Help!…:-))))… import formats from other softwa

[slawek hadziewicz]

guys,
I am in the process of designing small submerisible… about 40ft in lenght… presently I am using Turbo CAD and Sketch-up(by Google) to design general form… is there a way to import either CAD files or Sketch up files into DELFT to manipulate hull design?… I like DELFT for its report capabilities and quick response, but I just downloaded free version and am in the process of learning how to use this package… it will take me some time to figure out all possibilities…
I like it very much so far…
Please, help…
Sincerely
Slawek
Clearwater, FL, USA

[Ian Scales]

I’m not the resident site expert, but your query hasn’t been answered and maybe I need good karma, so:

With the free version of DS, you don’t have the IGES import option that is in the Pro version.

Look at what the manual says about import, in both section 11.8 (import markers, where you use your existing drawing as a guide for a newly constructed model in DS) and section 6 (to import points that DS will use directly). The manual doesn’t mention that you can also import a vrml file.

So either 1) save you model as a vrml, and import. The vrml model won’t be very nice to use as the basis for further editing in DS because it will be a surface made of triangles and generally horrible, but probably good enough for the hydrostatics.

or 2) In SU or TC, create curves that are slices (i.e. contours) through your model; then

2a) For using the data direct, you need to extract and save in TC or SU a txt file that contains the coordinates of the vertices of these curves. Read the DS manual to know the format, see example file that came with DS. You will get a DS model, but remember that garbage in = garbage out.

2b) To use as markers for building a new model (like tracings you can work to), just save the slices as a dxf. Then in DS, via menu Tools-> Markers, import the dxf. The result is not a model, just a set of line drawings to build a model from.

But neither SU ot TC are a good choice for hull modeling. Unlss for some reason you have to keep the original model in TC or SU, you might find it better to start over in DS, where the hull will be easier to make and the result far better. Then export out of DS into TC or SU.

[slawek hadziewicz]

Hey Stringy,
thanks for input…
I decided to play with DS, learn functionality of it… design hull and lines plus hydros… and than export it as a DXF… this will allow me to open it in TC, save as SU file, and than?…..
play with it further for layout purpouses in SU…:-)))))… easy pickles!!!!…:-)))))))))))))))))
DS is not horrificly difficult to learn, I found…
and maybe after while I will just buy fll version…
just how much is a full version going for nowadays?….
but!

thanks a lot for help….
Sincerely
Slawek
aka “village idiot”…:-))))))))

PS I build furniture and cabinetry… and use TC and SU for design and visual part of sales…
now… I am trying to ad DS to my “play stable”…

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