DWG export: Creating Blocks out of each top level Components?

[Haider_of_Sweden]

I am not so happy with the Revit exporter, so I wonder if it is doable to export to a DWG but turn all top-level components into blocks when exporting to DWG

[mat_hijs]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that if you import the Inventor assembly in AutoCAD it will turn every component into a block, keeping the hierarchy. So if you explode the top level assembly once this might give you the desired result.

[Haider_of_Sweden]

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@mat_hijs wrote:

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that if you import the Inventor assembly in AutoCAD it will turn every component into a block, keeping the hierarchy. So if you explode the top level assembly once this might give you the desired result.

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It didn't. Can you please make sure this is the way it should work?

Have a look - this is an Inventor project

This is how the exported DWG looks like, it didn't become a block

Should the Inventor structure be in a different way, so that the outcome would've become blocks?

[Haider_of_Sweden]

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@mat_hijs wrote:

... if you import the Inventor assembly in AutoCAD ...

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I didn't know AutoCAD supported import. Thanks for pointing this out.

This is a good thing to know, but my initial goal isn't AutoCAD, even though DWG has been mentioned. The end destination is Revit, and this is why I am trying to limit the steps and amount of involved programs.

Fusion has a feature that if you have your Bodies inside a Component, then the Components will turn into Blocks.

Is there any equivalent way in Inventor? Keep in mind, I need the files exported as DWGs.

[mat_hijs]

I just tested this and if you import it into AutoCAD it does in fact make a block of every component. If you then import this into an RFA-file you might have what you want to achieve even though this is indeed quite some work.

Another option is to export your assembly to an RFA-file, but you won't have separate components in Revit.

A third option would be to export all components to an RFA-file and rebuild them in Revit, but this is also a lot of work and prone to errors.

A fourth option is to export to an RVT-file, here you have the option to create separate components for every top level component. But looking at what you have an RVT-file might not be ideal.

And lastly there are third party apps to export Inventor assemblies to Revit families, an example can be found here: https://www.bimdex.com/inventor-to-revit-export.php

I haven't tested the last one yet, but it seems like that might be what you're actually after, but of course it's not free.

[Haider_of_Sweden]

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@mat_hijs wrote:

I just tested this and if you import it into AutoCAD it does in fact make a block of every component. If you then import this into an RFA-file you might have what you want to achieve even though this is indeed quite some work.

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This is the best option so far - also equal to exporting to DWG directly (and then making blocks out of the solids).

At some point, I encountered a strange behavior, where some of the blocks, ie parts, didn't come into Revit properly. For some reason, I had to explode the blocks and then redo the blocks.

I am still curious if there is a way to export to a DWG and have the solids contained into blocks beforehand. I noticed in Fusion 360, if you create Components and put Bodies into them, the components are turned into Blocks.

I am not that good at Inventor and don't know of the different structure alternatives. Maybe one of the structures behaves the same once exported into DWG.

Another option is to export your assembly to an RFA-file, but you won't have separate components in Revit.

A third option would be to export all components to an RFA-file and rebuild them in Revit, but this is also a lot of work and prone to errors.

Where do I find this option, exporting to RFA?

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A fourth option is to export to an RVT-file, here you have the option to create separate components for every top level component. But looking at what you have an RVT-file might not be ideal.

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This option looks nice but has lots of limitations. You can not assign materials, or access visibility options. As if it's a special sort of object.

And lastly there are third party apps to export Inventor assemblies to Revit families, an example can be found here: https://www.bimdex.com/inventor-to-revit-export.php

I haven't tested the last one yet, but it seems like that might be what you're actually after, but of course it's not free.

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I contacted them and asked for a sample RFA to investigate it deeper.

[mat_hijs]

So far, the only times some of my components didn't come into Revit properly were when I had very complex geometry that I refused to simplify.

I'm not aware of any other workflow to achieve what you apparently can with Fusion 360.

The export to RFA can be found under "Environments" => "BIM Content" => ("Author Building Components") => "Export Building Components", but like I said, it will make one component of your assembly, unless you export all components separately and rebuild your assembly in Revit.

The export to RVT does indeed have its limitations, I am currently using that just to tag my components in Revit though.

That's great, I would love to hear about this when you've tested it.

[Haider_of_Sweden]

I thought I'd write down a summary

1. RVT Export
   • Limitations:
   • You get an RVT file which means the parts come in as loose generic models. You do not want to group them into one entity - that's why you have Families
   • You cant assign material to the parts/generic-model-entities
   • I have encountered a case where some of the models came in as meshes, ie not solids. Not sure why. (see screen capture below)
   • 
2. RFA
   • Limitations
   • It was initially an Import Symbol - not a problem in itself, I could just explode it.
   • It came in as one single entity, not split into sub-entities (following the Inventor hiearchy with each part as one entity)
   • What partially worked:
   • Once exploded, I could assign material. But since we got one single entity, I can't assign materials on component level. See screenshot below, before exploding and after exploding (+ assigning a material)
   •  > 
3. Bimdex
   • I asked for some samples, and it had the best result so far. I will try the trial soon. However, I don't know the pricing and can't tell if it's worth it.
   • Outcome:
   • Revit Family
   • Two modes:
     1. Each part is inside a nested family. If you open the family, the rotation was as in Inventor. You need to go inside each family to change material (not necessary a problem, there are solutions to simplify this)
     2. Each part is a single entity. You can change its material.
   • Limitation: Material name did not export. I mentioned it for them, let's see if they will fix this.
4. Export to STEP and import to AutoCAD
   • Once imported into AutoCAD, each part is turned into a Block. Very good, but I want to skip the AutoCAD-step if possible

So if anyone knows a way to export a DWG (script / free plugin / built in) where the parts are separated as AutoCAD blocks, please let us know.

If not, then I'll have to mark this thread as "solved" as in closed, not really solved 😞