CAD tip # 6339:

Question CAD
% platform category

How to convert a solid body to a surface (3D faces)?

If you need to convert a SOLID to its surface representation consisting of 3DFACEs, you can use the conversion to Mass Element in AEC versions of AutoCAD.

AutoCAD Architecture, AutoCAD MEP and AutoCAD Civil 3D contain the command MassElementConvert (or its quite different version -MassElementConvert), which converts a solid body to a mass element. This mass element can be then exploded to a block reference then to the individual 3D faces. Smoothness of the resulting surface is controlled by the FACETDEV variable.

So, to convert a 3D solid to 3D faces, us the sequence of commands MassElementConvert, EXPLODE, EXPLODE.

ADTABSCivil2009Civil2008

* CAD

5.10.2008 6070x

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applies to: AutoCAD Architecture · AutoCAD Revit MEP · AutoCAD Civil 3D 2009 · AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 ·

See also:
Tip 7424:	Converting bitmaps to 3D NURBS surfaces (engraving images).
Tip 6758:	Polyface mesh cannot be used for FLATSHOT command.
Tip 6541:	How to convert 2D SOLID objects to 3D faces?
Tip 5878:	How to convert a 3D solid to a 3D mesh?
Tip 5117:	How to convert surfaces to 3D solids?

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