Offset normal to Surface

[AllenJessup]

This had been discussed so long that the original post aren't even archived.

We need the ability to offset a surface. Landfill caps and certain types of excavation or fill need to be calculated this way. I WAS doing this in AutoCAD back in the 90's using a program called QuickSurf. Fifteen years ago I tried to write a lisp to do this using the NOR function in the Geometry Calculator. But, not being a programmer, I never finished it. So I believe this it doable but I don't know how much work it would take.

Allen

[martin.folber]

Hi Daryl,

thanks for your effort. You are right, there is a way to do this 3D offset using some functions in 3DS Max but it si too complicated. There is also special function in vanilla AutoCAD, but it generally works only with several triangles and not in all coordinate systems.

Martin

[pcchenard]

Does anyone have instructions on how to do this in 3ds Max?  I saw someone else mention it but I can't find any information on what the process is, and it is something I would like to learn how to do.  If anyone could point me to a tutorial on how to do this in 3ds Max I would greatly appreciate it.

[edit]I should mention that I have attempted to do this in 3ds Max by first converting the imported surface to a NURBS object.  However, the surface was apparently too complex (too many triangles) because it sat for an entire weekend and never finished the conversion to the NURBS object.[/edit]

[Anonymous]

I have finished the Beta of the Surface Tracing addition. It will trace the existing surface and offset vertically by the offset distance specified. I would like to know if the offset surface by featurelines is any better approximate of a offset perpendicular to the face of the triangle. 

How to use the command:

1.Before you invoke the command, create test region by drawing a generic polyline over a small area of interest over an existing surface.

2. Invoke the Command BBC-TRACESURFACE

3. Select the surface

4. Add an interval (horizontal) distance in feet: 2  (Think of this as the equally spaced number of feturelines drawn across the test region. )

5. Add an interval (vertical) distance in feet: 5 ( Basic offset of the surface elevation)

6. Select a Polyline Boundary: ( generic polyline to limit extents of the new surface)

7. Erase Polyline Boundary? [Yes/No]: n
8. Add the Polyline as the Outer Boundary? [Yes/No]: y 

Command: BBC-TRACESURFACE
Regenerating model.
Select a TIN Surface:
Add an interval (horizontal) distance in feet: 2
Add an interval (vertical) distance in feet: 5
Select a Polyline Boundary:
Erase Polyline Boundary? [Yes/No]: n
Add the Polyline as the Outer Boundary? [Yes/No]: y 

Additionally,

Featurelines generated across the existing surface are inserting into a new site called "AutoSite-####"

Offset Featurelines are inserted into another seperate site called "AutoSite-####".

Download it Here. Download 

I will revisit the Offset Normals again to determine if there is any routines in 3DSMax to mimic in Civil 3D. There are many areas to review the different surface algorithms with the 3D Medical Simulation technologies.If anyone is working with this routine in another software, let me know. 

Thanks,

Daryl

[martin.folber]

 Hi Daryl,

new surface looks good, but the offset is again on Z axis (vertically), same as C3D does with surface.

Thanks

Martin 

[Anonymous]

The offsets that I applied were perpendicular to the plane; however, when I inserted those values into the new offset surface, the Autodesk engine would simplify the mesh. When the mesh was simplified, the mesh was not exactly perpendicular anymore. Since that was a requirement, I had to determine another approach. I will give it some thought.



Daryl

[joantopo]

This also for a C3D TIN surface:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/AutoC...

[pcchenard]

Still waiting Autodesk....

[pcchenard]

Another year, another version of Civil 3D, and still no true surface offset feature.  Go figure.  Way to go Autodesk.  You haven't made any useful improvements to Civil 3D in years.

[Anonymous]

This software still hasn't fixed things from the 90s, I wouldn't hold my breath.  I can think of several issues where the math is known to fix problems and AutoDesk doesn't seem to care.  They are profit driven and their product suffers.  Every year I look at the new features and cumulatively they just aren't as useful as one of the plethora of fixes requested over the past 25 years.

[Anonymous]

The traffic on these boards show the lack of effort on AutoDesk's end.  If people thought these problems would be solved, they would be on here more.

[samir_rezk]

Hi all,

this can finally be accomplished by Dynamo. Please take a look at my article regarding the workflow and graph to offset offset and create an automatic surface.

Offset a Civil 3D Surface with Dynamo Player 

Hope it helps,

[pcchenard]

@samir_rezk 

Thanks for this!  I'll definitely check it out. 

[AllenJessup]

@samir.rezk 

Kudos!

[AllenJessup]

@samir.rezk 

Kudos!

[martin.folber]

Hi Samir,

I definitively try this. Thanks 🙂

Martin

[VCivil3D]

@samir_rezk

I'm having issues with terrain surfaces (both generated by contours lines and COGO Points). It goes looping without accomplishment the task. I even tried different areas with different sizes, but always crashes. It worked like a charm on designed surfaces with few breaklines though. Did you have any success with more complex surfaces? 

 Thanks for sharing!

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hello All,

there is a great Dynamo-Civil 3D forum available - how about continueing the discussions about the script there?

https://forum.dynamobim.com/c/civil3d/17

Regards,

Karsten.

[arturo_crngzm]

It's posible to make a subassembly (halved finished ground level) that replicates the slope between two points given as a guide (vertical profile and surface border, left and right). I just came out with this "fix" as I searched on the internet for this issue, I will upload the .pkt when I came out with it.

[martin.folber]

Hi Arturo,

thanks, looking forward to it...

Martin

[pieter_haeck]

The Dynamo script is a good workaround, but native functionality on this matter is much better (also performance-wise).

This 'Idea' is often asked for during trainings.

Hopefully this can be put on the Road Map?

[elucas_KWS]

This is still needed.

A autocad surface can have an offset, why not a (linked to a original) civil3d surface?

Maybe talk to the makers of Blender.org. In Blender it is possible to offset a surface dynamic