IFC (.ifc), IFCXML (.ifcxml), IFCzip
IFC stands for Industry Foundation Classes.
To read more, see Working with IFC.
Revit 3D Model (.3dm) - Save
From the 3D window, use Save as Revit Project file (.rvt).
See also Export 3D Model as Revit 3D Geometry.
You can save 3D models of your projects in the VRML format. VRML is an acronym for the Virtual Reality Modeling Language. Using VRML you can build your own three-dimensional virtual worlds and link them together on the World Wide Web. To view VRML worlds, you need a VRML helper application (or plug-in) called VRML browser. Check both your HTML and VRML browsers manual to see how to configure them.
The document you save will include the following information:
•3D model geometry: All surfaces as IndexedFaceSet elements including surface attributes.
•Surfaces: All surfaces used in the project. Texture data is included; texture coordinates will be computed by the VRML browser. Check your browser manual to see what texture image file formats it supports.
•Light sources: Additional light sources are included. If no additional lights are placed you have to use your VRML browser’s default headlight.
•3D projection/Animation path: The current perspective settings are included.
Set up a 3D view and with the 3D window at the front, choose Save as from the File menu and choose the VRML format, or place any number of cameras on the Floor Plan and choose Create Fly-Through and set the Result to VRML File, then click Save. The Save VRML 3D Document dialog box will appear:
•Copy textures to destination folder: Check this box to export the surface textures used by the model.
•Write vertex normals: Check this box to export normal vectors.
With these options active, you can export a sophisticated and complex model. If the viewer application does not display the model correctly, try exporting again with one or more checkboxes inactive.
You can save 3D models of your projects in the native file format of Lightscape, a visualization system for generating lighting simulations of three-dimensional models using a radiosity algorithm.
The document you save will include the following information:
•3D model geometry: All surfaces.
•Surfaces: All surfaces used in the project, including the name and characteristics.
•Textures: Exported surfaces will refer to the appropriate texture according to the current settings of the surface dialog. Texture images are not included in the output file: however, the path of the first texture file is included. If all the image files are collected into a single library folder, the visualization system will automatically locate them. Otherwise, you will have to collect and copy these image files into the appropriate folder of the visualization system.
Note: Use DOS filename conventions for naming texture image files when working with Lightscape. Before saving the Lightscape model, open the Surfaces dialog box, check the image names and make the necessary changes.
•Light sources: All light sources used in the project, except the sun. Shadow casting information is also exported according to the current settings of the PhotoRendering effects dialog box.
•Projection information: 3D projection data exported as the default view in Lightscape. Only perspective views can be used. If you choose an axonometric view, the saving process will report an error.
Set up a 3D perspective view, generate the view, then choose File > Save as. In the list, choose the Lightscape document format, and click the Save button. The Save as 3D Lightscape Object dialog box appears:
•Construct Lightscape objects according to Layers: Click this radio button to create groups for each layer.
•Surfaces: Click this radio button to create groups for each surface.
Decompose elongated triangles: Check this box if you want to decompose elongated triangles into smaller triangles. This will generate a more detailed mesh, which is useful for Lightscape‘s radiosity algorithm.
Note that in the case of very large scenes, it may excessively increase the number of polygons (and the file size).
U3D File (Windows Only)
See 3D Content in PDF.
From the 3D window, use File > Save as to save the model in .skp format.
In the appearing Sketchup Export Options dialog box:
•Check which elements and layers to export; use these options to optimize the size of the exported model
•Choose the particular Sketchup format you want to save to.
The resulting SketchUp file’s global location coordinates will correspond to your project location coordinates.
The pin in the SketchUp file (the location reference point) corresponds to the MEP Designer project origin.
See also SketchUp: Export and Import Limitations.
There are two ways to save a model to Google Earth:
1.Use File > Interoperability > Send Model to Google Earth.
The model is saved as a .kmz file and opened in Google Earth in one step. You must have Google Earth 4 or newer installed on the computer.
Note on Altitude: Use “Set Altitude as” options in the 3D Model Export Options in Google Options to determine how your model will be placed into Google Earth.
2.From the 3D window, use File > Save as to save the model in .kmz format.
In the Save as dialog box, click Options to see export options specific to .kmz format:
•Choose whether to export the active camera as the ‘look at viewpoint’ in the kmz file.
•Set altitude using one of two methods: Absolute Altitude (above sea level) or Clamped to Ground. “Absolute” means that your model will be placed at its exact altitude, as defined inMEP Designer. “Clamped to ground” means that your model will be placed on the ground at the defined location (similar to the “Gravity” function).
See also Google Earth: Export and Import Limitations.
Use the File > Save as dialog to save a model to STL format.
STL files only carry the surface geometry of a 3D model without any additional information such as color, surface etc. It contains the surface divided into triangles.
The format is usually used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and computer-aided manufacturing.
1.Open 3D window with only those elements visible that you wish to export.
2.Go to File > Save as
3.Select Stereolithograpy File as file type
4.Browse for the destination folder
5.Enter the file name
6.Click Save
7.In the Save 3D as STL dialog, choose from Binary or ASCII representation.
–ASCII STL
An ASCII STL file lists the triangles with the coordinates of their nodes in a readable format for any text editor application.
–Binary STL
In a Binary STL file the data is compressed but only readable for the appropriate STL application/machine.
Binary representation is more commonly used due to its smaller file size.
More about STL format: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
For information about opening or merging an STL file, see Stereolithography (.stl).
Limitations
1.The exported STL file is not checked for errors, e.g. in terms of solidity. These checks are usually done by the 3D printer.
2.STL file does not store the scale and unit of the model, these have to be set in the viewer/printer. 1m is always exported as 1 STL unit.
Artlantis
If you have downloaded the necessary plug-in: Export the 3D model to Artlantis version 2020 or later (*.atl).
See Export to Artlantis.
FBX (.fbx)
Saving the model to FBX results in a single FBX file containing geometry, surface and texture information.
1.Activate the 3D window.
2.Use File > Save as.
3.Choose the FBX file format, then click Save.
To read more, see Working with FBX files.