crazy homeless guy

Does anyone know if there is a way to export a FBX model out of Revit without it triangulating?

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travis schmiesing

Justin Hunt

not a direct answer but I did a head to head test with FBX from Revit and DWG from Revit, both into Max

FBX fell over and the mesh was a mess

DWG was nice and clean

FBX maybe the way to go in the future but until its sorted and we have the ability to File Link them I am sticking with DWG.

jhv

crazy homeless guy

Interesting. We finally upgraded to both Revit2009 and Max2009. I am trying to assemble a seamless work flow between the two. I was going to try and stick to FBX, but maybe I will drop back to DWG.

Other problems I am having is that FBX does not support layers, and I really like working with layers. I have a script that will take all the materials in a scene, and create layers, and drop the objects on those layers. It works ok, but Revit seems to be creating a lot of sub-object mats, so it isn't the cleanest either.

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travis schmiesing

Justin Hunt

On really basic models FBX works fine except there are issues with the mrsun system not coming across properly

On really complex models FBX just cant handle it, falls over. Whilst dwg is heavy in object count and the block headers are a pain in the behind its stable and clean.

There is talk the in future releases you will be able to link FBX files. Until then its an import. Which totaly flies in the face of the ablity to keep the Revit and Max files updated.

jhv

crazy homeless guy

I have heard them talk about future linking, and they even word their copy to suggest that it will be linked in the future. ...but they need to figure out a way to get everything off of layer 0. Right now when it comes in, everything is on layer 0.

I am working on a complex hospital project with lots of geometry, so maybe I should do DWG. Are you able to use proper FileLink(ing) between Revit and Max with DWG? Meaning, the you can update your Max model and not loose materials and such?

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travis schmiesing

Justin Hunt

As far as my experiments and experiences have been, Yes

Bear in mind that we like to re-texture in Max and keep Revit fairly generic to aid the Revit users not getting too tied up worring about visualisation. Cant have them having fun not can we

jhv

shaunph78

i tried this just today and found the fbx to be a mess with the triangulation. I reverted to a dwg export which came in alot cleaner.

I found a autocad whitepaper on the revit2009 to max2009 workflow from either here or another site and they have a way to "emulate the file link function" with fbx files. I'll just say it's a joke compared to really file linking.

i look forward to hearing from anyone having luck with the workflow they are saying is so much better in 2009

crazy homeless guy

Right now they recommend bringing the FBX into its own Max file, then Xref'ing the scene into the master Max file. That is their emulation solution.

In one of their presentations at the DMVC they said, or implied that in the future, FBX would be linkable. Hopefully they don't drop support for DWG linking when they do that.

I am going to spend some time working through a few things this week. Hopefully I will come up with somehting that is useable, because working with the files are a real pain, and slowing things down. I don't like it when software works slower than I do.

edit: Of course I have been saying that for a couple of weeks.

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travis schmiesing

daveb867

i have a script that hides triangulation, pm me if you would like it, i don't think it gets rid of all the triangulation but it certainly does a good job of making the geometry appear clean (helpfully when trying to select the correct edges

anyway get in touch if you would like the script

RyanSpaulding

New to Revit here...just going through my 1st bit of training (House Kit from CADclips)...this seems definitely the way to go in the future. So what are the drawbacks from exporting DWG's from Revit into Max? Is it just that if the revit model changes, you lose all materials and assignments? Can an exported DWG be edited in AutoCAD then? You could just mirror the adjustments in both progs then if they arent major...