Simplifying 3D AutoCAD data for 2D import

Many AutoCAD models comprise higher level objects such as 3DSOLIDs or BODYs. If you have licensed FeatureCAM 3D or the Solid Import module, you can import these entities directly into FeatureCAM. If not, you must simplify this data before importing.

To import the geometry that is used to create the 3DSOLIDs, select your model and then select Construct tab > Solids panel > Manufacturing > Explode to repeatedly reduce your model into these more primitive elements.

When exploding solids you often get duplicate lines and circles. Any edge that was shared between two different faces is duplicated. This repeated geometry causes trouble if you try to chain the geometry by double-clicking. To work around this, you can:

• Chain manually, by picking each piece individually
• Use AutoCAD to explode specific faces of the model (not the entire model), and then do chaining normally with double-click or piece-to-piece
• Remove duplicate pieces in FeatureCAM and then do chaining normally

To see if you have imported geometry:

1. Select a line or circle.
2. Look at the object's name listed in the status bar. Imported lines have names that begin with _ln and imported circles have names that begin with _circ.
3. Select the object again.
4. See if the same name is listed in the status bar.
5. If a duplicate name appears and selected geometry is the same, delete the second occurrence of the geometry.

If your AutoCAD model contains layers, those layers are kept after import.