Como destacado no anterior artigo da base de dados de conhecimento "KB 1939 | Interface to AutoCAD and DXF File Integration - Part 2/3: General Overview” (linked below), RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 provide seamless integration with DXF files, facilitating efficient data exchange with AutoCAD. This integration streamlines the structural design and analysis process, improving both accuracy and speed. While the previous article offered a general overview of the import and export capabilities, this article will focus exclusively on the import features in greater depth. If you are also interested in the export features, they are covered in detail in the Knowledge Base article “KB 1942 | Interface to AutoCAD and DXF File Integration - Part 3/3: Export Features”, which is also linked below.
- KB 1939 | Interface para integração de ficheiros AutoCAD e DXF – Parte 1/3: Vista geral
- KB 1942 | Interface para integração de ficheiros AutoCAD e DXF: Export Features
Import Features
The direct import from AutoCAD or DXF/DXF II files can be accessed through the "Import" option in the "File" menu. After selecting a file, the "Import" window will appear, as shown in Image 1.
The following settings are available for customization during the import process:
1. Insert Point: This setting allows you to modify the insertion coordinates along the X, Y, and Z axes. It provides flexibility by enabling the import of objects at any desired distance along the axes, rather than restricting them to the coordinate origin.
2. Axis Rotation: This feature enables you to rotate the imported model around any of the coordinate system axes (X, Y, or Z), offering additional control over the alignment of your model within the workspace.
- Sequence: In addition to basic rotation, you can modify the axis sequence, allowing you to swap the axes. For example, by defining the sequence as Z’Y’X, the Z axis becomes X, the Y axis remains unchanged, and the X axis becomes Z. This option gives you further flexibility in positioning and rotating your model as needed.
3. Coordinate System Transformation: This option is particularly useful when working with applications that use different orientations compared to RFEM/RSTAB’s default coordinate system. It allows you to swap axes or modify the direction of an axis. For example, it can be used to adjust mirrored axes, such as changing the Z-axis to -Z, ensuring that your imported model aligns correctly with your project’s coordinate system.
4. Settings: This setting specifies the units in which the DXF file will be imported, ensuring that unit mismatches are avoided. For instance, if the imported file is in millimeters (mm) instead of meters (m), this discrepancy could result in disproportionately small dimensions in the model. An illustration of this effect can be seen in Image 5.
4. Additional Import Options
- Minimize Tolerance in Model
When modeling or importing data from a CAD program, slight geometric discrepancies may arise in the model objects. RFEM 6/RSTAB 9 automatically corrects these inconsistencies when certain distance thresholds are exceeded. For instance, nodes that are very close to each other will be merged, lines or members outside of planes will be incorporated into surfaces, and minimally inclined lines and members will be classified as vertical.
Generally, model tolerances can be adjusted in the "Settings and Options" tab under the General Data section of the model (see the link to the FAQs below). However, when you select this option during the import, it automatically sets all model tolerances in the base data to 0.00001 m, eliminating the need for manual adjustments.
- Generate Members
Selecting this option in the import dialog box allows the lines in a DXF file to be imported as members in RFEM 6/RSTAB 9 (Image 7). During the import process, the layer names from the DXF file are transferred as cross-section and material names. If the external cross-section and material are recognized from the Dlubal libraries based on the layer name, they will be applied automatically and converted to corresponding Dlubal sections and materials (Image 8).
For the automatic recognition and application of cross-sections and materials, the layer name in the DXF file must follow the format [Cross-Section Name]$[Material Name] (e.g., IPE 100$S235). This ensures that the correct cross-sections and materials are assigned to the imported members.
- Import 3DFaces as Surfaces
This option, available during DXF file import, allows 3D face entities from the DXF file to be converted into surface objects in RFEM 6. It is particularly useful for handling complex geometries that are better represented as surfaces rather than individual lines or members. By selecting this option, any 3D face entities in the DXF file will be automatically transformed into corresponding surface objects within RFEM 6 (as shown in the right window of Image 9). If the option is not selected, only lines and no surfaces will be created during the import (as shown in the left window of Image 9).
- Explode Blocks
This option converts block references in the DXF file into individual entities in RFEM 6/RSTAB 9. In CAD drawings, blocks are collections of entities grouped together for ease of manipulation. However, when importing these blocks into RFEM 6/RSTAB 9, it is often advantageous to break them down into their constituent parts to enable more detailed modeling and analysis. By selecting the "Explode Blocks" option, any block references in the DXF file are automatically disassembled into individual lines, arcs, and other entities upon import. This provides greater flexibility and precision when working with the imported geometry.
- Import Selected Layers
This option allows you to selectively import specific layers from a DXF file, offering greater control and efficiency during the import process. It is especially useful when dealing with complex drawings that contain multiple layers, enabling you to focus solely on the relevant data for your model. By importing only the selected layers, you can streamline the modeling process, reduce unnecessary information, and ensure that the model includes only the essential elements for accurate analysis. Proper layer organization and naming conventions are key for efficient layer selection during the import.
Image 11 demonstrates this option, showing how only a selected part of the structure modeled in AutoCAD is imported into RFEM 6 by choosing the associated layers.
Conclusão
The import features outlined in this article provide a powerful and efficient way to bring AutoCAD/DXF data into RFEM 6/RSTAB 9, enabling users to optimize their structural models with ease. By leveraging these options, such as importing geometry, layers, surfaces, and more, users can ensure their data are accurately represented within the software, improving workflow flexibility and precision. This seamless integration enhances the overall modeling and analysis process, reducing manual adjustments and ensuring consistency across all stages of design and documentation. With these import capabilities, RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 offer a streamlined solution for efficiently working with AutoCAD/DXF files, contributing to higher quality and more effective structural design.
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