SketchUp Section Cut or Floor Plan to AutoCAD

This tutorial will walk you through the steps of exporting a section cut from a SketchUp model to a 2D line drawing in AutoCAD.

1. Draw a large rectangle on the plane of where you want the section to be. It can be vertical, horizontal, or even at an odd angle. The reason for doing it this way instead of using SketchUp’s built in section cut tool is that this way eliminates the empty spaces where a mass has been cut, revealing the geometry below. Example: If part of a floor is cut through, the floor should appear to be solid instead of showing any lines from the top of the walls on the floor below. It isn’t that difficult to remove the extraneous lines from the section cut tool if your model is simple, but when it gets more complex, it can become confusing as to which lines should actually be hidden.

2. The next step involves intersecting the geometry, but before doing this, make sure all parts of your model are not grouped, but that the cutting plane you drew earlier is in a group. Now select all of the model geometry, and intersect the faces with the model (right click > intersect faces > with model). This will draw a line anywhere the plane cuts through the model.

 

 

3. Delete the cutting plane and you’re left with the model and the intersected lines. Now all of the geometry that is being cut through has to be deleted. The easiest way to do this is to switch the camera to parallel projection (camera > parallel projection), switch to one of the head one views, such as top down for a plan view, or one of the side views for a section (camera > standard views > top/front/back/etc…), and drag a box around all of the geometry that has to be erased. You may have to zoom in closer to some areas to make sure there aren’t any small lines left over.

 

Tip: Since this technique is not restricted to just one cutting plane, you can use as many as you want to create stepped-sections (when parts of the model are cut through in different areas). Example here (profile view of a cut of a floor plan)

4. Now that the model is cut at the right spot, it’s time to export it to AutoCAD. Your view should be set to one that shows the model in a head on orientation, and make sure the camera is set to parallel projection. If the cut is a floor plan, you’d select top down view in the camera menu. If it is a section, you’d switch to one of the side views to get the right angle.

  

5. Center the model in the view, and then go to file > export > 2d graphic, and select AutoCAD DWG file in the export type drop-down menu. You may have to adjust the AutoCAD version in the options menu depending on which one you have installed. Make sure that the full scale option is checked, assuming you want the scale of the drawing to stay the same when exported.

 

6. Save and then open up the file in Autocad. You’ve successfully exported a section or floor plan from your SketchUp model to AutoCAD. You can now adjust the line weights to your heart’s content.

 

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Published By

Arka Roy

www.sketchup-ur-space.com

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Sketchup for Fire Services

Sketchup can be utilized for various purposes - from 3D modeling, visualization, rendering to GIS modeling, solar modeling, fire scene modeling etc.

Sketchup can provide clear communication among fire service learner as it can create realistic 3-D imagery & visuals to be utilized for training & after-action reviews.

Firefighters can also use Google Earth images (3Dmodels) and export to sketchup for alteration or presentation in pre-incident plans, incident action plans (IAPs) and after-action reviews (AARs). 

From a sketchup model the firefighters can get useful information regarding a building construction. Fire fighters can download a model and gather information on vanishing roofs expose truss lofts, balloon frames and horizontal avenues for fire spread.

SketchUp models are also utilized to learn line-of-duty deaths (LODDs). By applying sketchup firefighters can visualize a perfect representation of the incident scene from historic reports and site visits. Important lessons about this LODD are handed over to the newest firefighters.

The model was applied as the base for interviews with crews prevailing on scene at the incident. Later on those interviews were merged with exported SketchUp graphics to generate a lessons-learned video.

With sketchup the fire fighters can “walk” through the virtual structure, examine the construction, interiors, hoselines and apparatus on scene. They can also observe 3-D rooftop views of the fireground that were just scribbles beforehand.

The fire fighters are able to create simple block models and export 3-D models instantly. These models will act as methods for pre-plans, AARs, building construction lessons and kitchen-table tactical discussions.

The sketchup is useful for clear, brief training illustration. With sketchup a lieutenant imaginatively diagrams fireground anticipations to a crew. Recruit firefighters to go into a virtual fireground.

In brief sketchup can be useful for fire services for Pre-Incident planning, Post Incident Analysis & promotion assessment centers.

Down load Safety & security 3D models

For any kind of 3D modeling services, visit us at www.sketchup4architect.com and www.bimoutsourcing.com.