Missing Materials Importing FBX from Navisworks

[Owackenreuther]

I have generated 3D models in AutoCAD 2017 and assigned materials to the objects in the drawing files. When I run FBXEXPORT out of AutoCAD 2017 and then import the resulting FBX file in InfraWorks the materials show. However, I tried to export to FBX using Navisworks Manage 2017 and the materials do not appear in InfraWorks but the 3D objects do show. The version of InfraWorks that I'm using is v19.3.41.0.

How can I export to FBX using Navisworks Manage so that the materials show in InfraWorks?

[Karsten.Saenger · Accepted solution]

Hi @Owackenreuther ,

are you sure the materials are baked into the FBX mesh after it's exported from Navisworks?
You could upload the FBX file to the Autodesk Viewer and check if everything there or use a 3rd party application to load the FBX.
If you reload the FBX into Navsiworks and everything looks correct then it should also look correct in InfraWorks if:

• the same Navisworks and InfraWorks versions are in use
• and you select "local Navisworks Import" in the InfraWorks application options

Regards,
Karsten.

[Owackenreuther]

@Karsten.Saenger, thank you for your response. The same version of Navisworks and InfraWorks was required (v2019 in this case).

However, for Autodesk, I recommend that the Devs look into this. You should be able to export to FBX using an older version of Navisworks for material compatibility with InfraWorks. After all, the 3D objects show but the material does not. This is confusing and unconventional because of the partial compatibility.