Walls/Floors to Generic Solids?

[cberg]

Simple question.

 

Is there a way to convert walls to generic solids?  Or generic solids to walls?

 

What about converting floors to generic solids, or generic solids to floors?

 

 

[PVA - Admin]

Honestly, the fastest way I have found to do this is to export to STL, re-import, then Modify > Convert to Generic Solid.

The only reason I don't just recommend using Modify > Convert > Convert to Mesh and then using Modify > Convert > Convert to Generic solid is because some objects won't let you convert to mesh directly, but nearly any 3D object can be exported to STL in a single step.

[cberg]

Wow.  Thanks Jim!

 

This should be added to the functionality of the program!  It would really help workflows.  In the early stages of design, one doesn't necessarily care about the type of object and it is easier to model in 3D using generic solids, extrudes, etc.  

 

Later in the design, there should be some way to retain this information and translate it to smarter sorts of objects. 

 

Appreciate your help!

 

 

[zoomer]

18 hours ago, JimW said:

Honestly, the fastest way I have found to do this is to export to STL

 

That's a cool idea !

And very important for me as Walls, my main type of geometry in general,

don't export as Solids into DWG but Surfaces only.

Which I had to stitch together again elsewhere.

And sometimes I would even like to convert some selected Walls to Solids

for Vectorworks usage.

 

18 hours ago, JimW said:

re-import, then Modify > Convert to Generic Solid.

The only reason I don't just recommend using Modify > Convert > Convert to Mesh and then using Modify > Convert > Convert to Generic solid

 

Is this Convert a "Mesh" to Generic Solid function new ?

(Coming along with SubD to Solid conversion ?)

The only way I knew so far to force a Mesh back to a Generic Solid was to try if PushPull works

in second mode ....

Edited March 27, 2018 by zoomer

[PVA - Admin]

6 minutes ago, zoomer said:

Is this Convert a "Mesh" to Generic Solid function new ?

(Coming along with SubD to Solid conversion ?)

I know it was enhanced recently along with that tool. I am fairly sure it existed before but it was way more particular about what objects it would let you convert and these days it's more reliable, however the shape you're converting still has to be a watertight/manifold solid, no 0 thickness faces are permitted if I recall correctly.

[cberg]

I convert meshes to generic solids all the time.  I didn't realize it was an improved feature. 

[zoomer]

1 hour ago, JimW said:

however the shape you're converting still has to be a watertight/manifold solid, no 0 thickness faces are permitted if I recall correctly.

 

OK,

so for no cleanup of the furniture libraries

 

1 hour ago, cberg said:

I convert meshes to generic solids all the time.  I didn't realize it was an improved feature. 

 

I tried this in the past and it was rejected.

(Tried that for Walls to at one point of course)

So I tried everything to find a workaround until I came to the PushPull trick.

 

Another option my be the ACAD way :

- exploding the Mesh

- convert 3D Polys to Nurbs

- Modify>3D Power Pack>Stitching Surfaces

Edit : No, does not works as I expected ....

 

I tried now also Convert SubD

- Crease All

- Convert to Generic Solid

But that will keep SubD's tessellation of Faces and we have no Simplify Solid command.

(Redundant "Co-Edges")

Could be an option for more complex Mesh geometries though.

(And for me VW crashes when 

 

 

1 hour ago, JimW said:

I know it was enhanced recently along with that tool.

 

I tried and it works 

Why wasn't that mentioned along Shiny New Features at release and got its own Feature Video ?

For me that is a very important feature !

Edited March 27, 2018 by zoomer

[markdd]

If its just the wall you want without the doors and windows (the apertures are retained) then Convert to Nurbs and then Add solids on Nurbs Surfaces in the resulting group. That will give you a solid addition that you can convert into a Generic Solid.