how to make a 2d drawing into 3d autocad

Create a 3D Site Programme Using CADMapper and AutoCAD

Need to quickly create a 3D site plan in AutoCAD?

Here's how to do information technology.

This tutorial covers the following data:

1. Setting up a 3D site in CADMapper

2. Converting Units: Metric to Imperial

3. External References: Separating Layers into Drawings

Disclosure:

CADMapper is a website that can save architects, designers, and planners tons of time by automatically generating 3-Dimensional information for over 200 cities around the world. CADMapper generates 3D models that can be used with AutoCAD, Sketchup, Rhinoceros, and Illustrator. To generate information for topography, buildings, and streets, CADMapper pulls data from OpenStreetMap.

I should get-go past saying that my design piece of work primarily involves the schematic design phase of architectural design. I understand that site information should exist field-verified by professionals in surveying, ceremonious engineering, etc. to ensure accuracy. The intention of this tutorial is to use CADMapper to create a basis for architectural schematic designs.

Setting upward a 3D site in CADMapper

Footstep i: Detect your site - Commencement with Google Maps.

I like to start past finding my site in Google Maps. Oft, there is footling information given that specifies coordinates or a physical address of a site. Searching for the site in Google Maps gives me a better understanding of what my site looks similar from an aerial perspective.

One time you lot find your site in Google Maps, caput over to CADMapper.com and blazon in the guess address - or 2 intersecting streets.

CADMapper only provides vector line information, so it might exist cumbersome to effort to search for your site starting in CADMapper. Wait betwixt Google Maps and CADMapper to strop in on your site, and create a box in CADMapper that captures the information you need from your site. CADMapper is gratuitous, but upwards to 1km of information.

Ever try to capture more than information than you retrieve you need. You never know when you might need the information in the future. It'south better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not accept it - I've had to stitch multiple CADMapper files together earlier considering I left out some important information when I created my initial file, and it's a real pain to go through that procedure.

Step two: Plough on 3D Buildings

If you want building superlative information, cheque the box for 3D Buildings. If building information is available (which it ofttimes is in large cities), CADMapper volition create mesh geometry of buildings in the CAD file. You lot can specify "False Elevation Data", in which CADMapper will generate buildings without height information to a value that you specify. Not a necessary step, merely information technology can you salvage drawing time.

Footstep 3: Select 3D Topography, topography contours spaced at 4 meters.

It's good do to just collect as much information as we tin can get, early on in a projection. The lowest spacing that CADMapper will generate for contour lines is 4 meters, which should be plenty of data to get you started in your design.

Pace 4: Road Geometry, Select "Outlines"

CADMapper provides options for generating road graphics. Roads can be depicted as single center-lines, outlines, or mesh surfaces. If you intend on using this site file for fabrication, such every bit 3D printing or laser-cut, I would suggest choosing an choice that all-time suits your needs. For this tutorial, selecting "Outlines" will provide graphic separation between types of roads, and let easy scaling of the drawing in AutoCAD. Additionally, "Outlines" is a proficient choice to choose for laser-cutting site models.

Modify the route dimensions to specific dimensions: I recommend the post-obit:

• Highways: 10 meters

• Major Roads: 8 meters

• Minor Roads: 6 meters

• Paths: four meters

Step five: Generate the CADMapper File

If everything is set to your liking, click on "Create File". It volition take a moment to generate the file.

In one case the file is generated, you can examine the map in iii views:

• 3D Axonometric View

• second View

• Topography

At this point, select download. The file volition download as a single .zip, containing one .dxf file that you can open with AutoCAD.

Converting Units - Metric to Purple

Past default, CADMapper exports units in meters. For our purposes, we demand to convert meters to feet.'

Step 1: In the "Units" Menu, Change 'Decimal' to 'Architectural'

Type in command, "United nations" to open the Units card. Alter 'Decimal' to 'Architectural', and 'Millimeters' to 'Inches', respectively. Note that simply changing the units will not modify the calibration the cartoon. For example, 2 meters volition exist converted to ii feet, which is incorrect.

So, nosotros'll need to scale the drawing later changing the units from metric to imperial.

Step 2: Verify the Distance of a Route

Use the control "DIST" to measure the distance of i of the roads generated past the CADMapper file. It should read as ane of the measurements that was specified on the CADMapper website. For this example, the route is half dozen meters.

Step 3: Calibration the Cartoon

If the road distance is 6 meters, it will demand to be scaled to nineteen.685 feet (considering i meter = 3.28084 feet) after changing the Units from metric to royal.

Depict a polyline (command "PL") off to the side of your cartoon in model infinite somewhere. Below that 6 meter line, draw a line of distance, 19.685.

Utilise command "AL" for 'Align', and select EVERYTHING in model space. Deselect the (19.685) line. We want to scale everything in the drawing except that line.

Select the commencement point of the (6 units) line, and the start point of the (19.685 units) line. And then, select the second indicate of the (6 units) line, and the second signal of the (19.685 units) line.

When prompted to 'Scale', select Aye.

If done correctly, all of the elements in the cartoon will take scaled with the (half-dozen units) line, which now matches the distance of 19.685. So now, when the Units are set to "Architectural" and "Inches", all of the roads should read as the equivalent majestic measurement.

External References: Separating Layers into Drawings

CADMapper conveniently sorts drawings elements into separate layers. This is useful in terms of organization, however, nosotros should fix our drawings in a way that allows multiple people to work on them. This may not be necessary for your particular project, but information technology'south adept practice to learn the conventions of creating external references to keep file systems organized, and to allow the potential for multiple people to work on a single project.

Streamlined file systems = saved time on drafting piece of work. And saving drafting time will open up fourth dimension for more important stuff, similar designing!

Here's how to quickly create external references from layers:

Step 1: Open the Layer Menu

Blazon "LA" to open up the Layer Menu. Freeze all layers, then unfreeze the kickoff layer that you want to catechumen into an external reference. In this case, we'll offset the the layer chosen "buildings".

Next, type "Select" and "All" to select everything on that layer.

"Re-create Base of operations" with, CRTL+SHIFT+C, then specify the origin point as 0,0,0 (ten,y,z, respectively).

This is of import, because copying the information with the origin indicate will allow you to bring all of the drawings into the new "Chief Drawing" at the same betoken. This will ensure that the drawings are lined upward correctly, maintaining accuracy in the information.

Stride 2: Create the "Master Cartoon"

Open a new drawing. This volition go the "Master Drawing", which volition hold all of the xrefs that nosotros will be creating for each layer. The "Master Drawing" will look exactly like the original file containing all of the individual layer information. The benefit of setting up a master drawing this manner, is that multiple people tin can work on individual files within i projection.

For example, i person can piece of work on the "Buildings" layer. Another person can work on the "Roads" layer, and so on.

This is not just convenient for grouping drafting projects, only it volition aid you build a consequent file system that tin can be applied to a number of different programs outside of AutoCAD. It's only a arrangement of file linkage, and these types of systems offer the nigh flexibility for organization, and drafting workflows.

Ane final note: the "Master Cartoon" should serve as a file for reference, and should not exist drawn on or referenced to other drawings. Changes made on all of the other external references will reflect on the Primary Drawing, still, changes made on the Master Drawing volition not reflect on the linked external references. It's a one-style street, and maintaining this organisation will ensure that your project is clean and organized.

Skilful luck!

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Source: https://rascoh.studio/blog/3d-site-plan-cadmapper-autocad-tutorial

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