Flatten 3D wireframe to elevational view
I know the topic of flattening drawings has been brought up before many times.
I now have a perfect example drawing which highlights the flaws of the current methods of flattening data in AutoCAD.
I have created a fairly simple non solid wireframe model of part of an underground station platform. The client wants the 3D wireframe data and would also like a traditional 2D elevation aswell produced from this data which we have surveyed.
I have set up the a view in the attached drawing which is how we need the elevation to be viewed. The red cables were produced by using flatshot from some solids which I had extruded.
In this view I have tried to use the flatten command and as per usual there are many objects which when selected prevent the command from working (how annoying is this? If only it would flatten the objects we select which it CAN flatten and then omit the ones which it can't!)
I have tried copying this data using the ucs set to the elevational view into a blank new drawing on the world ucs and then trying the old school method of moving about 0,0,0 to 0,0,1e99 and then back again. This also does not work and some of the line work dispapears off into the wide blue yonder literally miles away from the original data thus leaving the elevation looking incomplete.
I have searched for methods to flatten drawings of all kinds whether it be an elevations such as this or a simple 3D vector line only topographical survey with no success and usually end up opening the drawing in a 2d Microstation seed file and saving this as a 2D dwg.
It's looking as if I am going to have to rotate the data so that when viewd in the world ucs in top view it appears as an elevation and then save this and carry out my Microstation method.
If there is any one out there who has any suggestions or ideas I would be eternally greatful.
I am also hoping that maybe this could be used as an example for people at Autodesk to show what kind of stuff we need to flatten.
