Tutorial - 3D models

info

Level: Intermediate
Time: 30 min

Prerequisites:

You have an account and completed the installation process. No account? Get one here
You have some experience with reading Python code

Introduction

As a designer or engineer, creating 3D models is an essential part of your work. 3D models can help you visualize and communicate complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand. In this tutorial, we will explore how to create 3D models in VIKTOR using Python.

By the end of this tutorial, you will have the skills and knowledge needed to create your own 3D models in VIKTOR using Python. We will start with simple shapes and gradually work our way up to more complex models. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced designer, this tutorial will provide you with a solid foundation in 3D modeling with VIKTOR.

This tutorial consists of six different sections:

To give you an idea of what you will be creating, here's a GIF of the application you will me making throughout this tutorial:

What the app looks like once you complete this tutorial

Need help?

Are you encountering an error? Take a look at the complete app code.

Also know that you can always ask for help at our Community Forum, where our developers are ready to help with any question related to the installation, coding and more.

1. Create, install and start an empty app

Let's create, install and start an empty app. This will be the starting point for the rest of the tutorial. But before we start, make sure to shut down any app that is running (like the demo app) by closing the command-line shell (for example Powershell) or end the process using Ctrl + C.

Follow these steps to create, install and start an empty app:

Go to the App store in your VIKTOR environment to create a new app. After clicking 'Create app' choose the option 'Create blank app' and enter a name and description of your choice. Submit the form by clicking 'Create and setup'.

Select 'Editor' as app type and click 'Next'.
Now follow the instructions to run the quickstart command to download the empty app template. After entering the command click 'I have run the command' to continue. The CLI will ask you to select your code editor of choice. Use the arrows and press enter to select a code editor. The app will now open in your code editor of choice.

If all went well, your empty app is installed and connected to your development workspace. Do not close the terminal as this will break the connection with your app. The terminal in your code editor should show something like this:

INFO     : Connecting to platform...
INFO     : Connection is established: https://cloud.viktor.ai  <---- here you can see your app
INFO     : The connection can be closed using Ctrl+C
INFO     : App is ready

Re-starting your app

You only need create an app template and install it once for each new app you want to make.
The app will update automatically once you start adding code in app.py, as long as you don't close the terminal or your code editor.
Did you close your code editor? Use viktor-cli start to start the app again. No need to install, clear, etc.

Did you encounter any errors?

Always make sure to check the spelling of everything you placed in the command-line, a small mistake and the command you are trying to run may not be recognised!
If you are encountering:
```
ERROR:
  Exiting because of an error: no requirements.txt file
PS C:\Users\<username>\viktor-apps>
```
Then you are not in the correct folder! check the command-line and navigate to the 3D-model-tutorial folder.

If you are encountering:

Error: App definition is not compatible with the data currently stored in the database. Use the command 'viktor-cli clear' to clear the database.
PS C:\Users\<username>\viktor-apps\3D-model-tutorial>

That means you have not cleared the database yet! Use the viktor-cli clear to clear and then you can use viktor-cli start to start the app. No need to install it again!

Not seeing any of these errors? Head over to our community! There is a good chance another developer encountered it and solved it too!

2. Set up the basis

In this tutorial we will make a 3D model. In this example case you will be modelling a bridge including a simplified version of the river running underneath it, the sloped embankment on the side of the river and the supports underneath the bridge. 🌉

Let's start easy and create a simple bridge deck and a river running underneath it, and some input fields to change the dimensions.

Input fields

We will add 4 inputfields to define the dimensions of our bridge, our app: length, width, height and deck_thickness. We will use a Numberfield, for each.

Open app.py, and add the relevant fields to your parametrization. It is always good to give people some context using Text elements. Don't forget to import the necessary fields. In the end your app.py file should look like this:

import viktor as vkt


class Parametrization(vkt.Parametrization):
    intro = vkt.Text("# 3D model app 🌉\n This app parametrically generates and visualises a 3D model of a bridge")

    txt_deck = vkt.Text('### Deck layout  ')  # texts can be used for explanation in the user-interface
    length = vkt.NumberField("Deck length", min=6, default=100, suffix='m')
    width = vkt.NumberField("Deck width", min=2, default=20, suffix='m')
    deck_thickness = vkt.NumberField("Deck thickness", min=0.5, default=1, suffix='m')
    height = vkt.NumberField("Bridge height", min=2, default=10, suffix='m')

class Controller(vkt.Controller):
    parametrization = Parametrization

Refresh your app, and you should see the input fields there.

Basic set up & the river

We don’t need a bridge if there is no river. So, let’s start with making the river step by step and set up the basis for the next parts, so we can explain some concepts.

We want to show a 3D model, so we will create a GeometryView inside your controller like this:

class Controller(vkt.Controller):
    parametrization = Parametrization

    @vkt.GeometryView("3D", x_axis_to_right=True)
    def visualize_bridge(self, params, **kwargs):

        return vkt.GeometryResult(geometry_group)

Inside visualize_bridge, we'll create a empty Group to store all elements we want to show:
```
# Create an empty group to hold all the geometry
geometry_group = vkt.Group([])
```

Now we'll define the measurements of the river and bridge's surroundings. We don’t want to make new input field for that, so we will just use the bridge measurements for this. Inside visualize_bridge:

# Measurements environment
env_width = params.length
env_thick = params.deck_thickness                   # Thickness of water and embankment
water_width = params.length - 2 * params.height     # Assuming embankment at 45 deg

Then, create a Material so we can make the water blue, and let's make it a bit transparent. Inside visualize_bridge:
```
# Create materials
mat_water = vkt.Material('Water', color=vkt.Color.blue(), opacity=0.7)
```
Next, create the water by drawing a box is using SquareBeam and add it to the Group we made before. Inside visualize_bridge add:
```
# Draw water
water = vkt.SquareBeam(water_width, env_width, env_thick, material=mat_water)
```
The last step is return the geometry, so it is visualized:
```
geometry_group.add([water])
```
Update your app, and you will see the river

All code until now

Click here to see all code until now

import viktor as vkt


class Parametrization(vkt.Parametrization):
    intro = vkt.Text("# 3D model app 🌉\n This app parametrically generates and visualises a 3D model of a bridge")

    txt_deck = vkt.Text('### Deck layout  ')  # texts can be used for explanation in the user-interface
    length = vkt.NumberField("Deck length", min=6, default=100, suffix='m')
    width = vkt.NumberField("Deck width", min=2, default=20, suffix='m')
    deck_thickness = vkt.NumberField("Deck thickness", min=0.5, default=1, suffix='m')
    height = vkt.NumberField("Bridge height", min=2, default=10, suffix='m')

class Controller(vkt.Controller):
    parametrization = Parametrization

    @vkt.GeometryView("3D", x_axis_to_right=True)
    def visualize_bridge(self, params, **kwargs):

        # Create an empty group to hold all the geometry
        geometry_group = vkt.Group([])

        # Measurements environment
        env_width = params.length
        env_thick = params.deck_thickness                   # Thickness of water and embankment
        water_width = params.length - 2 * params.height     # Assuming embankment at 45 deg

        # Create materials
        mat_water = vkt.Material('Water', color=vkt.Color.blue(), opacity=0.7)

        # Draw water
        water = vkt.SquareBeam(water_width, env_width, env_thick, material=mat_water)
        geometry_group.add([water])

        return vkt.GeometryResult(geometry_group)

3. Drawing the bridge deck

Now that we have the basis for drawing our 3D models, and a beautiful river 😉, we can quickly create the bridge:

Adding the deck

We'll create the bridge inside the GeometryView, like we did before.

Create the deck, using the SquareBeam function as well, and give the deck a width, length and thickness.
```
deck = vkt.SquareBeam(params.length, params.width, params.deck_thickness)
```
SquareBeam creates a box with its centre at the origin (0, 0, 0). In order to move the deck to the correct position let's use translate
```
deck.translate((0, 0, params.height))
```
Now we will create the deck top, you can interpret this top as the asphalt layer of the bridge. But first, let's define a new material. This time we'll define the Color using RGB values:
```
mat_deck_top = vkt.Material('Deck top', color=vkt.Color(60, 60, 60))
```

Again, use SquareBeam and translate it in the z-direction:

deck_top = vkt.SquareBeam(params.length, params.width, params.deck_thickness / 4, material=mat_deck_top)
deck_top.translate((0, 0, params.height + 5/8*params.deck_thickness))

Add the created elements to the geometry Group so they get visualized:
```
geometry_group.add([deck, deck_top])
```
Refresh your application, you should see the water and the bridge in 3D view.

5. Adding supports

That's a really beautiful bridge, but something feels wrong, it looks like the bridge is flying, so we are now going to generate some supports for it, parametrically of course.

The plan

Before going into the code, let's discuss the plan. We will make a V-shaped support and place it on several locations according to a 'grid', as shown here:

Input fields

With that said, let's jump into the code.

We will add 2 input fields to our app: support_amount, support_piles_amount. These inputs will define how many supports we want. Inside the parametrization class add the following three lines of code:

 txt_support = vkt.Text('### Support layout', flex=100)
 support_amount = vkt.NumberField("Number of supports", default=2, min=1)
 support_piles_amount = vkt.NumberField("Number of piles per support", min=2, default=3)

Refresh your app and you should see the new input fields.

Create one support

Next let's make the bridge supports. The supports each consist of two columns in a V-formation placed on a support box. As before, we will draw the different element inside the GeometryView

Inside your GeometryView before the return, we will define the pile diameter and the grid size. Note that we did not create an input field to define the diameter (but feel free), so we will make it equal to ½ of the deck thickness:
```
pile_diameter = params.deck_thickness / 2
grid_size_x = water_width / params.support_amount
grid_size_y = (params.width - pile_diameter) / (params.support_piles_amount - 1)
```

Draw one column and use mirror_object to get the V-shape. We draw the column by extruding a circle along a line using CircularExtrusion:

# Draw columns

top_point = vkt.Point(-grid_size_x/2, 0, params.height)
bottom_point = vkt.Point(0, 0, 0)
column_line = vkt.Line(top_point, bottom_point)

column_1 = vkt.CircularExtrusion(pile_diameter, column_line)
column_2 = vkt.geometry.mirror_object(column_1, vkt.Point(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0))

Let's now add the box at the base to complete our support:

# Draw base

column_base = vkt.SquareBeam(3 * pile_diameter, pile_diameter, 2*pile_diameter)

For the next step, it is convenient to put the 3 elements we just made in a new Group:
```
support = vkt.Group([column_1, column_2, column_base])
```
Let's see our progress by temporarily adding the support to our geometry_group and updating your app:
```
geometry_group.add([support])
```
Before continuing, eliminate the line of code we added in the last step.

Repeating the supports

We will now use the support we draw in the last section and repeat it according to our grid. As before, we will continue to work inside our GeometryView.

Improve the speed of your app

When we hear repeating, our Python minds immediately think in a for loop. But in VIKTOR, we do not use a for loop for making repetitive geometries. This will make you app unnecessary slow. For this Pattern, LinearPattern, and BidirectionalPattern are better suited. This can reduce the loading time from minutes to seconds in larger models.

First, place the support in the corner of the grid using translate:

support.translate((-water_width/2 + grid_size_x/2, -params.width/2 + pile_diameter/2, 0))

Now, we will copy the support using BidirectionalPattern. While this may seem like a difficult function at first, the implementation is surprisingly easy:

all_supports = vkt.BidirectionalPattern(
   base_object=support,
   direction_1=[1, 0, 0],
   direction_2=[0, 1, 0],
   number_of_elements_1=params.support_amount,
   number_of_elements_2=params.support_piles_amount,
   spacing_1=grid_size_x,
   spacing_2=grid_size_y
)

Let's add all_supports to geometry_group so we visualize them

# Adding geometry group to geometry result
geometry_group.add(all_supports)

Refresh your app, and look how amazing your bridge is looking!

All code until now

Click here to see all code until now

import viktor as vkt


class Parametrization(vkt.Parametrization):
    intro = vkt.Text("# 3D model app 🌉\n This app parametrically generates and visualises a 3D model of a bridge")

    txt_deck = vkt.Text('### Deck layout  ')  # texts can be used for explanation in the user-interface
    length = vkt.NumberField("Deck length", min=6, default=100, suffix='m')
    width = vkt.NumberField("Deck width", min=2, default=20, suffix='m')
    deck_thickness = vkt.NumberField("Deck thickness", min=0.5, default=1, suffix='m')
    height = vkt.NumberField("Bridge height", min=2, default=10, suffix='m')

    txt_support = vkt.Text('### Support layout', flex=100)
    support_amount = vkt.NumberField("Number of supports", default=2, min=1)
    support_piles_amount = vkt.NumberField("Number of piles per support", min=2, default=3)

class Controller(vkt.Controller):
    parametrization = Parametrization

    @vkt.GeometryView("3D", x_axis_to_right=True)
    def visualize_bridge(self, params, **kwargs):

        # Create an empty group to hold all the geometry
        geometry_group = vkt.Group([])

        # ===============================
        # Draw Environment
        # ===============================
        
        # Measurements environment
        env_width = params.length
        env_thick = params.deck_thickness                   # Thickness of water and embankment
        water_width = params.length - 2 * params.height     # Assuming embankment at 45 deg

        # Create materials
        mat_water = vkt.Material('Water', color=vkt.Color.blue(), opacity=0.7)
        mat_deck_top = vkt.Material('Deck top', color=vkt.Color(60, 60, 60))

        # Draw water
        water = vkt.SquareBeam(water_width, env_width, env_thick, material=mat_water)
        geometry_group.add([water])

        # ===============================
        # Create Bridge
        # ===============================

        # Draw deck

        deck = vkt.SquareBeam(params.length, params.width, params.deck_thickness)
        deck.translate((0, 0, params.height))

        deck_top = vkt.SquareBeam(params.length, params.width, params.deck_thickness / 4, material=mat_deck_top)
        deck_top.translate((0, 0, params.height + 5/8*params.deck_thickness))

        geometry_group.add([deck, deck_top])

        # Define grid

        pile_diameter = params.deck_thickness / 2
        grid_size_x = water_width / params.support_amount
        grid_size_y = (params.width - pile_diameter) / (params.support_piles_amount - 1)

        # Draw columns

        top_point = vkt.Point(-grid_size_x/2, 0, params.height)
        bottom_point = vkt.Point(0, 0, 0)
        column_line = vkt.Line(top_point, bottom_point)

        column_1 = vkt.CircularExtrusion(pile_diameter, column_line)
        column_2 = vkt.geometry.mirror_object(column_1, vkt.Point(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0))

        # Draw base

        column_base = vkt.SquareBeam(3 * pile_diameter, pile_diameter, 2*pile_diameter)

         # Pattern supports
         
        support = vkt.Group([column_1, column_2, column_base])
        support.translate((-water_width/2 + grid_size_x/2, -params.width/2 + pile_diameter/2, 0))

        all_supports = vkt.BidirectionalPattern(
            base_object=support,
            direction_1=[1, 0, 0],
            direction_2=[0, 1, 0],
            number_of_elements_1=params.support_amount,
            number_of_elements_2=params.support_piles_amount,
            spacing_1=grid_size_x,
            spacing_2=grid_size_y
        )

        # Adding geometry group to geometry result
        geometry_group.add(all_supports)

        return vkt.GeometryResult(geometry_group)

5. The finishing touches

You already made an amazing parametric bridge and learned the basics of creating 3D models in VIKTOR. In this chapter we just want to show you some little extras that can be useful during your app development journey.

Drawing the embankment

We already learned that you can move things using translate. This is because everything you draw is a TransformableObject. Besides translate you can also use other transformations, like rotate, mirror and scale. Let’s give this a try drawing the embankments.

In your GeometryView, let's add a new Material:

mat_grass = vkt.Material('Grass', color=vkt.Color.green())

Then, we will create, rotate, and translate the embankment, and make a copy of it :

# Draw embankment (assuming embankment at 45 deg)

embankment_1 = vkt.SquareBeam(1.4 * params.height, env_width, env_thick, material=mat_grass)
embankment_1.rotate(-math.pi / 4, direction=[0, 1, 0])
embankment_1.translate(((water_width+params.height)/2, 0, params.height/2))
embankment_2 = vkt.geometry.mirror_object(embankment_1, vkt.Point(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0))

As allways, add the objects to geometry_group:

geometry_group.add([embankment_1, embankment_2])

Don't forget to import:
```
import math
```
Reload you app and see what happened

A colorful bridge

Until now, we did not give the bridge a color, which by is shown grey by default. We already learned that you can make a Material and give it a Color, but did you know that we can ask the user to give it a color too? To demonstrate this, let’s:

Create an ColorField:

bridge_color = vkt.ColorField('Bridge Color', default=vkt.Color(200, 200, 200))

Create a material

mat_bridge = vkt.Material('Bridge', color=params.bridge_color)

Assign this material to any (or all) of deck, column_1 and column_base. By adding material=mat_bridge to the SquareBeam and CircularExtrusion functions that generate these elements.
Reload and play with you app

Complete app code

Were you able to do everything in this tutorial without error? If not, you can always look at the full code:

Complete code

import viktor as vkt
import math


class Parametrization(vkt.Parametrization):
    intro = vkt.Text("# 3D model app 🌉\n This app parametrically generates and visualises a 3D model of a bridge")

    txt_deck = vkt.Text('### Deck layout  ')  # texts can be used for explanation in the user-interface
    length = vkt.NumberField("Deck length", min=6, default=100, suffix='m')
    width = vkt.NumberField("Deck width", min=2, default=20, suffix='m')
    deck_thickness = vkt.NumberField("Deck thickness", min=0.5, default=1, suffix='m')
    height = vkt.NumberField("Bridge height", min=2, default=10, suffix='m')

    txt_support = vkt.Text('### Support layout', flex=100)
    support_amount = vkt.NumberField("Number of supports", default=2, min=1)
    support_piles_amount = vkt.NumberField("Number of piles per support", min=2, default=3)
    bridge_color = vkt.ColorField('Bridge Color', default=vkt.Color(200, 200, 200))


class Controller(vkt.Controller):
    parametrization = Parametrization

    @vkt.GeometryView("3D", x_axis_to_right=True)
    def visualize_bridge(self, params, **kwargs):

        # Create an empty group to hold all the geometry
        geometry_group = vkt.Group([])

        # Measurements environment
        env_width = params.length
        env_thick = params.deck_thickness                   # Thickness of water and embankment
        water_width = params.length - 2 * params.height     # Assuming embankment at 45 deg

        # Create materials
        mat_water = vkt.Material('Water', color=vkt.Color.blue(), opacity=0.7)
        mat_deck_top = vkt.Material('Deck top', color=vkt.Color(60, 60, 60))
        mat_grass = vkt.Material('Grass', color=vkt.Color.green())
        mat_bridge = vkt.Material('Bridge', color=params.bridge_color)

        # ===============================
        # Draw environment
        # ===============================
        
        # Draw water
        water = vkt.SquareBeam(water_width, env_width, env_thick, material=mat_water)
        geometry_group.add([water])

        # Draw embankment (at 45 deg)

        embankment_1 = vkt.SquareBeam(1.4 * params.height, env_width, env_thick, material=mat_grass)
        embankment_1.rotate(-math.pi / 4, direction=[0, 1, 0])
        embankment_1.translate(((water_width+params.height)/2, 0, params.height/2))
        embankment_2 = vkt.geometry.mirror_object(embankment_1, vkt.Point(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0))

        # Add created geometries to geometry group
        geometry_group.add([embankment_1, embankment_2])

        # ===============================
        # Create Bridge
        # ===============================

        # Draw deck

        deck = vkt.SquareBeam(params.length, params.width, params.deck_thickness, material=mat_bridge)
        deck.translate((0, 0, params.height))

        deck_top = vkt.SquareBeam(params.length, params.width, params.deck_thickness / 4, material=mat_deck_top)
        deck_top.translate((0, 0, params.height + 5/8*params.deck_thickness))

        geometry_group.add([deck, deck_top])

        # Define grid

        pile_diameter = params.deck_thickness / 2
        grid_size_x = water_width / params.support_amount
        grid_size_y = (params.width - pile_diameter) / (params.support_piles_amount - 1)

        # Draw columns

        top_point = vkt.Point(-grid_size_x/2, 0, params.height)
        bottom_point = vkt.Point(0, 0, 0)
        column_line = vkt.Line(top_point, bottom_point)

        column_1 = vkt.CircularExtrusion(pile_diameter, column_line, material=mat_bridge)
        column_2 = vkt.geometry.mirror_object(column_1, vkt.Point(0, 0, 0), (1, 0, 0))

        # Draw base

        column_base = vkt.SquareBeam(3 * pile_diameter, pile_diameter, 2*pile_diameter, material=mat_bridge)

        support = vkt.Group([column_1, column_2, column_base])
        support.translate((-water_width/2 + grid_size_x/2, -params.width/2 + pile_diameter/2, 0))

        all_supports = vkt.BidirectionalPattern(
            base_object=support,
            direction_1=[1, 0, 0],
            direction_2=[0, 1, 0],
            number_of_elements_1=params.support_amount,
            number_of_elements_2=params.support_piles_amount,
            spacing_1=grid_size_x,
            spacing_2=grid_size_y
        )

        # Adding geometry group to geometry result
        geometry_group.add(all_supports)

        return vkt.GeometryResult(geometry_group)

Want to learn how VIKTOR works?

If you are interested in how VIKTOR works behind the scenes, for example how it processes your input, expand the tabs below!

How does it work?

How does the Parametrization work?

In the Parameterization class you can add input fields that allow the user to provide input to your app, and there are more than 20 different input fields you can use, including numbers, text, colors, images and files.

Inside the Parametrization class, you can also format the layout of your app by adding sections, tabs, steps and pages.

To show your Parametrization in the app, we need to add the line parametrization = Parametrization inside the Controller class, because it is the controller that determines what is shown and not.

How does the Parametrization get saved?

So you may be wondering, how do you get the information from the parametrization to my controller? Well, we do this automatically for you. The values of all parameters are stored in a single variable called params , which is accessible inside the Controller class.

These variables are stored in a Munch; this is similar to a dictionary, but work with point denotation.

Example:

Let's say we have a variable called height as a NumberField in our Parameterization.
To use it in a method in the Controller, define it as: def my_method(self, params, **kwargs)
You can now make calculations inside that method using our height parameter as params.height!

How does the Controller work?

The Controller class is the place where you add everything you want to calculate and show.

As explained in this tutorial, we show results in a View and we always add views in our controller. You can even add several views in a single app by adding them to the controller class... and yes, we have many Views,for showing graphs, maps, 3D models, reports, images and more.

In the Controller, you also do or call your calculation. Remember that the user input given in the parametrization, is accessible inside the Controller class in the variable The params.

To infinity and beyond!

Well done! You are now able to create an app that can parametrically design a 3D model which includes rectangular as well as circular extrusions with mirror, rotate and pattern possibilities!

Obviously there is way more to discover about VIKTOR and its 3D modelling capabilities. Check those out in our documentation

Finally, the journey doesn't end here. Check out some of our other tutorials or go to the next section where you can see the different paths you can follow in your journey to learn more about VIKTOR.

Introduction​

1. Create, install and start an empty app​

2. Set up the basis​

Input fields​

Basic set up & the river​

All code until now​

3. Drawing the bridge deck​

Adding the deck​

5. Adding supports​

The plan​

Input fields​

Create one support​

Repeating the supports​

All code until now​

5. The finishing touches​

Drawing the embankment​

A colorful bridge​

Complete app code​

Want to learn how VIKTOR works?​

How does it work?​

To infinity and beyond!​

Introduction

1. Create, install and start an empty app

2. Set up the basis

Input fields

Basic set up & the river

All code until now

3. Drawing the bridge deck

Adding the deck

5. Adding supports

The plan

Input fields

Create one support

Repeating the supports

All code until now

5. The finishing touches

Drawing the embankment

A colorful bridge

Complete app code

Want to learn how VIKTOR works?

How does it work?

To infinity and beyond!