Then, you can walk through the basic importing steps outlined in this article. In this article, you also discover how SketchUp data is exported into CAD format. When you take a few steps to check and prepare your CAD file before import, you can make sure all the data you need imports into SketchUp Pro and streamline the import process.

The following sections outline what you need to look for and how to resolve any potential conflicts between CAD elements and SketchUp Pro. If you need to import unsupported CAD elements into SketchUp Pro, try exploding those elements in CAD so they become primitive CAD drawing elements that SketchUp Pro does support. Here are some examples:. In an imported CAD file, SketchUp Pro automatically discards any entities that have no 3D relevance, such as text, dimensions, hatching, logos, and so on.

To avoid a bunch of empty layers in SketchUp Pro, you may want to delete or turn off those layers from the CAD file before you import it into SketchUp Pro. To avoid these problems, check the placement of geometry in your CAD file before you import the CAD file into SketchUp Pro. If the graphic or geometry is far away from the origin, move it close to the origin before importing the CAD file into SketchUp Pro.

Generally, CAD files import into SketchUp Pro successfully when the file size is 15MB or less. When you import larger CAD files, the import can take a long time or may fail. Conversely, the smaller your CAD file size, the quicker and easier the import.

If possible, find out the unit of measure used to create the CAD file.

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When you import the CAD file into SketchUp Pro, you need to know whether your file uses inches, feet, or a metric unit of measurement. When SketchUp Pro imports a CAD file, SketchUp Pro strips the information to its basic geometric components. So no matter what AutoCAD file format you use such as or , the end result is essentially the same.

To maximize compatibility between a CAD file and SketchUp, however, saving your CAD file in the Release 13 or Release 14 format works best. The following steps walk you through the import process, based on your current operating system:.

Before you export a SketchUp model to a CAD file format. When export your model view as a 2D CAD file, you can choose the scale and a number of line options. The result is a 2D vector file in. In the following figure, you see the line options dialog box for your current operating system. The following list introduces your options so that the lines in your exported file meet your needs:.

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You can also restore the default settings by clicking the Defaults button. When you export a SketchUp model as a 3D CAD file, you can select what entities are exported.

To export your model, follow these steps:. Skip to main content. SketchUp Knowledge Base Toggle navigation. SketchUp Help Center How Can We Help? SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro Using SketchUp Data with Other Modeling Programs or Tools Importing and Exporting CAD Files Importing and Exporting CAD Files If you are having trouble installing or running SketchUp Pro , please try the steps found here.

Supported CAD Elements Unsupported CAD Elements Arcs AutoCAD regions Circles Proprietary ADT or ARX objects Entities with thickness Dimensions Faces Hatching 3D faces Text Layers XREFs Lines Polylines Nested blocks Preparing a CAD file for import into SketchUp Pro When you take a few steps to check and prepare your CAD file before import, you can make sure all the data you need imports into SketchUp Pro and streamline the import process.

Remember to create a copy of the CAD file and prepare that copy for importing into SketchUp Pro. Alternatively, if you use Autodesk Architectural Desktop or Autodesk Land Desktop, switch to Plan view to export 2D lines or chose 3D view to export 3D faces.

The resulting CAD file contains lines or faces that you can import into SketchUp Pro. For best results with imported CAD files, keep the size of imported files to a minimum.

Here are a few tips for minimizing a CAD file before you import it into SketchUp Pro: Import only the necessary geometry. SketchUp models can be designed to be as accurate as models in CAD. However, SketchUp is not designed for the same type of line-intensive drawings done in CAD software. You might simplify the CAD file to just walls — and maybe doors and windows if you want to model those in your SketchUp file, too.

Separate levels of detail among different CAD files.

If your CAD file holds lots of necessary geometry, consider whether you break one file into a few smaller files. For example, one imported CAD file can contain site plan information, another can have a floor plan, and a final file can have a specific detail.

In SketchUp Pro, open the SketchUp model into which you want to import your. An Open dialog box appears. Navigate the the place your hard drive where your CAD file is saved.

Select the file you want to import. Click the Options button.

Optional In the Geometry area, select Merge Coplanar Faces to tell SketchUp to automatically remove triangulated lines from planes. Selecting the Orient Faces Consistently box tells SketchUp to analyze the direction of imported faces and orient the faces so that their direction is uniform.

Optional To import geometry at the correct scale, select the unit used in your CAD file from the Units drop-down list. Your options are Inches, Feet, Millimeters, Centimeters, and Meters. If you select a small unit, such as millimeters, but the model was originally intended to display in feet, you can unintentionally create itty-bitty faces that will be lost on import.

For SketchUp to recognize a face, the face must be. In SketchUp Pro, open the.

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An import dialog box appears. The DWG Import Options dialog box appears, as shown in the following figure.

If you have a floor plan or other vector graphics in an Adobe Illustrator. Then import the vector graphics following the preceding steps. In particular, when you extrude faces from curves that contain lots of line segments, the SketchUp file size can increase dramatically. Privacy Terms of Service. Table of Contents Understanding what CAD elements SketchUp Pro can import Preparing a CAD file for import into SketchUp Pro Importing a CAD file into SketchUp Pro Understanding how SketchUp Pro data is exported to CAD format Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 2D CAD file Exporting a SketchUp Model as a 3D CAD file.