Is there any way that RVT files are compatible with FlexSim to import 3D models?

[natalia_m3]

[ FlexSim 18.2.0 ]

Hi all,

I know that the formats compatible with both software are the FBX to do the direct import, without any other program,¿Is that so?, because the other options that I've been looking for are to convert RVT files to Sketchup or 3dsMax to make them compatible with FlexSim.

[philboboADSK · Accepted solution]

Yes, your best option is to convert the file to FBX.

You can use Autodesk Revit or 3ds Max to convert a RVT file (Revit's native file format) to FBX (Autodesk's interchange format).

[raul_vazquez]

Hello Bob,

Do you know what kind of setup need to include when we export from Revit to Fbx file , right now we are loosing properties(color,texture...etc) and we only import a "gray shape" once we import to flexsim.

Thanks a lot for your kindness.

[philboboADSK]

That's a Revit question, not a FlexSim question. FlexSim reads whatever is in the file. If Revit isn't exporting certain data into the file, there's not much we can do about that. You've just got to figure out what settings (if any) you can change within Revit so that it exports the data correctly.

You can use software like Open 3D Model Viewer to see what data is in the file itself, such as the mesh hierarchy, names, colors, texture paths, etc.

[philboboADSK]

I searched the internet to try to learn more about this issue. It appears that the fbx export in Revit 2011 and later stores the material definitions in an encrypted format that can only be read by 3ds Max.

FBX export and materials (or lack thereof), 2011 and later (www.revitforum.org)

Material Assets and FBX (thebuildingcoder.typepad.com)

FBX Import loose textures (forum.lumion.com)

The Autodesk Revit documentation for their fbx export explain the steps for preparing the file for export and then exporting the file into 3ds Max.

Export to FBX (knowledge.autodesk.com)

From 3ds Max, you can fix the materials and convert the scene into a format that can be read by other applications, such as FlexSim:

How to export a model with textures from Revit to Unity via 3ds Max 2019 (knowledge.autodesk.com)

Revit to Unity With Materials (www.bimwerx.nz)