Autodesk Inventor 2022 to Revit 2013?

[edarlak]

I have a house I designed in Inventor 2022, because that is the CAD software I use on a daily basis. I'm trying to get an architect a version of the 3D model. He has Revit 2013. I've tried stp, sat. and even sketchup, but none of those are working for him. I am able to export to Revit from Inventor, and I downloaded a Revit trial to make sure the model imports ok, and it does. However, it's Revit 2022. I am not seeing a way to back save in Revit form 2022 to 2013...

I have tried IFC model format but when I re-open that in Revit, some of the geometry loses its materials and is now triangulated. Not sure why that happens to some portions of the model and not others?

What would be the best method to go from Inventor 2022 to Revit 2013?

[Anonymous]

there isn't one

dwg would be another option you either need to use Inventor 2013 or they need to upgrade their Revit to 2022

Like Inventor, Revit cannot save down versions

[L.Maas]

Architect still working in Revit 2013...hmmm. He should consider upgrading.

Or maybe use different architect?

You could still try exporting to Autocad.

[ahjorn]

If you export as an IFC file the architect should be able to open the IFC file in Revit 2013. (DO NOT LINK THE IFC)   

He could then save it as .rvt file. This will allow him to view the geometry ans use it as a base but he won't be able to edit the native geometry. To edit he may need to create parts.

[ToanDN]

Export to 2013 or earlier version DWG then he can link it in to recreate the Revit model from scratch.  Don't expect any parametric intelligence from your Inventor model be transferred over.

[edarlak]

I tested the IFC format and it did work, it's just one portion of the house design came in as triangulated and all one color, it lost the material information in the translation.

I assume no matter how one goes from Inventor to Revit, you always lose the ability to edit the geometry?

And this architect was recommended to me by the GC. Doesn't sound like he uses 3D much, mainly AutoCAD Architecture it seems. I designed in Inventor because that's what I am proficient with, however not really the best choice of software for the task.

[ahjorn]

You're right, Inventor is a very powerful tool but is not suited for this type of work.

I believe that the architect should upgrade, that would make everything a whole lot easier. He doesn't have to commit himself financially right away. He can download a trial version of Revit 2022 like you did and use it for the full 30 days.

At least this way he'll be able to use the first file you exported from Inventor. 

[ToanDN]

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@edarlak wrote:

I tested the IFC format and it did work, it's just one portion of the house design came in as triangulated and all one color, it lost the material information in the translation.

I assume no matter how one goes from Inventor to Revit, you always lose the ability to edit the geometry?

And this architect was recommended to me by the GC. Doesn't sound like he uses 3D much, mainly AutoCAD Architecture it seems. I designed in Inventor because that's what I am proficient with, however not really the best choice of software for the task.

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Since you have said he only has Revit 2013 I am quite confident that he has not used it enough, if at all.  It probably was in a suite of AutoCAD/AutoCAD Architecture/Revit that Autodesk used to sell back then.

From my understanding, you are the house designer and the architect will be handling documentation for entitlement/biding/construction.  If that is the case then you do not need someone with Revit, much less the most up to date version of it.  You need someone that is good at creating construction documents using the software they are familiar with, not someone with an unfamiliar software a steep learning curve goes a long with it.

AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture are more than capable to create construction documents.  So, if the architect are good at using then program then so be it.  

[edarlak]

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@ToanDN wrote:

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Since you have said he only has Revit 2013 I am quite confident that he has not used it enough, if at all.  It probably was in a suite of AutoCAD/AutoCAD Architecture/Revit that Autodesk used to sell back then.

From my understanding, you are the house designer and the architect will be handling documentation for entitlement/biding/construction.  If that is the case then you do not need someone with Revit, much less the most up to date version of it.  You need someone that is good at creating construction documents using the software they are familiar with, not someone with an unfamiliar software a steep learning curve goes a long with it.

AutoCAD or AutoCAD Architecture are more than capable to create construction documents.  So, if the architect are good at using then program then so be it.  

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You are correct, I am the designer, he is tasked with creating the documentation required by the municipality. However, my 3D model represents "design intent only" as I performed no load calculations, checked code as I built up the structure etc. He is responsible with making sure my design meets typical construction practices and local codes, hence he needs to pull cross sections at various locations from my model as opposed to starting from scratch in AutoCAD, at least that is what we agreed as a path forward if he can get something useable from my Inventor model.

Attached is a document I provided to the architect along with various CAD files. As you can see, the model has a fair bit of work in it, and would hate for it to be lost work.

It seems if I export to DWG selecting solids only, what I get in my Revit 2022 trial looks good, but I have zero Revit skills to pull cross sections etc to check what if any information was lost.

[ToanDN]

Before I comment further, is an IFC exported from Inventor a generic model, or is it a composition of actual categories such as Walls, Floors, Roofs, Structural Framing, etc...?

[edarlak]

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@ToanDN wrote:

Before I comment further, is an IFC exported from Inventor a generic model, or is it a composition of actual categories such as Walls, Floors, Roofs, Structural Framing, etc...?

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Inventor cannot export IFC. What I did was use Revit interoperability for Inventor to save my design assembly model as a .rvt. I then opened that in Revit 2022 trial, then exported as an IFC.  My model is not constructed in a way in which it has categories. It's an assembly model made up of 4 .ipt's each made up of many solids. A foundation ipt. two roof ipt's and interior wall ipt.  It's just a mock up, not a proper building component model Revit users would be expecting. 

The intent is for the model to greatly aid the architect in his task of validating the design and generating the required 2D drawings via the ability to quickly see my design intent and take cross sections wherever needed, as opposed to just a napkin sketch which leaves too much for interpretation IMO.

I modeled in as much detail as I could, true dimensional lumber studs, trusses, standing seam roofing, metal siding, etc, all to spec.

[ToanDN]

Then he would need to remodel everything in Revit based on the imported 3D geometry in order to create documentation level drawings.  And if he is good at AutoCAD Architecture, he can just do the same thing without learning Revit. 

Says, if I call an Uber, I rather get in a Corolla driven by an experienced driver, than in a learner's Tesla that may crash around the first bend.

Anyhow, my presumption about his Revit skills could be way off.  If he has been using Revit 2013 on a regular basis for 8 years then he could be just as good as anyone, if not better.

[edarlak]

I was the one who introduced the Revit option, because I knew Inventor could export that, as well as I myself prefer to work in 3D as I have been doing so on a daily basis for almost 20 years now. He will be generating the documents in AutoCAD architecture from what I gather. All I really want is to maximize the usefulness of my 3D model and not have to generate 2D for him from inside Inventor. I can certainly do that, but my hopes were my 3D model would suffice to convey the design intent. I never expected my model to be plug and play.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

AutoCAD Architecture can read 3d dwg exported from Inventor directly and
use it to create AutoCAD Architecture building components, and
subsequently, documentation. The worlflow is somewhat identical to that of
Revit. So the key factor here is the users skillset.

Your design intent model is still useful in either approach as a background for building their model.