Create Solid from Topo surface for 3D printing

[AndycMacp]

We just got a new 3D printer in the office and we are trying to find a way to print a topo surface. I've read blogs and watched tutorials but have struggled with each one. Does anyone know of a good tutorial or a plug in to export a topo surface as a mass in a STL file? If seems a little weird that Revit doesn't have this inbuilt!

Thanks in afvance, Andrew

[kennyj]

It has been awhile, but the getting a solid from a surface or mesh is an ongoing issue.  The last time we were successful we exported from Revit to Sketch-Up, added thickness, then exported it from SketchUp back to AutoCAD.  From AutoCAD we exported to STL.   Then we used the STL editor for the printer (Cura? something like that) to "fix" the model.  It was not fun; we haven't done it again since... 

Hopefully this gives you something to use, but I will be watching this post to see if someone has found a better method.

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

Take a look at this thread and this blog and this knowledge article and see if this helps!

If you find posts have solved your problem, please click on 'Accept as solution' button to help others with similar questions.

Regards,

[AndycMacp]

Hi Viveka

Unfortunately, the thread is Autocad, not Revit.

I tried the blog post, but it doesn't explain to you how to get the solid from Dynamo in the first place (the answer is behind a paywall I think).

And the knowledge article only deals with exporting masses, topo surfaces do not export to STL files.

I'm really looking for a way to change a topo surface into a mass so it can then be exported as an STL. KennyJ's approach may work but involves multiple programmes, it seems like Revit should handle this internally? Dynamo may be the answer and I'm prepared to learn but I can't find a surface to mass tutorial suitable for a complete beginner.

Hopefully, someone has an efficient process for printing topos?!

[SteveKStafford]

I suggest having a closer look at Laura's blog posts on topo and hardscape. If you do you'll see you can substitute a floor or roof for the toposurface to get a solid element that follows the toposurface.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

This should provide some useful guidance.

MARCELLO SGAMBELLURI AB3340: Make Hardscape Follow Site Topography

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

I just wanted to follow up here, any progress on this issue? Did the recommendations bu the experts help with your issue?

Please mark any posts that help with "Accept as Solution" and thanks! Kudos welcome.

[AndycMacp]

Hi everyone. Many thanks for the solutions, I'm just back from the Christmas Break so will work through the options and let you know if either works for me. It would be really good if anyone else who tries these could also post their experiences!

Thanks!

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

Glad to hear that you are back and I hope you had a nice break!

Looking forward to hearing from you regarding the workarounds.

Regards,

[AndycMacp]

Hi Everyone

So I've followed Marcello's excellent lecture (and Laura's blog) and produced hard landscaping elements that follow site topography. However, this is only suitable for roads, parking lots etc but not suitable for replicating the whole topo surface as you cannot edit the 'internal' points, please see attached picture. If you look at the last picture in the blog you'll see what I mean: https://landarchbim.com/2016/09/14/make-hardscape-follow-topo-update/

All that is required is a way to 3D print the topo, it would be helpful if anyone had managed this? I'm surprised at the lack of 3D printing support for Revit?!

Thanks for the help so far.

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

I appreciate the follow-up and thanks for getting back on this issue.

Can you let us know what is the configuration of the 3D printer?

I'm wondering if we can use a Revit to Civil 3D Workflow to achieve the end result, let me see if I can get more information from the team.

Also, see article on About Printing 3D Models

Can you share a file with us to test further? I can send you a private folder to upload.

Regards,

[AndycMacp]

Hi Viveka

It's an Ultimaker, a standard off-the-shelf printer.

However, the key issue is that a topo surface does not export to an STL file, which is what is recommended in 'About Printing 3D Models'

This means 3D printed site models are essentially unsupported by Revit? Which seems weird as it is quite fundamental...

If you need an example just try and export any topo surface to an STL file.

Thanks

Andrew

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

Toposurfaces in Revit do not have a thickness, they are only a surface. STL requires some thickness (and often adding additional thickness to get desired results for 3D printing).

Can you try increasing the thickness and see if this helps with the STL export?

Regards,

[cbcarch]

Not sure if you had seen this?

http://therevitkid.blogspot.com/2017/07/3d-printing-topography-directly-from.html

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

Another recommendation to try is as follows:

1) Try cutting the toposurface with the view section box (enable Section Box in the view and adjust the section box so all sides and bottom of the toposurface are cut and display a face). since section box is rectangular/ square, create another toposurface and superimpose this one to original.

when you 3D print you can cut off the excess parts.

2) Try exporting the cut toposurface (with the section box) to AutoCAD first as DWG and then linking the DWG back into Revit.

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,

[AndycMacp]

Hi CBCarch, I tried the blog before but ran into an issue which I think was behind a paywall? Have you had any success with this method?

Viveka

Thanks for sticking with this, I tried exporting/importing a DWG of the topo after cutting with a section box but unfortunately, it doesn't read as a solid, pics attached. 

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @AndycMacp

I'm wondering if you could try adding a thickness to the topography before the section box crop (since I'm assuming its all 2D lines and doesn't read as a solid)

Let me know if this helps.

Regards,

[AndycMacp]

Hi Viveka, tried this but I think the issue is that the thickness is graphical only, so it is not read as a solid by the STL converter.

only 

[Viveka_CD · Accepted solution]

Hi @AndycMacp

Hmm... let me see if I can find out more information on this from the dedicated team.

I also wondering if exporting to dwg and converting that to an stl would do the job, but we'll have to test to confirm.

Basically, the site has to be a solid to convert to an stl format, so let's see if there are other workflows for this.

Do you know the latitude and longitude of the site? I found an stl generator Please try this one and let me know.

Regards,

[AndycMacp]

Thanks Viveka, your help is greatly appreciated. That STL website is very useful but I'd really like to print the RVT topo. I'll keep looking also!