Some ACIS objects could not be imported.

[Anonymous]

I have been vetting a workflow process regarding sketchup -> Formit -> Revit. I've tried alot of files Some internal, some from 3D Warehouse and other sites, with every file

I use the the Convert from SKP to Formit Button - then use the Formit to RVT button. I never get a clean import I always end up with the following error: 

Some ACIS objects could not be imported. To import them, use AutoCAD to convert them into polymesh objects and reimport.

I get a host of follow up errors about Rotating object into place,Mass will not be able to create floors and then i get stuck cycling between those 3 errors until I have to kill revit. I loaded up the journal file, but nothing jumped out at me other than it is cycling through each and every group Formit creates prior to import. 

Going from Sketchup to AutoCAD was kind of the old way to get anything into Revit. I was hoping to avoid AutoCAD all togther. Since i get the error with Large files, small files, personally created or downloaded files, I feel like I am using the tool incorrectly, or i'm not following the correct workflow. Either way - it would awesome if anyone else has run into this. 

Thank you! 

M

[Anonymous]

Hi Melissa - this is a great question and a great topic! Thanks for posting your workflow and questions here. Hopefully will chime in with their advice too...

You're right about a few things - the FormIt to Revit conversion does cycle through all the SketchUp / FormIt groups as it converts them to Revit families. That means you get a warning for each of those families. We've addressed this 'barrage' of warnings by muting them. That doesn't mean the errors aren't valid... just that you don't have to sit there and click OK through each one.

The reason for the ACIS errors (about mesh geometry, and inability to apply levels) is that the geometry is not a solid, watertight, form. This is a big problem with models from SketchUp (and potentially from FormIt too). There's a nice way to diagnose if this is the case from within FormIt. When you open FormIt on the web (or in iPad), find the settings menu, then the model diagnostics option, then choose display watertight issues (or DW keyboard shortcut).

This visual style will show in bright purple where you have stray edges, shared edges, un-connected geometry, interior faces, and other symptoms of non-manifold geometry that sets off the ACIS warning on Revit conversion (and can ruin 3d prints, etc...). You can clean these up yourself. There's an art to it. I can share some of my techniques if you're interested. But at the very least you can SEE the modeling inaccuracies!

There are some sweet (free) tools to 'clean up' some of these types of meshes - I'm not sure that these will help with your problem, as meshmixer usually consumes and outputs OBJ files - not sure about SKP, and I don't think FormIt AXM's work.

Here's a video about the manual clean up workflow in meshmixer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlgXiVMmoXk

and an instructables: http://www.instructables.com/id/Remixing-physical-objects-using-123D-Catch-Meshmi/step4/Clean-up-hol...

Thanks, and if you're interested you can direct message me some of the files you're having trouble with and I can review to offer advice.

Tobias