Bringing AutoCAD Drawings into 3D Animator Layout

2D AutoCAD drawings (i.e. floor plans) can be converted into 3D models (i.e. 3D walls)
that can be brought into 3D Animator. This process involves 1) making the AutoCAD
drawing 3-dimensional, 2) exporting the model as a 3DS file, 3) converting the 3DS file
to a direct x file, and 4) opening the direct x file in 3D Animator as a background graphic.

Note: these directions were formulated using AutoCAD 2005.

1. Make your AutoCAD drawing layer(s) 3 dimensional. You can

do this by either 1) extruding or 2) adding thickness to lines.

a. Extruding. This will create solid 3D objects.

i. Form geometry into polylines (only polylines may be extruded).
1. Press the EDIT POLYLINE button on the Modify toolbar.
2. Type “m” (for multiple), then press enter.
3. Select the geometry you want to form into polylines, then
press enter.
4. Type “yes” to convert lines and arcs to polylines, then press
enter.
5. Type “j”, then press enter. This “joins” together the line
segments that will make up the polylines.
6. Ensure that join type is “extend”.
7. Enter a small distance for the “fuzz distance”, such as .01,
then press enter.
Note: This process seems to work for isolated closed objects
only (i.e. rectangles and other geometry with no lines running
through them).
ii. Extrude polylines.
1. Press the EXTRUDE button on the Solids toolbar.
2. Select the polylines you wish to extrude, then press enter.
3. Type extrusion height or “p”( to select an extrusion path).
4. Type taper amount, then press enter.

b. Adding thickness to lines. This will create hollow objects without a top
or bottom– the walls will be visible from only one side when brought into
3D Animator.
i. Select the 2D geometry.
ii. Press the PROPERTIES button on the Standard toolbar.
iii. Enter your desired height into the “thickness” cell (a positive value
will add thickness to the 2D geometry in the positive z direction).
iv. Enter value.
2. Export the AutoCAD model as a .3DS file.
a. Select the geometry you wish to bring into 3D Animator.
b. Select Export under the File menu.
c. Save the export.

3. Convert the .3DS file into a direct x (.x) file. There are various
converter programs that may be used. Quick 3D Professional is
one that works for this application. A 30-day trial can be
downloaded from www.quick3D.org.
a. Download Quick3D Professional from www.quick3D.org.
b. Open the .3DS file you saved from AutoCAD.
c. Use Quick3D Professional to alter the 3D object as desired
i. Change the color by selecting Material under the Mesh menu.
ii. Change the size by selecting Scale under the Mesh menu.
d. Save as a direct x (.x) file.

4. Open direct x file into 3D Animator as a background graphic.

a. Open your 3D Animator file.
b. Click the OBJECTS tab on the left side of the screen.
c. Select the BACKGROUND GRAPHICS icon.
d. Select your saved direct x file under the Graphic File heading.