We have a file at my work of one of the machines we sell. They want to do an animation of how the machine works...in steps Carrara, right? The file we have is a CAD .dwg file. I had someone convert it to a .dxf file to import into Carrara. When I open it, I get nothing. I have downloaded .dxf files (from 3D Cafe) with no problems. Is there something in the way the dxf file is saved? If anyone knows I would be very thankful.

Occasionally I've imported DXF Files to RDS (not the same but similar to C) and thought there was nothing there. Check the scale of the object; it might be so tiny you can't see it, or it might be so huge you can't see it because your camera is inside the object. Might not be the issue, but worth a look. Good luck!

I also get these wierd readings on the size and scale.

........ interesting???????????? Hey Eovia!!!!!!!!!!!!! What gives?

They appear to be errors in reading the size and location, perhaps because the dxf file was saved with options that Carrara can't handle. If you have Strata 3D (free version), it can export dxf files that work in Carrara.

Try this http://www.us.righthemisphere.com/products/3dexplore/index.htm. I can say it will work though.

I meant to say "can't say it will work though."

Thanks love2all....good idea....I already had that and opened the file in it after my last post. Oddly enough, the drawing appears but when I rotate it, it rotates like a drawing on a flat piece of paper (see graphic)...not a 3D object. Other dxf files like those from 3D Cafe open and rotate as true 3D objects. This leads me to believe that it is the file or it's format. I acts more like a flat vector graphic than a 3D object. I don't have much experience with dxf other than downloading some files so I don't know if my above statement is true. Thanks for all the responses.

There are 2 different versions of DXF files. A 2D and 3D version. It looks like the conversion process converted the 3D file to a 2D file. I think all you have to do is have the DWG file converted to a 3D DXF file. Ask the person that converted the file if he actualy converted to a 3D DXF file or just exported it as a DXF file. Some CAD programs give you an option as to what type of DXF file you want to export.

Keithw is right. I worked on a project that was made in cad. they wanted me to texture and spin it for a video. there CAD program cost $10k...apparantly it would not export 3d...they had all the export options like vrml, iges, .dxf etc...apparantly part of the program would munch it all to 2d. You might have to tell you client he needs a better version of the cad program hes using. Also realise that many many companies use proprietary versions of cad so they may have someone on staff who can right an exporter for you that will do 3d to .obj or something.

You might try opening the original .dwg file in 3D Exploration and saving it as a .dxf (or whatever other format that might work for you, such as .3ds or .obj). I just tried this with a 3D AutoCAD file (.dwg) and I was able to save it as a 3D dxf. When I opened the new file in 3D Exploration it was still 3D rather than a flat image like you had. I personally have had better luck converting CAD files to .3ds and .obj. Most 3D programs seem to deal with these formats better than with .dxf.

One other thing to check is if the original CAD file was done in 3D or not. Dwg files can be created either way. If it was created in 2D, then obviously you can't do anything with it.

Good luck.