VTK Import for AutoCAD is a Visualization Toolkit (.vtk) file import plug-in for AutoCAD®. This plug-in gives AutoCAD the ability to import geometric data from ASCII and Binary VTK files.
VTK Import for AutoCAD reads polygon mesh data stored in VTK files and imports it into AutoCAD. A polygon mesh in a VTK file is comprised of a set of triangular or quad faces. VTK Import for AutoCAD recreates the VTK model data inside the active AutoCAD drawing. The model can be recreated as set of points, lines, polylines, 3D faces or a polyface mesh.
VTK Import for AutoCAD is very easy to use. Once installed, it must be loaded into the AutoCAD environment. There are simple instructions for this in the ReadMe file. Once loaded it adds new commands to AutoCAD's existing commands and a new submenu called "VTKImport" to the AutoCAD menu containing these newly added commands.
The 'VTKImport' menu consists of the following commands:
# VTKImport - Imports a VTK file
# VTKImportHelp - Displays the VTK Import for AutoCAD help file
# VTKImportRegister - Registers your copy of VTK Import for AutoCAD
# VTKImportAbout - Displays the VTK Import for AutoCAD About box
VTK Import for AutoCAD comes with detailed documentation for each command as well as a tutorial to get you started in the shortest possible time.
The VTK File Format
The Visualization ToolKit (VTK) is an open source, freely available software system for 3D computer graphics, image processing, and visualization used by thousands of researchers and developers around the world. VTK consists of a C++ class library, and several interpreted interface layers including Tcl/Tk, Java, and Python. The Toolkit stores geometric data in a file format known as VTK. Very few CAD applications have the ability to read and write VTK files.