Tip 1039

This tip is the first of this site’s tips to be supplemented with a video version of the tip, both here and on YouTube.

To see the YouTube video version of this tip, CLICK_HERE, or just click on the video at the bottom of this post.

This post shows how to import a STEP file into AutoCAD, and how to change the 3D object’s orientation to align properly with the view cube and standard AutoCAD views.

The video shows the process of importing a highly detailed 3D speaker file. This is part of a project I completed recently with much trial and error, so I hope this tip, along with an upcoming Part 2, will save you a lot of time and angst.

The steps are:

  1. Make sure you’re in the 3D Modeling workspace.
  2. Go Insert tab > Import panel > Import button.
  3. Make sure the Files of Type selector is set to STEP files.
  4. Select the STEP file and hit OPEN. Close the dialog box that says it’s processing.
  5. When the white and blue button in the lower right says “completed,” click on the button, right-click, and choose “Insert.”
  6. The object appears but orientation needs correcting.
  7. Change to Hidden visual style. Select the 3D object and get the Rotate gizmo.
  8. Select the circle in the plane of rotation. Click in empty space when the object is oriented properly.
  9. Position the object as desired relative to the origin point.

That’s it! The next CAD tip will discuss how to flatten the 3D object into a 2D object. Hint: there’s now a much better way than using the FLATTEN command.

Please leave comments in the box below.

Keep on CADDing!   🙂

Mark

Here’s the video: