Ability to Link or insert 3D Studio Max (.3DS) Files

[Anonymous]

So many products and rendering objects are modeled as 3DS files. It would be amazing to be able to import these as rich rendering content without having to jump out into 3D Studio. I've been using Enscape within Revit, and this would add some real life to my in-product renderings!

[samuel.macalister]

3ds Max has an excellent polygon modelling tool that could really help Revit for conceptual design workflows, and now more rendering engines/VR companies are stepping up and providing new tools for revit (Vray/enscape).

Most users don't want to go from one platform to another as data gets lost, there can be issues with data transfer, and learning new software during billable hours can be challenging.

A polygon modelling tool is lighter than heavy meshing data (revit file sizes are huge!) and a modifier stack set up could assist evolving design options/variations for sketch designers not wanting to use/create revit families.

Also - having access to a photo real rendering engine for stills, animation and real time VR helps sketch designers better communicate ideas, and win projects.

[dgorsman]

Trying to put everything into a single package isn't going to work out so well.  The development budget for Revit would be better spent on actual Revit capabilities rather than duplicating features already available in other software.  Not to mention those who aren't doing visualization work (the majority of the users) would be getting less than zero value as resources would be taken away from other more Revit-centric work.

[samuel.macalister]

Most customers I talk to all spend money on sketch up to do concept design and enscape to visualise.

Why not provide this as an extra paid for add on like C4R?

[MostafaElashmawy]

We need to be able to import 3ds max files to Revit.

[samuelsanf]

You say Max files as project models or Max files as families components?

You can import 3DS models if you export these objects as ACIS .SAT file.

Importing directly 3DS max objects as Revit families, will not allow to archive the "information" part in a BIM Model, and it's maybe difficult to import it with parametric constrains.

You can open .rvt projects on 3DS Max, but the oposite workflow may it's not an ideal one.

[MostafaElashmawy]

I want to be able to insert 3d objects or models with their materials into revit.
The alternative that I do now is to export max to cad then cad into revit but in addition to losing materials, the file becomes too heavy.

[Kimtaurus]

Did you even bother to search the Ideas board before posting? The same idea was posted just 4 days prior to yours.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-ideas/ability-to-link-or-insert-3d-studio-max-3ds-files/idi-p/7...

[MostafaElashmawy]

Sure I did.
I think the words used are different.
May be that's why I couldn't see it.

[TOM`]

我也是被这个问题困扰了很久！即使Enscape也没有用武之地

[SamuelAB]

You can import the files as DWG or SAT files, but I would prefer to be able to import FBX. I'm sure OBJ and Alembic would be nice as well. Being able to link 3ds Max files directly would actually also be good. Some designers work in 3ds Max because they don't like to work in Revit.

But yeah, since Revit can export FBX and not import it, it's a little weird. It seems like 3ds Max cannot talk to Revit, at first glance, despite all the formats that 3ds Max can import and export. 3ds Max can link Revit files directly, but you have to export SAT or DWG to Revit.

[SamuelAB]

Formit is a partial answer to this, but it is external.

https://formit.autodesk.com/

The other half is fixing/improving the massing in Revit. I don't think that it's been update in many year.

[haitham.anwer94]

a very old and I think many people ask for it. 

3ds max can accept Revit files with no problem at all. everything can be modified, remodeled, stretched, and basically do anything with it. however, that not the case for Revit. 

Revit can only import 3ds max models/files in a very weird, triangulated, and messy form. 

i think any architect who can use both 3ds max and Revit will agree that modeling organic forms and shapes in max is easier with more control on the shape. 

I wish that we can import 3ds max models into Revit as a mass without the weird triangulating shapes and actually have the ability to create floors/roofs/walls from the mass. 

[bujasim]

Or perhaps consolidate all modeling environments into a single modern one that makes importing geometry from other software unnecessary.

It's time Revit started behaving like a proper 3D modeling tool. As opposed to a frankenstein of different half-cooked attempts at intuitive 3D modeling.