

Sketchup Import app for AutoCAD

Luke Johnson

Revit users have been able to import SKP directly for many years … now AutoCAD gets an app for exactly that purpose:

The SketchUp Import plug-in allows you to import a SketchUp file (*.skp) into an open drawing as a block reference. The SketchUp model will be imported as a block containing mesh and other objects. This plugin works with SKP files created in Google SketchUp version 5 or later. 

Download at:
Autodesk Exchange Apps

Sketchup tools – DWG import / export, OBJ importer, IFC importer

Luke Johnson

DWG import and export (free)

Currently, the best way to exchange DWG/DXF with SketchUp is to use SketchUp 7.1 & the DWG/DXF import plugin for SketchUp 7.1 (Free)

As of now, both SketchUp version 7.1 and the optional installer are available for download. Only the Pro version of SketchUp 7.1 is available for download, but that’s OK – it will revert to the Free version after 8 hours use, and you will be able to continue using it.
via
Jim’s SketchUp [Plugins] Blog: SketchUp 8 Free & DWG/DXF

Direct links
Google SketchUp Pro 7 Download

DWG/DXF import plugin for SketchUp 7.1 (Free)
Windows 
Mac 

The DWG/DXF importer isn’t available in Google SketchUp 7.1, however it is offered in Google SketchUp Pro. You can download this optional plugin for Windows or Mac that enables the DWG/DXF importer.

IFC2SKP
Last updated: June 2008
IFC2SKP works inside SketchUp and has the ability to load IFC datafrom popular BIM (CAD) applications such as Revit, ArchiCAD and Microstation. The plug-in will not only load the geometry or object data into SketchUp from the IFC file format but it will also display the BIM data of each imported objects. IFC2SKP has been updated to work in SketchUp 8.  
via

http://sketchup.google.com/download/plugins.html

Direct link:
Download IFC2SKP Program File

OBJ importer
If you need an .obj importer plugin for Sketchup, you can check out FluidImporter.
FluidImporter is super fast (entirely written in C++) and completely free.

via
Downloads | FluidRay – Physically Based Renderer

Older OBJ importer:
View topic – [Plugin] Import OBJ with Materials v1.9 20110223 • SketchUcation Community Forums

Various Sketchup resources and plugins:
Resources – SketchUp Sage

Sketchup to Revit with Materials

Luke Johnson

EDIT Keep in mind that if you import an SKP directly into Revit, it will create materials for each shading material as “Render Material xx-yy-zz” in the Material Library.  You can check which is which by looking at the colour on the Graphics tab, but you will need to manually map Render Appearances from here.

Also, remember that you can save all related material resources if you go via 3dsMax.
There have been many posts about how you can control Sketchup materials in Revit using Object Styles.  However, this relies on the existence of different layers for each distinct material in the original file.  If you have an SKP file and would like to create the layers you need (without using Sketchup itself), you can use this method:

  1. Import Sketchup SKP file in to 3ds Max Design
  2. Export as FBX file
  3. Use Import command in AutoCAD, choose the FBX file – choose to have a layer for each material (Assign Objects to Layers – By Material)
  4. For some reason, I had to untick the Block option – otherwise the file would not import at all.
  5. Save the DWG file
  6. Import to Revit – you now have granular control over each Material / Layer combination through Object Styles…

Note – this method uses only Autodesk tools, it does not require Sketchup to be installed.  If I remember correctly, you can instruct Sketchup to export different layers for each material when exporting a DWG (?)

If you have an alternative way of doing this, feel free to comment.

Modeling a Stealth Aircraft in Revit

Luke Johnson

Erik Egbertson over at Inside the Factory made a comment about modeling a Stealth Aircraft in a recent post, and it got me thinking. How would you go about it?

Now, I’m sure it would be possible to do it with the Conceptual Modeling tools, but it could take a while.

Why not utilise some existing 3D content and import it into a family? I described that workflow in my post Contextual 3D Views – Shaded vs Rendered. Basically, you need to:

  • Download a Sketchup model that you like the look of (from http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/).
  • In Revit, create a New-Generic Model family.
  • Import the SKP file using Import CAD.
  • Make sure the resulting geometry is of an appropriate size.
  • Save the family and load it into your project.

Please note that there may be copyright on these models.So, about that Stealth Aircraft. Here is the link.