Convert AVEVA to STL in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read AVEVA files and write STL, carrying the mesh data across without re-tessellating it.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads AVEVA · Writes STL
- Triangle mesh → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
AVEVA to STL at a glance
Both formats store triangles, so the facets carry over without re-tessellation. The differences are in structure, appearance and metadata.
| AVEVA (source) | STL (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | AVEVA review model (E3D Design, PDMS) | Stereolithography |
| Standard / owner | AVEVA | Open format |
| File extensions | .rvm or .rvt, with .att, .attr, .dat or .txt attribute files | .stl |
| Geometry | Tessellated geometry | Triangle mesh |
| Assemblies / structure | Yes: plant hierarchy | No |
| 3D InterOp support | Read only | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from AVEVA to STL.
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Preserved
Mesh dataThe AVEVA facets are read and written to STL without being re-tessellated.
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Changes
Assembly structureSTL has no native assembly hierarchy. Decide in your application how AVEVA product structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
Why software vendors add AVEVA to STL conversion
Additive manufacturing
STL is still the input most slicers and print services expect. Writing it lets your users send parts to print directly.
Mesh-based processing
Inspection, scan comparison and mesh-editing tools work on triangles. A mesh output gives them a model they can open anywhere.
Lightweight sharing
A mesh is simpler than the native CAD file and needs no CAD system to open.
Things to check before you ship
- Supported AVEVA input: .rvm or .rvt files with their attribute files.
- The AVEVA .rvt extension isn’t a Revit file: don’t route it to the Revit reader.
- Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
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Source format
What is an AVEVA RVM file?
RVM files are review models exported from AVEVA E3D Design and PDMS, the plant and marine design systems. They describe the plant geometry and hierarchy, with attributes in a companion file.
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Target format
What is an STL file?
STL describes a 3D surface as a set of triangles, with no units, materials or assembly structure. Its simplicity makes it the usual input for 3D printing.
Frequently asked questions
No re-tessellation is needed. 3D InterOp reads the AVEVA facets as visualization data and writes them to STL.
STL has no assembly hierarchy, so your application decides how the AVEVA structure is grouped or flattened before writing.
No. STL stores triangles only, with no units, colors or textures. Agree on the unit with the application that reads the file; the 3D InterOp STL reader assumes millimeters.
No. The AVEVA .rvt extension isn’t a Revit file: route it to the AVEVA reader, with its attribute files.
3D InterOp reads .rvm or .rvt files with their attribute files, as visualization data.
No. 3D InterOp reads AVEVA but doesn’t write it. To send data back to AVEVA users, write a neutral format they can import.
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Building software that needs to convert AVEVA to STL?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read AVEVA and write STL alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.