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 from Autodesk Labs.
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!

Duct Size Parameter - Inches - Revit MEP by Steve Stafford

http://revitoped.blogspot.com/2008/05/duct-size-parameter-inches-revit-mep.html

Steve Stafford blogged about changing the connector parameters from feet to inches. It's a great article that also includes a video.

Thank you Steve for the Info.

Displaying room color fills in section views In Revit MEP 2009

To display the color fills and room objects in section views, you need to enable volume calculations. Follow these steps:

1. On the Settings menu, click Area and Volume Computations.
2. In the Area and Volume Computations dialog box, under Volume Computations, select the Areas and Volumes option.

Color fills and room objects will now be displayed in section views.

64-bit Revit 2009 products - Ummm, No.

64-bit versions of Revit 2009 products are not currently available.

Revit 2009 products can be installed on a 64-bit operating system in order to take advantage the memory allocation feature.

If you create a Revit Deployment image, you might be confused by the check box of either 64 bit or 32 bit deployment. I'm not sure what this check box does, but it does not install a 64-bit Revit Program. Maybe its for future when it is available in 64-bit.

Inclusion of McGraw-Hills Sweets Content Now in Autodesk Seek

As many of you have probably read from everybody elses blogs, Autodesk has released their Seek website that allows architects, engineers and designers to search, select and specify building products using Autodesk’s advanced search technology. http://seek.autodesk.com/

Well now with a new partnership, Autodesk connects AutoCAD, AutoCAD MEP and Revit-based users with the McGraw-Hill Construction Network through the Autodesk Seek web service.

McGraw-Hill Companies and Autodesk, Inc. today announced a new partnership that will extend the rich building product content of MHC's Sweets Network to millions of Autodesk designers using the groundbreaking new Autodesk(R) Seek web service. By connecting building product manufacturers to architects and engineers inside their design applications, MHC continues its commitment to integrate best-in-class content into industry-leading workflow applications easily accessible to design and construction professionals.

Together, MHC, the leading provider of design and construction information and intelligence in North America, and Autodesk, one of the world leaders in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, construction, and media and entertainment markets, will enable designers to search, select, and specify building products directly from their Autodesk applications. Adding Sweets content to the designer's workflow reduces the time spent searching for and creating building product information during the design project.

"By combining the speed and efficiency of Autodesk Seek with the breadth and quality of building product information in the Sweets Network, we have a powerful new solution for the millions of designers and building product manufacturers we serve together," said Jeff Wright, director of Autodesk Content Solutions.

Inclusion of Sweets content in Autodesk Seek will enable building product manufacturers to:

• Reach millions of highly qualified AutoCAD(R) and Revit(R) software application designers who specify product information directly into designs from their desktops
• Integrate rich information beyond simple product pages including catalogs, CAD details, 3D Revit models, and 3-part specifications
• Increase awareness of designers' activities and identify sources of product inquiries, thus enabling continued relationship building Demonstrations of Sweets content in Autodesk Seek, http://seek.autodesk.com/ will be available at the McGraw-Hill Construction booth #15011 at the AIA 2008 National Convention and Design Exposition at the Boston Convention Center on May 15-17.