Naviswork imports .dwfx file incorrectly? (QuickPEN, .dwfx, export from CAD)

[Anonymous]

I am working on a BIM project. I am exporting a 3-D .dwfx file from AutoCAD to Navisworks and when I bring the file in, the planes are rotated 90 degrees.

What I mean is if a pipe was running up and down while looking at plan, that same pipe has now been rotates 90 degree on it's side, so that pipe is not up and down while looking at it in elevation.

I have read a few things stating that this is a problem with the .dwfx file BUT no solutions?

I need to get QuickPEN piping exported to Navisworks to appear as a solid, which is why I am exporting to .dwfx

HELP ASAP!

[Anonymous]

when exporting as a .dwg into Navisworks, all alignments are correct.However do NOT appear as 3-D solids.

Using 2011 AutoCAD

Using 2011 Navisworks.

i DO NOT want to rotate it in Navisworks, MUST be brought into the model correctly for the start.

[john.lipp]

Hi tfisch86,

The problem of the DWF files being rotated 90 degrees about the X axis is a known issue in the software.  We hope to have this corrected in a future version of Navisworks.

The current workaround is to use File Units and Transform to re-orient the DWF.

1. Right-click the DWF in the Selection Tree and Select File Units and Transform

2. In the rotation panel enter -90 in the degree box

3. In the boxes that represent the x, y, z axes enter 1, 0, 0. 

This should rotate the model back 90 degrees about the x-axis and the DWF should then be oriented correctly. After saving to an NWF file, the setting will remain when you reopen the NWF, so you’ll only have to do this once for each DWF file you import. Please let me know if this solves the problem with your DWF file.

You stated that when opening the DWG file in Navisworks, the issue with the orientation doesn’t occur, but the items in the model are missing.  As the subject of this post states that you are using a QuickPen application installed over AutoCAD, this is likely an object enabler issue and/or a DWG loader year version.  Do you have the QuickPen application installed over AutoCAD 2010?  Is this application installed on the machine with Navisworks?

If this is the case, it may be the DWG loader version setting in the software.  Please try the following:

1. Open Navisworks

2. Open the options editor by selecting the Application Button and click the options button

3. Expand File Readers > DWG/DXF

4. Scroll down and change the DWG Loader Version to 2010.

5. Click OK. 

6. Restart Navisworks to have the change in the options take effect.

7.  Delete the NWC cache file that was created alongside the DWG file so that it isn’t re-read with missing object data.  The NWC file should have the same name as the DWG and reside in the same folder.

8. Open the DWG and check if the objects are no longer missing.


If you don’t have the QuickPen application installed on the same machine as Navisworks, you can install an object enabler for the Quickpen application for the Navisworks application to use:

PipeDesigner 3D Viewers
http://www.quickpen.com/index.php/PD3D™-Viewers/

Another alternative, rather than exporting to DWF or opening the DWG, is to export directly to a NWC Navisworks cache file from AutoCAD using the NWCOUT command in AutoCAD.  If you installed Navisworks after AutoCAD, the exporter plug-in should automatically be installed over AutoCAD. 

If this command isn’t recognized and Navisworks is installed, you can add the exporter through Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs by modifying the exporters installation and marking the version of AutoCAD in the list of plug-ins.

If Navisworks isn’t installed on the machine that is creating the model, you can download and install the NWC Exporter Utility for free to produce NWC files from AutoCAD: 
 - http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?id=13947462&siteID=123112


Best Regards,

 
John Lipp
Product Support Specialist
Autodesk Product Support

[cprice]

This rotation issue was reported a long time ago and yet it still exists in Navisworks 2013??  I thought it was a planned fix?  Its a pretty big issue to not support correct orientation with Autodesk's own file formats...

[cordsCG2HT]

I'm as surprised as the last person. I just spent few hours to figure out what's wrong. My consultant sent me NWD merged from DWF so first I blamed me when appending another model. Linking models is THE most basic task. I cannot believe all Autodesk products work together as a team nicely. 

[pheadpro]

Unfortunately the issue still exists in version 2015.  It seems that not enough noise has been made about this issue to get significant attention.  I would not be interested in the DWF file import if not for a desire to have hatched areas import for use in a QC survey.

The random rotation of the x,y,z plane on DWF files is an issue that should not exist.  As another AutoDesk product, the two should be compatible.

[Patrick_Aps_9121]

Problems with rotation can be "worked around" in the following way.
1) create a simple DWG file with one box
2) Append this in Navisworks, save as NWF
3) Appen your DWF. It could well be that the orientaton is correct if the file is appended not as the 1st file.

[pheadpro]

that does work. I tried it a few times. Also I have noticed that the issue is more probable if you have a NWF with DWG files appended, then add a DWF. When you start with the DWF, anything else appended is oriented correctly. It is a very disturbing aberrant behavior.
Good to have workarounds, but that is not a true solution.

[Patrick_Aps_9121]

I agree. I already asked for a setting in the options for each file reader to be able to select which direction is up (X, Y or Z). and for a navisworks template file that would make these settings in an nwf independent of the first model attached.

[pheadpro]

I agree.  it is just not acceptable that these two products view the orientation axis 90 degrees from each other, but only if certain conditions exist.  What I notice is that even with a blank Navisworks file sesssion the DWF appended will flip the viewcube on it's Top sometimes.  Most of the time a blank one will work fine, but sometimes even that won't help.

We need to all spread this issue around and make enough noise to get Autodesk to move on it.

[twellins]

2020 and this issue still appears in BIM360.  We are using 3D DWFx views for our site team as they are lighter than the published revit versions and more portable on devices. 

Still though, the Y is in the "Z" orientation.