AutoCAD Solids and QTO

[Anonymous]

Has anyone been able to calculate AutoCAD solids as volumes using the QTO functionality within Civil3D?

[Joe-Bouza]

Solid like 2d solid or solid object? what are the properties of a solid object?

[Anonymous]

Solid like a 3D solid object... I'm talking about volumes here.

A concrete structure is modeled as a 3D solid in AutoCAD and I would like to assign a cubic yard pay item to it.... but all I seem to be able to do is to count the number of items.

[Joe-Bouza]

I think QTO only picks up 2d objects and you will have to write a formula for other objects. Even the corridor is based on 2d shapes time a distance

[Anonymous]

yeah, that's what I figured.  But I can't write formulas for these objects, they are all different...

Thanks anyways.  If any ody comes up with something else, please reply!

[Joe-Bouza]

Doesn't autocad report the volume of a solid somewhere? properties... maybe.... no? If you list a solid what does it tell you?

[Joe-Bouza]

http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/autocad/tutorials/select/092303_parsai_mass_properties.htm

google is our friend

[AllenJessup]

That got me thinking. I checked to see if those object properties were available to be inserted in a text field. They are not. I think that is a defect. I of the use the area of regions to calculate things like impervious area and insert a field in a table to display and be used for later calculations. Having the Mass Properties available that way would make things easier for people who need to deal with them.

Allen

Ah. If you convert the solid to a MassElement (select solid, rt-click, Convert to > Mass Element) you can then include the volume of the mass element in a text Field.

Also you can then explode the MassElement twice and end up with 3D Faces that can be included in a C3D Surface.

ASJ