High-Detail BIM Models: 3D Printing Directly from Your Building Information Models
From Digital Precision to Physical Craft
Imagine holding your Revit model in your hands — every façade, balcony, and skylight captured with millimeter precision.
At Fixie 3D, we turn Building Information Models (BIM) into high-detail physical architectural models, printed directly from your digital design data.
Whether you’re exporting from Revit, ArchiCAD, Rhino, or SketchUp, our team can take your STL or FBX files, repair them for print-readiness, and produce presentation-quality architectural 3D models with professional finishing and assembly.
Why Print Directly from Your BIM Model
Your BIM file isn’t just a 3D drawing — it’s the truest version of your project’s geometry, materials, and design intent. Printing from BIM ensures that every physical model reflects the precision of your digital workflow.
Key Benefits
Preserve design fidelity by printing directly from your BIM geometry without re-modelling.
Accelerate workflows and move from Revit to 3D print in days, not weeks.
Enhance design communication by giving clients and stakeholders a tangible model.
Iterate faster by producing study models, façade prototypes, or site mock-ups for design reviews and competitions.
From Revit to Ready-to-Print: File Preparation and Optimization
Exporting a BIM file to STL or FBX is only the first step. To produce print-ready geometry, each model needs careful mesh repair, scaling, and optimization.
That’s where Fixie 3D’s file fixers come in. Using advanced mesh-repair software such as Materialise Magics and Blender, our team ensures your files are ready for accurate, efficient SLA printing.
What We Do
File cleanup – remove redundant layers, furniture, and internal geometry to reduce print size.
Watertight mesh creation – repair holes, flipped normals, and non-manifold geometry.
Scale adjustment – prepare precise 1:100, 1:200, or 1:500 models based on your needs.
Structural optimization – reinforce fine elements such as mullions or railings for SLA printing stability.
Once the geometry is verified, it’s printed using industrial-grade SLA printers that achieve exceptional surface quality — perfect for architectural detail, conceptual massing, or site models.
Materials, Finishes, and Detailing
Our SLA 3D printing process delivers sharp detail and ultra-smooth finishes ideal for architecture.
Each printed model can be:
Sanded and primed for a seamless surface finish.
Painted to match real-world materials such as concrete, glass, steel, or timber.
Assembled and mounted on custom bases or modular site boards.
Our post-processing team applies the same care and craftsmanship as traditional model makers — combining digital precision with human artistry.
BIM vs. CAD for 3D Printing: What’s the Difference
While CAD models capture geometry, BIM models include data, context, and hierarchy.
This means when you print directly from BIM, your model represents the entire design logic — from building layers to façade systems.
Where CAD exports often need extensive simplification, BIM-based 3D printing preserves architectural proportions and spatial relationships with minimal manual adjustment.
Supported Software and File Formats
Software Export FormatIdeal UseRevit.STL, .FBXHigh-fidelity architectural modelsArchiCAD.STL, .OBJConcept or massing modelsRhino / Grasshopper.STL, .3DMParametric and complex façadesSketchUp.STLPresentation and site models
Our technicians optimize these exports to ensure watertight geometry, correct scales, and ideal surface continuity before printing begins.
Turnaround and Workflow
Upload your BIM export (.STL or .FBX) via our Start Project form.
We review your file, perform a geometry audit, and provide a custom quote.
Our file fixers optimize the model and begin high-resolution SLA printing.
Post-processing (painting, assembly, mounting) delivers a final, presentation-ready model.
Typical lead times:
Small models: 2–4 business days
Large or detailed models: 7–10 business days
Communicating Design Through Physical Models
3D printing from BIM is more than fabrication — it’s a design communication tool.
Physical models allow clients, planners, and stakeholders to grasp scale, proportion, and spatial flow instantly, often leading to faster approvals and deeper engagement.
Our modular “plug” system also supports interchangeable building phases — ideal for projects that evolve through design and planning stages.
Expert File Repair, Flawless Printing
Even the best BIM exports can contain issues like thin walls, unjoined geometry, or missing faces.
Fixie 3D’s file repair service ensures your models meet SLA printing standards and maintain structural integrity — preventing costly reprints and saving valuable project time.
Start Printing Your BIM Model Today
Bring your digital vision into the real world.
At Fixie 3D, we combine BIM precision, advanced SLA printing, and expert craftsmanship to create architectural models that inspire, communicate, and endure.
Upload your BIM export (STL or FBX) today — our file fixers will prepare, repair, and print your design with unmatched detail and presentation-ready finishing.
Start your project now at Fixie3D.com/start-project
FAQ
How do I export from Revit for 3D printing?
Use Revit’s “Export to STL” or “Export to FBX” tools. Ensure units are correct, simplify complex geometry, and let Fixie 3D handle file repair.
Can you print large site models?
Yes — our SLA printers can produce large parts (up to 750 × 750 × 550 mm), which we seamlessly assemble for larger site models.
Do you provide painted and mounted models?
Absolutely. We provide sanding, priming, painting, and full assembly for display-ready architectural models.
Is my design data secure?
Yes. We work under strict confidentiality and sign NDAs for all projects upon request.