BIM & BEAM

STL Exporter for Revit Platform 2009

Create 3D Prints of your Revit 2009 models. As architects and engineers start their digital designs earlier and keep them digital for longer, they want a way to still physically interact with their designs. With the economical availability of 3D printers this has become possible. 3D printed models increasingly serve as a critical part of the design process to study design options and improve communication between project members and owners. The STL Exporter for the Revit 2009 family of products is a proof of concept project that we are working on. It is designed to take a 3D Revit building information model and create an STL file that can be used for 3D Printing. We invite you to take it for a spin and see what you think. We look forward to hearing your feedback.

To Get Started

1. Download the ZIP package that cantinas the installer, installation and user instructions, and a feedback form.
2. Unzip the downloaded ZIP file.
3. Follow the Read Me file to install the STL Exporter.
4. The next time you open Revit 2009 you will see a new option called Export STL under the Tools::External Tools menu.

To Use It

1. Load a model and select a 3D view that you want to use as the bases for your print.
2. Using the instructions in the Read Me file set up your 3D view in the one of the Revit 2009 family of products.
3. Export the model using the command under the Tools::External Tools menu.
4. Make any required changes to the STL file using an STL viewer.
5. Print the STL file using a 3D Printer.
6. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Download available at: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_stl/term_and_condition/

Nicolas

Civil Structure Examples

Hi,

I am looking for project examples of bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, waste water treatments, piers, harbors etc… basically anything that is not a commercial building.

It is important for me that these projects are done with Revit Technologies

Thanks to send me some screen captures at Nicolas.mangon@autodesk.com

Cheers

Operating system requirements for Revit® Structure 2009 and AutoCAD® Revit® Structure Suite 2009 software products

Dear Revit Structure users,

Over the last couple of days, I got several emails from customers/resellers/partners asking about the operating system requirements for Revit® Structure 2009 and AutoCAD® Revit® Structure Suite 2009 software products.  

We have discovered that there is a misprint in the English version DVDs labels. So I would like to clarify in the blog here. Our Autodesk Support team will document this issue in their Support FAQ Knowledge Base very soon: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=9339357

Also, it is very important to know that our current release of AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2009 doesn't support and cannot be installed in 64 bit system. Our development team will enhance this capability in the future release only.

Here is the Support FAQ (TS1085506):

"Problem:

There is a misprint about the operating system requirements on the Revit Structure 2009 and AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2009 product DVD labels. You want to know the official operating system requirements for each product.

Solution:

Below are the correct and official operating system requirements for the Revit Structure 2009 and AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2009 software products:

Revit Structure 2009:
Revit Structure 2009
For Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit) Business, Ultimate, Home Premium;
Windows XP Professional, Home Edition; Tablet PC Edition (SP1, SP2);
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2009:
Revit Structure 2009
For Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit) Business, Ultimate, Home Premium;
Windows XP Professional, Home Edition; Tablet PC Edition (SP1, SP2);
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

AutoCAD 2009
Windows Vista (32-bit, 64-bit);
Windows XP Professional, Home Edition (SP2);
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2009 (available in English, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish and Russian)
Windows Vista (32-bit);
Windows XP Professional (SP2)"

Thanks

Wai

Autodesk University 2008: Last Call for Great Presenters!

If you’re considering joining our outstanding slate of speakers at Autodesk University 2008, you’ll have to act by April 27th, 2008.

Please submit your presentation proposal(s) online, as soon as possible, at the http://au.autodesk.com/event/speaker_cfp/guidelines/types/

Autodesk University would not be the year’s essential learning and networking event without excellent presentations from experts (like you). Here’s a terrific opportunity for you to help bring success to the design professionals and organizations who rely on our products. Sharing your knowledge of a favorite topic—from ways to fully implement a powerful feature to advice on marketing and solution selling—is one of the most effective ways possible to make our customers more productive.

For more information, or to submit your proposals online—visit the http://au.autodesk.com/event/speaker_cfp/guidelines/types/. Submissions deadline is April 27

Thanks

Wai

Autodesk Impression 2 for Download by Autodesk Subscription Customers

Please visit the below link to learn more about Autodesk Impression 2.

http://autodesk.blogs.com/between_the_lines/2008/03/autodesk-impres.html

Thanks

Wai

Barriers to Software Adoption: a Case Study of BIM Technology in the HK Building and Construction Industry

Dear BIM users,

One of my friend is currently doing her University of South Australia Doctoral research on "Barriers to Software Adoption: a Case Study of BIM Technology in the Hong Kong Building and Construction Industry".

She is currently seeking many participants to answer her quick survey/questionnaire. The ideal participants are those who are working on any Hong Kong BIM projects and/or physically located in Hong Kong, but doing any BIM overseas projects.

If you are interested participating to this Doctoral research, please contact Wendy Lee Woon Ming (Woon.Lee@postgrads.unisa.edu.au).

Thanks for your help

Wai

Autodesk LABS: 3D/2D ShareNow

The free 3D/2D ShareNow add-in has been updated to work with AutoCAD-based vertical solutions. This applies to the 2008 product line that is available now and the 2009 product line that will be available soon.

The 3D/2D ShareNow add-in allows you to share your design with others with one easy click. While in AutoCAD, Inventor (or Inventor LT), or Revit, you click on a ShareNow icon and see your design in Project Freewheel. The ShareNow team created some YouTube videos that show ShareNow in action:

1. INVENTOR: Publish to Project Freewheel from Inventor video (2:05 minutes)
2. AUTOCAD: Publish to Project Freewheel from AutoCAD video (0:49 minutes)
3. REVIT: Publish to Project Freewheel from Revit video (2:20 minutes)

So download ShareNow, give it a try, and let the ShareNow team know what you think: Labs.Freewheel@autodesk.com. Is it easy to use or what?

Wai

Do you want your project images to be shown in the upcoming Revit Structure 2009 installer?

Dear Revit Structure user,

Is your company interested to have some of your nice Revit Structure 3D model images of your projects to be included in our Revit Structure 2009 installer-infotainment (i.e. while user is waiting during the installation, there will be a slideshow showing all those nice Revit Structure 3D model project images from different worldwide customers).

Our upcoming Revit Structure 2009 will be released soon and our product team is in the process of selecting some images to be included in the final commercial release version.

If your company is interested, please send the images (in .jpg format) to wai.chu@autodesk.com by March 3^rd, 2008. When submitting those images, please give me the name of the project. If the name is confidential, please tell me at least what type of project is it (commercial, residential, hotel, school, mixed-used, stadium, etc.).

P.S. Please don't forget to obtain the approval from your client/architect/owner, etc. that you can use and show those images publicly.

Wai

Area Calculation – Is it possible in Revit Structure?

The answer is YES!

In the past, Nicolas and I have received a few emails from some Europe or Australia/New Zealand structural users saying that they need to calculate Area in their project and asking how can they achieve that in Revit Structure?

It is possible to achieve, but users need to know how to find the Area tool UI as they can access the Area tool in Revit Structure ONLY from the top horizontal Menu Bar.

Here are the steps:

1- First user needs to go to View > New > Area Plan.

2- Choose the Level that you would like to calculate the Area.

3- In the following screen, for demo purpose, I will choose "No" so that I can show you how to manually sketch the Area Boundary.

4- Once you click Yes or No, if you take a look on the Project Browser, you will see a new category called Area Plans (Rentable) and you can simply double click on the Level 1 Area plan which you've just created.

Important to know: Unlike a regular Structural Plan view where user can go to View Properties > Edit/New and adjust the View Direction to "Down" or "Up". There is a limitation for Area Plan that its View Direction can only be looking "Down" and user cannot really change it.

5- In the Area Plan (Rentable) – Level 1, go to View > Visibility/Graphics to turn on the Annotation Categories for Area Tags.

6- Go to Drafting > Area Boundary in order to define your areas.

7- Using the Pen/Draw option, start drawing and defining the area boundary that you would like to insert and calculate the area.

8- Go to Drafting > Area in order to insert the Area element and find out the square footage.

9- Revit Structure will ask you to Load an Area Tags family and you can say Yes.

10- Select the Area Tag.rfa under Annotations.

11- With the mouse curser, click inside the Area Boundary in order to insert the Area element and its associated Area Tag.

12- You can rename each Area by clicking on the Area element which is the invisible "X" (not the Tag!). Go to Element Properties and rename it.

13- Once everything is done, you can then create an Area Schedule (Rentable) by using your Schedule knowledge :-)

Wai

New structural .rfa content available in the Subscription Center

Dear Revit Structure users,

Our product team has just uploaded some new structural .rfa content in the Subscription Center for you to download.

New content includes some AISC 13th Editions steel sections, Joist Girders, many UK Metric families and Finland ones, etc.

Once log into the Subscription Center, scroll down to "Product Information & Downloads" section and click on "Building Solutions: Product Modules & Add-Ons". Under "Structural Engineering Solutions" click on "Subscription Structural Library".

Please feel free to try it out and give us some feedback.

Thanks

Wai