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CAD tip # 6339:

Question CAD
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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 11809x

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

See also:
Tip 8322:	How to extract intersection lines or edges from 3D objects?
Tip 8318:	How to convert a 3DSolid to 3DMesh or 3DFaces?
Tip 8183:	Convert surface (mesh) model to 3D solid body.
Tip 7424:	Converting bitmaps to 3D NURBS surfaces (engraving images).
Tip 6758:	Polyface mesh cannot be used for FLATSHOT command.

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