Trouble plotting Revit file with large CAD Link files

[Tom_Kunsman]

We have a new manufacturing plant we are doing in Revit. The equipment layout which is five or so CAD links is over 100MB in size, and when we go to plot an overall plant plan with all of the equipment links on Revit gets to about 25% complete in plotting and then crashes.

Does anyone have any better workflows in dealing with huge CAD Link files of equipment?

We have purged, flattened, overkill and have even taken the CAD file, linked to a blank revit project and re-exported it out which results in a smaller file size. 

I think with all of the equipment on it exceeds the number of lines that revit likes. Sadly the equipment background is from an equipment vender, and as such has lots of unnecessary detail. If the equipment was not changing on a nearly daily basis I might take the time to try and simplify the cad files, but even that is difficult and time consuming.

[Anonymous]

Can you divide the cad? Sometimes when we have big projects, we devide in autocad, we make lines as a reference in cad, then when loading it we delete does lines with the "QUERY" optione, and we even save it in different files when divided (the references lines will help you to put everything in the exact place) hope it works. 

Regards, 

Asia Ravelo

[syman2000]

Have you try open the CAD file in Naviswork and then save as NWD. Then you link that coordinate model inside Revit.

[RDAOU]

@Tom_Kunsman 

We plot way bigger files than 100Mb...The issue on your end could be

1. either (and most probable) related to the number of line in the CAD file which you can check in the CAD file. This has no workaround other than fixing the CAD file
2. or an issue plot drivers which are unable to cash the file...To verify, try to export model including links all together into DWG and plot from a different software