IFC Workflow

[DavidWarta]

An customer of ours requests that we supply a IFC model of our machine. 

The IFC model must be in the correct position and have predefined components with metadata in a certain format.

In order to place it in the correct position we have received a IFC model of the building with the interface information we need. As we are in the early stages of the project there are almost weekly updates of this building.

One problem is that we model machinery in Inventor (2024.1) and are not familiar with Revit or BIM workflows.

My question would be what is the most robust, fast, easy way to get the IFC geometry into Inventor and export our machine to IFC with the correct metadata?

What I have tried is the following:

IFC importer plugin for Inventor 2024.1:

1.1 Import IFC file with a plugin called BIMDEX IFC Importer for Inventor.

1.2 Place our model in the correct position relative to the IFC model and export IFC from inventor. I did not manage to get the IFC metadata into our IFC export model.

Use Revit 2024.2 and Inventor 2024.1:

2.1 Open IFC model from customer in Revit. Save Revit file.

2.2 Import Revit file into Inventor. 

2.3 Problem here is several building components were missing after import.

3.1 Link IFC in Revit

3.2 Import Revit file into Inventor

3.3 same problem: several building components were missing after import and model updates take long time.

Does anyone have experience that they would like to share? Preferably with autodesk software as we have subscriptions for inventor and have tokens available for other autodesk software.

[pcrawley]

Q. "what is the most robust, fast, easy way to get the IFC geometry into Inventor"

A. Get yourself registered on the Autodesk Feedback and have a good look at what's happening with Inventor.

Since what you'll find is all under an NDA, don't post back here with your findings 😉

[DavidWarta]

Sounds like inventor and Revit are not the most optimal software solution for BIM models when IFC file format is involved.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! David,

We are working on IFC import workflow. As Peter mentioned here, please sign up Inventor Feedback Community and you will be able to try the workflow on the latest internal Inventor build in an install-free environment.

Many thanks!

[DavidWarta]

I have signed up and will have a look.

[DavidWarta]

I have had a look in the feedback section.

However what would be the best way using inventor 2024 and maybe Revit 2024 to supply ifc 2x3 or 4 with properties such as tags and status.

[Maxim-CADman77]

@DavidWarta 
I wonder if you managed to get Tag values on import IFC into Inventor?
I can't get it in neither in Inventor 2025 nor in 2026.

Moreover, I don't see Tags when open the IFC with Revit (even so BIMvision viewer shows Tags in the IFC itself).

[James_Willo · Accepted solution]

Hi, both IFC 2x3 and 4 can be imported in Inventor 2025 and later. You can also include all class and property information and view this data inside Inventor. 

I think the 'tag' would come under 'IfcIdentifier' 

Are you getting any properties at all?

If you can create a dummy dataset that shows this issue, please upload it. 

[Maxim-CADman77]

I wonder what do you mean with "You can also include all class and property information".
I should pick some special import settings (those marked at the picture)?

[James_Willo]

Yes, parameters includes the properties and custom props will also export these to your custom iproperty's for each part it creates.

You can view the properties by right clicking and choosing 'AEC Properties' or in later versions there's also an icon on the inspect ribbon. 

[Maxim-CADman77]

'Tag' property should go to 'AEC properties' (not to usual iProperties)?

UPDATE:
Yes - thank you so much - it is there!

[James_Willo]

The problem with bringing IFC into Inventor is that one is architectural and one is mechanical so they don't have the same places to store things. 

We had to store all the IFC properties in the Inventor Parameter window, but when you do a reference workflow there is no way to access the parameter window. So AEC Properties command is basically showing you the contents of the parameter window and you can keep clicking on different parts whilst the window is open to see properties for different items.