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CAD tip # 11939:

Question CAD
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How to extract pipe centerlines from 3D point clouds?

Directly with the AutoCAD internal commands you can use a laser-scanned point cloud to generate 3D lines representing centerlines of the scanned piping segments, columns or any other cylindrical objects.

Attach the respective point cloud file from Autodesk ReCap to your DWG drawing and clip it to a suitable part containing the piping elements to convert.

Then use the context ribbon "Point Cloud" and its function Extract > Centerline (the command PCEXTRACTCENTERLINE, in German: PWEXTRAHIERMITTELLINIE) - and point with your cursor to the requested piping segment on the command prompt. If the function recognizes a cylinder, it will create a 3D geometry (LINE) with identical 3D coordinates in its centerline. You can use similar semi-automatic methods to extract edges, corner points or section outlines from your point clouds.

The procedure is illustrated in the video:

ACAD2019ACAD2018PlantCivilReCap

* CAD

5.7.2018 4117×

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applies to: AutoCAD 2019 · AutoCAD 2018 · AutoCAD Plant 3D · Civil 3D · ReCap ·

See also:
Tip 12325:	How to display a DWG from Advance Steel including AS objects? (AST viewer)
Tip 12296:	Loading a point cloud from a series of photos to Revit.
Tip 12184:	Overview of CAD formats supported in Inventor 2020 (import/export/AnyCAD).
Tip 11933:	Color separation of building levels in Autodesk ReCap point cloud.
Tip 10804:	What features are not available in the 32-bit version of AutoCAD 2017 and 2016?

Selected tip: How to convert a solid body to a surface (3D faces)?

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