Hello, I'm new here on this side and sorry my English is not so perfect for talking about special questions.How I can transform a curved mesh to a flat mesh so I can cut it and get the right dimension for fixing it on a product.I'm designing a Trimaran and I have the 3 d mesh from the hull and I need this to make it flat to cut it. thanks for your advice. I'm using autocad 2010 right now.

You could try the FLATSHOT command but I am not entirely sure it will give you exactly what you are looking for.  Another method would be to configure a DXB plotter using the Add-A-Plotter Wizard.  Refer to this article for further details.https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Flatten-3D-model-to-2D.htmlOne more option would be this program....http://www.black-cad.homepage.t-online.de/abw_eng.htm

John Connor2016-05-06 12:27:40

Hello Elang and John, you said that you want to "get the right dimension for fixing it on a product".I suppose that you want do develop the 3D mesh onto a flat metal sheet or so.I have already tried to explode 3D mesh but it's not working.A real 3D mesh won't be developable onto a flat sheet unless with distortions under some metal machinery.Eventually see my AutoCAD file : RIZZA_01.dwg in the CAD/BIM Blocks which is the development of a "square/round" that could give you some ideas.I don't think that FLATSHOT works on non real solids as 3D meshes.Some softwares like "logitrace" offer the possibility to "open" on flat sheets 3D solids, you choose a sketch, enter your datas and you get a 2D AutoCAD.

philippe JOSEPH2016-05-06 14:57:44

It could be done in Inventor though.

Yes John, I see now that Elang has Inventor, I hope that the mesh he is talking about is OK with Inventor ( that I don't know at all but if it's working like Solidworks could do the job if the CAD operator knows the way to do it right ).

Or he can check out the program I gave him the link to.  At least he has options.

Hello John, thanks for your replay. Unfortunately with the flatshot command I don't know what to do. Looking and trying the link you send me I stuck with problems. DXB File I don't know how to create and PCP as well. Right now I can not use inventor because my laptop with this program was stolen.Thanks 

The FLATSHOT command is explained in your AutoCAD Help file.The explanation on how to create a DXB file was fully explained in one of the links I provided.The other link to the black-cat website and the custom lisp program for unwrapping a surface or a mesh is just something I stumbled across that looked interesting.  I have no experience with the program.You can always download the 30-day trial of the latest version of Inventor and use that.Maybe you have taken on too great of a task with this drawing and should consider abandoning it for the time being until you have more experience or better resources or both.

Hi Elang, can you post a sample here?I'll see what I can do for you.Hi John, have a look at the actualization www.ant-ares.de too.(I hope I will not be banned for this hint )RegardsJochen

Wasn't that the site I provided the link to?

Yes - the basics are the same.But i hope, ant-ares  looks more professional...Jochen

Hello Jochen,enclosed I sent you a picture of my project. I stay in Indonesia and are from Germany too. This year I will build a beach trimaran for sailing on the nice beaches we have here. RegardsPeter Michael

Sorry  - cannot see your picture here. Better to publish the dwg here to to sent it via www.black-cad.deRegardsSchöne Pfingsten!Jochen

Hello,did you received my last message with the cad drawing?

Sorry, couldn't get any message.Post the drawing here or contact me viaschulz(at)ant-ares.deRegardsJochen

Thanks the help of SCJ.Schulz how recommended BRIC CAD I got a solution for this problem. If someone have question regarding a similar problem contact him direct. Thanks scj.schulz