BIM and IFC import/export from 3d studio max

[chroma123]

Hi
I believe that 3ds max has limited possibilities for working with BIM data. However, I think Autodesk should embrace the thought that the future is happening in the architecture field now. I specifically want to import an IFC file that has a lot of BIM information attached to it, and also be able to export it back out to IFC keeping the data to it, for further use elsewhere in the production chain/office. What's the current status on this, Autodesk, and when is this going to be implemented? I can only hope for max 2018...

[chroma123]

I can't belive that this isn't a topic people are interested in? BIM modeling is the future in many fields as a part of the digitalization, and in just a matter of years it will be required to use IFC models in different settings in MAX, modifying properties or changing materials, objects or data, for then to export it back to IFC with the new content set in the BIM standard. Autodesk, where are you? Higher needs for good visuals and customer interactions, means that we need to have focus on being able to work with BIM with focus on eye candy as well.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @chroma123,

You raise some good points and the more I learn about BIM and IFC the more I see the potential.  My background is entertainment but this does seem to be an exciting new area of design and architecture.  My best suggestion for this is to get something up on the Feature Request board so that others can vote on it.  If you do and post the link here, I'll be your first vote.

Best Regards,

[chroma123]

While there are other suggestions on this idea board, none of them emphasizes the importance of full BIM-support all the way. Therefor I made a new idea suggestion here: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-ideas/seamless-support-for-bim-and-ifc-in-3d-studio-max/idi-p...

[Anonymous]

Did you find any solution? I am looking for same, at least i export IFC from the max ? I am looking for this

[hagen.deloss]

Hi @Anonymous

Thanks for posting in the 3DS Max forums! It looks like you got a fair amount of folks helping you in your other thread, @cbcarch and @Sahay_R sound like they have some experience in the filed.

Here is the documentation I found on importing 3DS Max models into Revit, sounds like you want to do the opposite, correct?

In 3DS Max Civil View, there is a tool called the Building Style Object Editor, maybe that tool can help you out!

Hope this information helps 😄

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[hagen.deloss]

@Anonymous

Any insights on my previous post?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

@hagen.deloss As i have mentioned, i want to export my max models into IFC file format. Yeah, you can import IFC in max but the reverse is not possible. What i am looking for, at least i export my max wall into revit with wall attribute (at least). Even if i use "the building stye object editor" it won't allow me to export IFC? isn't 

[hagen.deloss]

@Anonymous

I don't believe an IFC model can be exported from 3DS Max, the list of available file formats a model can be exported from 3DS Max can be found here.

Is an IFC file type the only one that will work for your project?

I have asked a colleague that does Revit support for a test file,  I can see if there is a filetype that will retain model attributes that is currently included within 3DS Max 😄

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[chroma123]

IFC with building information modeling (BIM)-data attached to it. That's the deal. No existing obscure dead format. We want the standard. Why is that so hard to understand? I guess one could get by the problem ok enough the first round by being able to enter the parameter names of the information one wish to extract (import) or plug in (export), or check/uncheck.

I wonder why it is taking so long, is it because Autodesk is falling behind?

It is just a matter of a new object type, couldn't be that hard to make for a company like autodesk. 

[dgorsman]

3DSMAX is primarily focused on visualization, not architectural (or even structural) design work. How it does this, the data and processes involved, isn't very compatible with the needs of technical design.  For example materials only have to look good, they don't have to have correct mass, density, or other physical properties.  It's more of an end-point program, used to create images and animations; when used for technical designs those are assumed to be completed in more appropriate software.  That's why there's ways to import and read from IFC and Revit but not directly create such content in the program.

Remember, there's a *lot* more uses of 3DSMAX which are not related to BIM, IFC format, or architectural/structural design.  Autodesk isn't "falling behind", it's just much lower priority than you would like.

[hagen.deloss · Accepted solution]

Hi @chroma123 and @Anonymous

Thanks for the additional information 😄

I would like to note that feature requests are best made on the 3DS Max Ideas board here. My job here on the forums is to help folks find workflows with the existing tools within 3DS Max, if either of you would like to make a feature request on the board, and link it back to this conversation, I'm sure folks reading would be more then happy to vote for it!

A more thorough explanation from @brentscannell "the way metadata is stored is different between max and revit, in Max..incoming revit metadata all gets tabulated in set of user-defined properties per object. Max doesn't use that data for anything natively."

Maybe AutoCAD Architecture would retain those types of object attributes, I can get back to you with a more concrete answer on that soon.

I hope this helps!

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[hagen.deloss]

Hi @Anonymous

I wanted to check in and link you to this article, I wonder if AutoCAD would be a good alternative to retain wall and ceiling attributes into Revit? 

It looks like AutoCAD import OBJ files, and maybe CAD has a more streamline way of setting those attributes! 

3DS Max isn't able to make, or retain those attributes, you can refer to my previous post outlining why.

Best of luck on the project, and have a happy holiday season 😄 

[chroma123]

Thanks for this reply.

I understand the thought about the difference between technical program and end-point programs like 3d studio max. But look at it this way, you're gonna take the bim info into 3d studio max, to visualize it in nice imagery. At the same time, taking it further into 3ds max interactive or unreal. For then perhaps to do changes with it according to customers need,  or whatever, and then take it back to 3d studio max to further visualize it, and maybe export the scene out to an ifc model again, to get an order list with all the correct product numbers for the retained bim objects within the scene.

Maybe revit should do all this for us in the future?

Maybe it's lack of standards in materials etc.

My point is, that in this age of digitalization, 3d studio max is no longer an end-point program, at least not in the architecture world. Programs like Twinmotion, (which uses unreal engine) does actually have a direct link to Bimobjects.com, and you can work forth and back from different technical suites. Maybe my problem here is that I feel 3d studio max is falling behind on this.

For an example, why not just make an implementation to bimobjects.com for 3d studio max? To get real manufacturers and real models straight into our visualization scenes. That would be enormous.

Here you go: https://developer.bimobject.com/

Generally, I feel Autodesk is leaving 3d studio max behind on the BIM arena. It's maybe as someone here said, just the way it is, unfortunately.