Sketchup Import Dwg

[Filomeno Robles]

Thisplug-in no doubt can import sketchup model to CAD. But when the model is called in into the CAD software, the model scale is messed-up. So basically you can't do anything on the model except you have to re-draw again. But, I found in the sketchup software, you can actually to EXPORT the sketchup model into CAD model and the scale is still same from the original model.

I imported a 2021 Sketchup into AutoCAD 2023 and it works fine, no issues. It imports and turnes it into a block. I wish it would list all the blocks its importing, give us the option to choose which blocks to bring in, and also give us the option to smoothen meshes of some of selected blocks.

There are several possible issues.1. SKP file version is beyond 2014-2019. (You can save the SKP file to a version supported by the app)2. SKP file path contains non-English characters. (You can update the path to contain English only characters)3. Some other issues...

When I import from SketchUp or from OBJ my geometry has white edges. Is there any way I can change that so the SketchUp object looks like other Rhino objects? Both objects in the attached JPG are on layer Default.

That was it. I was only looking at the Layers panel. I put both objects on the same layer so I assumed Display would be the same. But selecting the objects and looking under Properties I see that Display Color is different.

A minor comment - if the object in question is a block instance, the setting has to be changed in blockedit. I choose Trimmed Planes and make sure Display Color is set to By Layer for all geometry including blocks and I seem to be getting very clean geometry from my SketchUp files now that this minor issue has been cleared up.

I have a client who has done their entire scenic design in Sketchup. I don't have Sketchup, but can preview it using the web based Sketchup GUI - so I know it's a "working" file. Every time I try to import into Vectorworks, I get the error saying that it is "Either damaged or created by an unsupported SketchUp Version."

@trashcan Vectorworks 2021 should be able to import SketchUp 2020 files. It sounds like a problem, do you think you can send me a test file that fails, so we can see what's going on? (send to vst...@vectorworks.net)

Good rule for Sketchup imports is to use a Sketchup file one year older than your Vectorworks version. This has been the workaround since the Sketchup import feature was integrated into Vectorworks. Would be helpful if there was a note in the Vectorworks import dialogue.

Same problem Here... Still looking for a solution. I could just import sketchup models into Archicad and keep as they where imported, but every time I export to Lumion the textures are renamed and they lose ther settings.

I've got an issue where my imported sketchup model only cuts with a section box from two sides, as shown in the attached image. This is proving difficult to produce sections as it shows the imported elements in front of the section. I have tried creating a generic family model and cutting it through the section box, but it has not worked. Has anyone got any ideas on how to fix this?

1.

Is there a way to "name" Groups (Component ?) in Sketchup.

That may help Bricscad to accept them as "not-so-anonymous"

and even accept them as Blocks.

At least Vectorworks tries do do so when chosen in Export Settings.

For me Bricscad IFC import is very good and IFC in general is for me

one of the best or most lossless conversion option.

Still lots of cleanup and rework needed.

So normally I try any possible exchange format and in the worst case

I try to mix the best results from all into my file.

I think Sketchup has tons of Plugins, maybe some can also help for

exchange.

Maybe a second Translation Software in between that has more

lossless Sketchup import and export options more suitable for Bricscad.

Maybe some of the authors of the Sketchup Files could be persuaded

to try Bricscad Shape instead. OK, that's not the same in many ways,

but would be perfect for Bricscad BIM.

I have been working with sketchup for years now now and the benefits (speed / visuals) of 3D modelling and materials in sketchup are still important for us, at least until Shape can add customizable material maps (material management as of now is very basic).

I therefore have been trying to test a reliable import process from sketchup to Bricscad.

I get at least a few Layers in for further separation.

I get Materials in (although I have never seen them assigned in Bricscad so far)

I get geometry in mostly as proper Solids.

If I get some Meshes in that may have been only Meshes before, they unfortunately

get some extra unnecessary tessellation (or they were corrupt already)

And I get all spatial elements and locations and BIM Tags in Structure tree.

Revit import gives no Layers,

no Materials (not sure if that is as designed),

some geometry missing and some destroyed L or T-connections

But at least also Solids, BIM Tags and Hierarchies ...

DWG would be the best import into Bricscad.

Unfortunately I get DWG only for 2D Plans. DWG got quite unpopular here.

While in the past DWG 3D was used mainly as an exchange between non Autodesk

Apps, with questionable quality. Meanwhile most switched to IFC instead.

Importing into Rhino and using its cleanup and remeshing tools may solve some or most of the mesh issue you get from importing Sketchup files. Once the cleaning up has been done you can then export to DWG or import the Rhino file. I used this route for getting triangulated 3D dwg files into Vectorworks as that gave a cleaner result than directly importing the dwg files into Vectorworks.

Maybe it will work as well for Sketchup files.

SimLab composer is a 3D rendering program but it does import geometry quite nicely most of the time, though I haven't tried with Sketchup so far. You can download a trial, import one of your problematic Sketchup files into SimLab composer, if it looks ok then export to DWG and see what happens regarding geometry and what is retained regarding properties etc. Maybe you'll get cleaner files into BricsCAD that way.

And I have to update my Revit vs IFC experiences.

It is not clear what brings in more Solids.

IFC has better L/T-connections while Revit brings in Solids where

IFC has extra tessellated Meshes.

All Strange ....

I am trying to figure out if I am using the wrong search terms. My questions seems likely to be a common problem: I have a complex SketchUp model that I wish to analyse through OpenFoam. Re-drawing the geometry seems pointless, and fraught with potential for error. I am sure that bringing in foreign models like SketchUp to Rhino is something that many users of Honeybee/Ladybug/Butterfly have struggled with. And yet I can find no guidance as to how to treat the geometry when importing so as to ensure reliable analysis. I have trialled the analysis with a simplistic model from SketchUp, and I get the same error message that I get with the much more complex model (reference to there being 8 arguments in the model when only 6 are needed).

Please make sure that in Sketchup, all the geometry that should be air tight from Energy modelling or CFD point of view, is a solid. A trick in sketchup to know if a geometry is solid is to pick one of the solid tools and hower over your geometry. It shows if the geometry is a solid or not. In almost all the cases, a solid in sketchup is an air tight geometry in Rhino.

The only reason I was persevering with the test issue was I was replicating with a very simple example the same error I was finding with a much more complex building. Your suggestions have provided inspiration. I am not very hopeful that the process necessarily will convert this building, but I can see I have only two choices: carry on with the standard desk top opinion based aerodynamics analysis that I have always done, or make this work with the complex design geometry. Copying the geometry in SketchUp is just not feasible. Thanks for taking the time.

@MichaelDonn, Is it possible for you to share the more complex model? In my previous life I used to prepare models for 3d printing and mold which is a very similar process. I want to see how complicated your model is.

Hi everyone !

I have tried Enscape 2.2.3 and i really love the potential of it. I have a target to create standalone or video walkthrough for my clients to experience their future building. By that, i have to model everything fully, so it make the file huge (for example, a complete 2 stories townhouse is app 900mb). And the importing took too long, like 6 - 8 hours, sometimes it didnt work too.

Can i have any suggestion on how to reduce the time importing, like seperate objects, because i have tried import enscape first, turned off live update but it still slow me down everytime i try to change something in the model. Thanks alot !

Sounds like an incredibly complex, slow performing townhouse. You may want to consider separating the ground floor from the first and saving each as different models. Essentially becoming two individual models and two separate walkthroughs, cutting the project size in half, or near there hopefully. To be honest, I've never heard of or seen a model this heavy, at least when compared to the volumetric size of an average double story townhouse. The largest model I've ever worked on was around 1.4gb consolidated, was never edited as a singular model and had 85 storeys at 200,000 sqfpf. Do you mean 90 mb?

I think you should use proxies as much as possible... and make sure that you dont have unnessesarily large/complex models where you dont need them. Use the "purge unused" option in sketchup to get rid of unused textures and components.

3a8082e126