Revit 2018 - STL and Vray Support

[Anonymous]

Dear Forum

So I decided to install design suite 2018, having coughed up £25 for the Autodesk USB Flashdrive. The reason I upgraded was that I was having problems with Revit 2017, and the 360 rendering. I still believe this was a glitch with 2017. 

Anyways 2018 works a treat with regards to rendering, or so I thought. Chaos have yet to release the VRay plugin for 2018. Likewise the STL 2018 plugin is not yet available. This is causing me major grief.

Any thoughts on a work around. I have already updated (stupid I know) my Revit files to 2018.

Cheers

Dean

[DanFaba]

Hello Dean,

It is an unfortunate situation you mention to be in. For such scenario, the only option I can suggest is having patience while VRay and STL are released in compatible versions to Revit 2018.

However, if you have already upgraded AND OVERWRITTEN the files, then there is not much you can do.

Nevertheless, if you happen to have a backup copy of your 2017 files, you could reconstruct your model from there, and keep your 2017 version active still.

[Anonymous]

Hi Dan
Thank you for the response. Sadly the model has progressed significantly, which would mean redoing a lot of work in a previous version of Revit. Personally I think it is criminal that Autodesk can charge the fees they do, then miss out these fundamental issues. They should make it abundantly clear that upgrading the software will compromise certain elements. Ironically the only reason I upgraded was that I experienced problems with DS 2017.

My work around.

Reinstall design suite 2017, which works with vray plugin for max 2017. Then export from Revit 2018 fbx which works with max 2017.

STL export. I have had to redraw these elements in 2017, so that I may have these 3d printed. Given that Revit / BIM is all about coordination and the aspiration of eliminating waste. Autodesk clearly don't care if they waste my time and energy! If only there was compensation or an alternative out there.

Cheers

Dean

[mcaistor]

Dan,

Of course Autodesk doesn't care if they waste your time. They are the industry standard so they behave as a monopoly.  Decades ago I drove past their huge building in Sausalito and could help but ask myself : " What do all those people in there do considering that the AutoCAD has already existed for a decade or so?"  My answer, it is probably a big corporate bureaucracy or like the government ( where I worked for a short while) the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Politics determines priority and like the taxpayer the customer is the lowest concern on the totem.

I always say to other architects that when they told me there were better programs than Revit out there I  believe them. It's that darn industry standard thing.

Luckily I knew not to trust Autodesk when I upgraded to 2018 and am still doing work in 2017 until STL comes out for 2018. I figure after being screwed by Autodesk for so many decades it is my own fault if I don't take precautions on my own.

Mike

[mcaistor]

Dean,

There are plenty of alternative programs out there that I have been told are better. I was told even Sketch-Up outputs STL.

I put up with Autodesk because of that industry standard thing being a small practitioner reliant on whatever employees or contractors the market will bear.   If I were a bigger firm I would try some of those new programs with a few staffers that I expected to be long term where I  could learn along with them. I think the reality is that once your firm gets bigger as a principal you are consumed with getting work to make payroll and not learning new programs.

Mike

[Anonymous]

HI Mike

Totally agree. I have yet another plugin that hasn't been upgraded and no
longer works with 2018. The plugin, NBS Create, is a UK specification format
that integrates with Revit. When it does work it's great, but very expensive
(3.5k per year subscription) and I'm unable to use it, like it was intended.
Totally rubbish to say the least.

A difficult lesson to learn, but yes in future I will double check that the
various plugins, software interfaces have also been upgraded.

Cheers

Dean

[mcaistor]

Dean,

Here in the U.S. it is $2k/yr for a Revit subscription, less if you are upgrading your perpetual license.

Maybe if you change your accent you can get a discount. I don’t have to worry, everyone else from other places has an accent but I talk normal.

Chairs!

Mike

[mcaistor]

Dean,

Here in the U.S. it is $2k/yr for a Revit subscription, less if you are upgrading your perpetual license.

Maybe if you change your accent you can get a discount. I don’t have to worry, everyone else from other places has an accent but I talk normal.

Chairs!

Mike