Hello everybody. I was directed here because I wanted to do some architectural works and I see the potential of MoI. I know it still in its development stage but I wanted to do some builidings. Can anyone here make a tutorial? I see some tutorials that show me the functions and capabilities of MoI. I see its potential in architecture. Big thanks in advance!

jon
Architecture student

I have tried searching on google, but architecture tutorial is very limited :(

I'm sure there are like in rhino and 3dsmax which may have same commands. I'm also looking to 3dsmax but I cannot study it now because of my OS limitation. Few months from now maybe i will buy new unit. I feel comfortable now in MoI by just learning it in few days. Have you found tutorials made in MoI? I see it can be complex or can be simple in MoI than in archicad and autocad which gives me eye stress just by looking at buttons and stress in my fingers typing diff. commands. I also see it is possible to use sketchup but it is always buggy maybe bec of my OS. Can i export moi models to sketchup then to archicad?

Hi jonjon, there are some tutorials linked to from the MoI web page here:
http://moi3d.com/wiki/Resources

Be sure to check out the first 2 links under the "Tutorials" section:
http://moi3d.com/1.0/docs/tutorials.htm
http://forum.steph3d.net/index.php?board=13.0

The first link above are the tutorials from MoI's documentation, they go over the basic functions of MoI.

The second one has some videos of Steph constructing various objects, including some architectural stuff there.


> Can i export moi models to sketchup then to archicad?

Yes - in MoI version 1.0 you can export to SketchUp using the .3ds file format.

For version 2.0 I have also added an export directly to the SketchUp .skp file format, this is available in the current v2 beta release, which is available for v1 owners to download.

- Michael

< I see its potential in architecture.
Especially for tensile structures!

I use MoI quite often to work out tricky constructional details. Here is an example where I was trying to figure out exactly how the wall cladding would meet the roofing in a timber framed building and how the junction would be made water-tight. I was then able to import the model into my arch program and use it to create line drawings (although that part was not so straight forward).

This is the less glamourous side of architecture, but MoI is very useful to solve such problems.

3d visualisation, you can't beat it.

Thanks Steve for the quick insight into some architectural problems that you guys come across, it is interesting to see, especially for a mech guy.

Cheers

A cool way is export from Moi in 3Ds to the free Google Sketchup for architecture post treatment ;)

why not export as skp from moi ?
below is test render in Sketchup.



Hi Pilou...
How to apply material to a whole body / part in sketchup ?
As I know we can only apply to face.

< How to apply material to a whole body / part in sketchup ?
Just select all the object(s) (triple click) first then Paint Bucket with a color or an image or a texture...;)
Or select only face(s) you want paint! Can't be more easy!
Put an skp file example for test ;)

Hi Steve - I'm glad that MoI is able to help with getting the "grungy work done". :)

Which one is your regular architecture program? And what is the current method you use for transferring data?

- Michael

Pilou and Anis, I agree, SU is great but it is limited (so far) for producing formal architectural drawings with notes and dimensions etc all set out nicely on a page. Those drawings have to be very clear and to scale when they are finally printed. SU are developing that side but I think it has a way to go yet.

There are problems making line drawings from a 3d model. Like if I import a model from MoI as 3ds (ie polygon) my arch app does not have a "merge coplanar faces option" like SU does. So a cube will be made up of triangular faces which means in "hidden line" view, all the diagonals are showing. In a complex model that's a lot of lines to delete!

There is a way around this by going through and intermediate application but it takes time.

But the point here really is that MoI is a great tool for visualising arch problems in 3d.

Also for communication. The architect can pull out the MoI model on his laptop on site and in seconds the builder will get the idea exactly.

Hi Michael,

I think we just posted at the same time!

Some of your questions are answered above.

I use Cycas, which is a little known, independent dedicated architectural package. Used largely within the linux community I think, but also has an excellent windows version.

It can import DXF 3ds and GTS (which I am not familiar with but triangulated meshes).

So I use 3ds or dxf to transfer from MoI to Cycas. The Cycas has an excellent "hidden line" renderer which produces a 2d projection of a chosen view. Then I tidy up that 2d drawing for use in the final drawings.

I think if Cycas could import obj, the problem of extraneous lines could be solved.

EDIT: I don't use dxf to export, just 3ds!

Hi Steve, yeah I am not familiar with Cycas.

Do you know if they have any plans to support any additional formats in the future than 3DS or DXF?

Both of those formats are rather problematic for transferring mesh data - as you've seen 3DS only stores triangles in it. DXF can contain a variety of different kinds of entities, but the polygon mesh entity in DXF is also pretty limited, and can only store triangles or quads, also limited to only have up to 32768 faces in it if I remember right...

Maybe they might support SketchUp format in the future, I would imagine that with the focus on architecture they must get a lot of requests for that?

- Michael

< There is a way around this by going through and intermediate application but it takes time.
Yes the time to make "Select all" (all faces) and make one click! ;)
this plug erase all coplanar side on a surface
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/download/file.php?id=15975

Hi Michael

Their list of supported formats in growing. So maybe in the future...

As far as support for SU goes, because of the linux base, it's not high on their list!

32768 is an interesting number to remember:)