Transfer files from one file format to another quickly and easily with the FBX Converter. This utility enables you to convert OBJ, DXF™, DAE, and 3DS files to or from multiple versions of the FBX format. New tools are now available with the FBX Converter 2012.1. You can view FBX animation files in real time with the FBX Viewer, explore and compare FBX file contents with the FBX Explorer, and manage animation takes with the FBX Take Manager.
Here is a quick video of me converting a OBJ to FBX using the above tool. In the video I also use the FBXIMPORT command to bring the FBX into AutoCAD. From there, you could save as DWG and bring into Revit:
PS – This still doesn’t quite solve the Mesh to Solid conversion problem … I am currently experimenting with MESHSMOOTH and CONVTOSOLID.
EDIT:
Here is a vid showing Revit to 3dsMax via FBX.
I am deeply interested in interoperability between form creation tools, as well as workflows that allow you to translate forms between these tools. Unfortunately, there is really no reliable way to bring forms from other tools into Revit and retain parametricism. They have to be imported into Revit as geometry that Revit ‘likes’ (smooth ACIS solids), and then the geometry needs to be re-created as vanilla, or native, Revit geometry.
However, the end result is a good one – because you are giving Revit What it Wants.
This post will look at the following main topics:
Translating geometry from Mesh to Solid
Rebuilding or re-creating the Solid as native Revit geometry
Going from Revit into Rhino via gb XML
Some plugins for Grasshopper
Mesh to Solid I am always on the lookout for ways to convert a mesh 3D form into a nice ACIS solid. From what I hear, Rhino / Grasshopper is the best way to do this.
Here are a couple of other methods: Automesher This is essentially an AutoCAD plugin that can translate polyface mesh forms to proper solids.
Geomagic I installed Geomagic Studio 2012 64 bit. It comes as a fully functional 30 day trial. This software does have various plugins to facilitate parametric data exchange – including one for Inventor. It can convert a mesh to polygons, and fill holes in a the object. It can also smooth faces.
You can convert an object to Points, and then Wrap the points in a new Mesh, use some Mesh tools to tidy it up etc. You can save as a 3DS or Open Inventor file…
From ACIS solid to genuine Revit Form Once you have a nice, smooth closed ACIS solid form, it is time to import into Revit.
Earlier this year, David Light provided an example on how to re-create a (relatively simple) form that was imported from Rhino. His method essentially involves:
Importing the geometry into a Conceptual Mass family
Divide surface of the imported geometry
Create a template of intersections on the U and V grid.
Going the other way – Revit into Rhino via gbXML Sometimes you may want to translate geometry from a Revit model and bring it into Rhino for analysis. The following quoted paragraph provides one method, and a plugin:
I wanted to streamline the process of transferring Revit geometry into Rhino and simplifying it for DIVA analysis. gbXML seemed like a good way to do that. So that being said, the plugin currently only uses a small portion of the gbXML schema to transfer basic geometry. I would be interested in feedback as I am sure there are bugs… You can download the plugin at the link below. Installation instructions and an example are included. http://www.hilojacobs.com/?page_id=464
Image sourced via http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum/topics/chameleon?xg_source=activity
Things you can do in Grasshopper with C# Grasshopper features an impressive amount of highly interlinked components – from lines to trees, from circles to graph editors. Sometimes, however, when design tasks become more advanced, we might need to further customize this plugin by directly borrowing from Rhino commands. With these scripting components, the user can quickly solve otherwise more complex design behaviors. This list of C# scripts is a work in progress and is open for requests.Supporting v. 0.8.2 and some previous versions.
Above paragraph via Giulio Piacentino
Image from http://www.giuliopiacentino.com/grasshopper-tools/
These are the latest Revit 2012 Files available for download. They are ready for use but the documentation is very out-of-date: Note: These are compiled with 64-bit Revit and Windows 7, and .NET 4.0. I’m not sure of the effect if you don’t have these. 2012-03-21 WhiteFeetMenuSetR2012.zip 2011-06-31 WhiteFeetMenuDocumentation R2012.zip You’ll need an addin file. Note that you need to edit the path in it to the location where you put the other files. (See installation instructions below.) WfRevitRibbonPanel2012AddIn.zip
Here is a link to a new blog by Tim Grimm. Each post features a new Revit add-in: some free, and some commercial. Check it out: Revit Add-Ons
I made a bit of a list of free Revit add-ins myself a while ago, but things change very quickly in the Revit development scene. Here is my old post: Free Revit add-ins, get your free Revit add-ins…
Here is a little gift to all my readers. The link below allows you to download a 2012 version RVT project that contains In-place and Component versions of families that are of the Category ‘Stairs’ and ‘Railings’. Download link
Revit does not allow this to happen out-of-the-box, so you can be sure that this hack is not best practice, and it won’t be supported by Autodesk. Use at your own risk!
Having said that, if you know what you are doing, these families could be quite useful to you.
This post looks at the post-processing side of the energy modeling workflow. Often, a spreadsheet tool like Excel is a first choice for many analysis tasks. This is great for simple cases, but if the number of files or the amount of data is large or complex, Excel will cost you time and lead to errors. This is where you should turn to Python!
We are delighted to confirm that following six months of investigation, development, consultation and investment; the National BIM Library will be launched at Ecobuild, 20-22 March 2012. The National BIM Library, from NBS, is a platform-neutral free to use library of high quality generic and proprietary BIM objects, designed for use in the UK. The library will be revealed on the joint RIBA / NBS stand at Ecobuild (Stands S1630 and S1640) with the first batch of generic BIM objects in IFC, plus native formats from some of the leading CAD software vendors. The library will build up to become the leading source of free-to-use BIM objects, and over time will also incorporate proprietary manufacturer objects.
