topic Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh in AutoCAD Forum

Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

Haider_of_Sweden — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 07:45:37 GMT

Hi!

I know how to create masses, solids, surfaces and meshes, but how can I convert any of those to a Polyface Mesh?

Conversions, LISP tricks or hacks are welcome.

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

tramber — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 08:35:58 GMT

Why don't you use save in a lower version (2007) and open an old AutoCAD that still has the 3DSOUT command in its toolbox ?

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

tramber — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 08:43:56 GMT

As I was reading on the net, I've just been seeing :

_FBXEXPORT as an alternative
a 3DSOUT patch that is published by Autodesk but I don't know if it works on modern versions.

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

Haider_of_Sweden — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:07:05 GMT

Hello and thank you,

1. I don't have older AutoCAD on my computer.

2. FBX did end up in Mesh not Polyface Mesh

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

Michiel.Valcke — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:16:43 GMT

PFACE?

or union several meshes?

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

tramber — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:18:53 GMT

1. I don't have older AutoCAD on my computer.

But did you try the patch ? It may apply to any Acad version... I don't know

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

tramber — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:18:02 GMT

Sorry, the ARX is not compatible on 2015. I've just tryied.

<Edit> What about a trial of SketchUp Pro to import DWG and export 3DS or STL, obj, whatever (think I'm fool ?!)

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

Haider_of_Sweden — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 11:14:44 GMT

@Michiel.Valcke wrote:
PFACE?

or union several meshes?

PFACE is for creating a polyface mesh vertex by vertex. I cannot trace an existing mesh by hand.

Can you elaborate how I can union several meshes?

The UNION command converts a mesh object to a solid.

@tramber wrote:
What about a trial of SketchUp Pro to import DWG and export 3DS or STL, obj, whatever (think I'm fool ?!)

Yes, I already know how to create/turn into Polyface Mesh with SketchUp or 3dsMax.
I am looking for an AutoCAD solution.

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

john.vellek — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 16:20:44 GMT

Hi @Haider_of_Sweden,

After a bit of searching I found this utility on the Internet. I have provided a link to an application or add-in that MIGHT provide the extra functionality for which you are looking. Please note however, this is not an Autodesk product or endorsement. You should take all precautions whenever you elect to download/install/utilize any application and do so at your own risk.

Please review the developer’s documentation and disclaimers before proceeding to utilize their product(s).

From core AutoCAD, I do not believe there is a way to export or convert natively to a polyface mesh.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

tramber — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 05:26:37 GMT

Looks good and reasonably unexpensive

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

Haider_of_Sweden — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 11:56:42 GMT

Hello, John,

thank you for somewhat confirming that there is no built-in method to convert to Polyface Mesh.

Like you, I also stumbled into Automesher, but did not try out the trial until you reminded me. I can confirm that it is a great tool. It does not only convert to Polyface Mesh, but also to a lot of other formats.

I must say Automesher is rather powerful. I even solved one of my previous non-solved problems.

Re: Convert object (solid/mass/mesh/surface) to Polyface Mesh

zeeblake — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:02:20 GMT

This thread is old, but I'm replying it in case it can help users with this same question in the future.

Having been using AutoCAD since release 10 (back in the early 90s), I couldn't believe the conversion from 3D solids to 3DFaces had been removed from AutoCAD. So, after digging for a couple of hours, I found how to do it with current AutoCAD versions (no other tools needed). And, by the way, it's rather disappointing that it was so hard to find how to do this (maybe nobody needs to export AutoCAD solids to raytracers that don't support DWG, or what?).

The procedure:

1- Set FACETERSMOOTHLEV variable to 0 (if it's not zero, you'll get a subdivision surface, which you obviously don't want when you are converting a solid into 3DFaces).

2- Set FACETERDEVSURFACE and FACETERDEVNORMAL as desired, depending on the accuracy you want for discretizing curved surfaces into 3DFaces.

3- Execute MESHSMOOTH on the solid you want to convert to 3DFaces

4- Explode the resulting mesh (surprisingly, you directly get 3DFaces instead of a Polyface Mesh)

5- If your purpose was exporting the geometry into external software, export the 3DFaces as a DXF for example.