Working with Revit and Cad files in MAYA

[michelle4P4J9]

Hoping someone might have some insight with something I can't seem to find an answer for. I've been using Maya for years but have recently started working with BIM models. 

I'm trying to use Revit and/or CAD files in Maya in a way that makes sense. I do not have AutoCAD or Revit but have a full license for Maya. I have been given product files in both Revit and CAD formats that I'd like to be able to use for high quality renderings in Maya. Currently I'm having to rebuild or retopologize the models and there isn't a high degree of efficiency or accuracy in my current methods. 

Seeing as they're all Autodesk formats I'd imagine that there'd be some effective way of doing this (other than buying Revit so that I can export it to FBX). Trial versions aren't the answer since I'll need a solution that works moving forward as well. 

Thanks so much for any thoughts that can help me get this process streamlined. 

[hagen.deloss]

Hi @michelle4P4J9 

Great to hear from you on the Maya forums! I dug around on a few forum posts before I tracked down the suggestion of using a free program called pcon-planner, here is their website.

If you have access to 3ds Max, you can load up .dwg files and save them right out to .fbx or .obj as well.

Let me know if this helps!

[michelle4P4J9]

Hi, 

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll give it a shot but it doesn't look like it accepts .rfa files. 

[DarrenP]

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@michelle4P4J9 wrote:

Hi, 

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll give it a shot but it doesn't look like it accepts .rfa files. 

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you will need to convert the .rfa file to an fbx file in revit

[michelle4P4J9]

Hi Darren, 

As I mentioned, I do not have Revit. Seems a little ridiculous there isn't the ability to use files created by one autodesk program in another autodesk program without buying all the programs. We have no use for Revit other than to export the files to be used in Maya so that does not solve my issue. 

[DarrenP]

Thats how its always been

all the autodesk software have their own native file formats & most them require you to export out to another format to be able to open in other software

[hagen.deloss]

Hi @michelle4P4J9 

I think it takes .dwg files, can you get the Revit files delivered in that format?

[michelle4P4J9]

Seems like that is the only option. Main purpose of this question was to find out how to use these files without going back to manufacturers who generated the assets years ago and may not have them anymore. Seems like there ISN'T a way to work with revit files in maya unless you have Revit or can have someone who does have Revit do it for you. That's really unfortunate. 

I understand softwares have different proprietary format but since they're all owned by the same company you'd think that there'd be a little more fluidity between programs assuming most people don't buy multiple software packages. How many people really buy multiple collections of software? There should be at least an add on software that lets you convert files from one autodesk application to another without having to buy licenses for every software package. 

[Anonymous]

I've found that the following workflow provides a cleanly converted model from Revit to Maya, although it's not a free solution, which I agree should be provided by Autodesk, it does work well.

• Buy Revit LT (monthly subscription, so minimal expense).
• Export Revit model to DWFx file.
• Buy PolyTrans for Maya (send an email to the seller and discuss your needs, he's really helpful).
• Import the DWFx into Maya using PolyTrans.

This process generally produces efficient and cleanly converted models. If you want to avoid the additional expense of PolyTrans, you could export from Revit LT as FBX and go straight into Maya, but in my experience this can be hit and miss in terms of the quality and efficiency of the converted model. It would be great if the free Revit viewer allowed a simple export for these purposes but I don't think it does.

Good luck.

[hagen.deloss]

@michelle4P4J9 

My colleague @jose.bravoV  looked around for some ideas, and found some possibilities on the Autodesk App store:

• Express Family Web3d may have some tool that helps.
• Sketchfab may also be an interesting viewer alternative.

I hope you find an answer, best of luck on your project, and let me know if I can provide any more assistance 😄 

[dgorsman · Accepted solution]

Revit and Maya have entirely different code bases and development histories. 

Most advanced visualization from Autodesk CAD products is done through 3DSMAX, which has kept up with various native formats.  License wise, you'll find that most of the Collection and legacy Suite licenses include 3DSMAX along with the various design software at no additional cost.