Hi everyone,
I’m currently facing a challenge with converting a large number of 3D models from SketchUp to native Revit families as part of a project to adopt BIM methodology. Our client has provided nearly 300 models, primarily in DWG and OBJ formats, and we need to convert these into Revit native families.
I’ve used the Helix Plugin to import these models into Revit, which results in nested families. However, when I open these families, the models are still in DWG or OBJ format, which limits our ability to edit them natively in Revit. We need to convert these imported models into fully native Revit elements to make them more functional and editable, especially for formwork design.
To automate this process, I want to use Dynamo, but I’m encountering difficulties in converting these imported geometries into native Revit elements.
Has anyone dealt with a similar situation or can provide a workflow or tips for automating the conversion of 3D DWG/OBJ models into native Revit families using Dynamo or any other method? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Can you define ‘native Revit families’? It will be tough to make editable form if that is what you are after, as the OBJ format doesn’t have any geometry definition instead storing just the end state, and the DWG format likely don’t have the the information defining the solid either (doubly so if the source is a non-native tool).
A native Revit family refers to a parametric model component within Autodesk Revit that can be created, modified, and reused in different projects.
I already extract the vertices from the OBJ and the last image is what I got. I now I need to recreate the family but im using this vertices and points to create a new one native family automatizated.
This is a massive task as the number of edge cases forcing ‘if’ statements will likely exceed 1gb worth of Python. So…
I do not recommend this path.
If you do try it, start with the topology not . Look for loops of faces and the angle of the adjacent faces therefrom.
Alternatively you could look into converting them into adaptive components as they are, using the vertexes and faces of the obj to create geometry which will eventually form the solid via tesselation. These are Revit native and can be edited by any user by opening the file and adjusting the location of a vertex as desired. Parametric controls could be added manually by applying constraints to the various vertexes of the form, however I would not make these automatically as the very definition will make doing so as complex as the native form method I advise against.
The best bet overall is to inform your customer that ‘native form’ isn’t attainable with the content provided, and that either their best option going forward is building the files natively (start from scratch) or driving the family creation by extracting the form creation using the original application’s API (note that in the case of sketchup this isn’t possible as the native format is edited meshes, which Revit doesn’t allow in native rfa formats).
Thanks @jacob.small , Just learn something new today. We might take the “start from scratch task” Regards from Guatemala
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Good luck with whichever way you go!
Having been down this road many times, it is definitely the right thing to do.
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