Plant 3D to Revit Workflow

[DC_42]

I have reviewed other posts on here and tried following the Autodesk suggested workflow to have Plant 3D objects in Revit. 

So far all processes have limitations. We work in Plant 3D 2024 for piping and use Revit 2024 to coordinate models create drawings.

1. Link Plant 3D model to Revit - all P3D components display wireframe and look messy

2. Link "Export to AutoCAD" Plant 3D model to Revit - fittings display properly but pipes do not. For some reason they behave differently than a cylinder drawn in AutoCAD and will not display in Revit

3. Link ACIS SAT file to Revit - displays nicely and shows all fittings but depth clipping does not work on linked SAT file

4. Link CAD to "in place family" - does not depth clip

5. Link to "in place mass" - does not bottom depth clip but will top depth clip. Slightly more cumbersome than a direct CAD link and still does not offer full functionality

What is a typical workflow which would allow Plant 3D updates, normal hiddenline view pipe visibility on a drawing sheet, and respect the view range bottom clip?

Thanks very much for your time.

[ToanDN]

Link SAT in an in-place generic models family.   Or, import SAT in as an in-place generic models family.

[vytautas]

From my own experience, usually RFA files become much more heavier then importing SAT files into them, comparing to common native RFA files. So working with such models requires a more powerful computers, takes more time to process them, etc. Searching for such workflows I came up with a third-part solution BIMDex Exporter. This might help in such cases but haven't tested it so can't give any detail comments.

[DC_42]

Thanks for your response. I have tried a linked SAT file but I cannot get bottom depth clicking to work.

The best result has been an SAT file linked to an in place mass. That will top clip but won't bottom clip.

[DC_42]

Yes I came across that software as well. It just seems odd to have to pay for third party software to get two Autodesk products to work together.  Also I don't know if that would solve my depth clipping issue either.

[ToanDN]

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@DC_42 wrote:

Thanks for your response. I have tried a linked SAT file but I cannot get bottom depth clicking to work.

The best result has been an SAT file linked to an in place mass. That will top clip but won't bottom clip.

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How big is the SAT file?  Can you share it here?

[dbutts7]

I've had better luck using Inventor to convert third party content to Autodesk applications - have you tried the BIM Exchange tools out in that application?

If you get STP/SLD and other file formats based on parts/assemblies, you can use substitution tools to reduce detail. I also use the model browser to find smaller parts (nuts, bolts, etc.) and remove them from a duplicate of the original, then use the substitute tools to remove holes, openings and reduce detail level of parts. This helps reduce size better than straight up SAT import.

[dbutts7]

For Plant 3D overall layouts, why convert? Why not just link and keep in native format?

[DC_42]

I would love to link P3D to Revit and leave in native format. That would greatly simplify our workflow.

The issue is object enablers do not work with Revit. So the Plant 3D pipe and fittings display as wire frame and look messy.

I have also tried exporting from P3D to normal AutoCAD but then the pipes (3D solids) do not display at all even though all the fittings come through nicely.

Also I am fairly certain (I have tried so many different configurations I may have lost track) that this option won't top or bottom clip either.

The Inventor conversion may be our only option at this stage.

[dbutts7]

You should not need an enabler to see the pipe and fittings - let me try a sample file on my end and see what I get. What build of Revit 2024 are you using?

thanks - db

[DC_42]

Autodesk® Revit® 2024.2

Screenshot attached to confirm

[DC_42]

Here are some screenshot examples showing how each linked model displays.

These are all CAD links. No in place mass or Revit families.

The SAT file is the only one I can get to display properly. They all have issues with clip depth.

Thanks very much for investigating.

[DC_42]

It seems even if I could get the linked Plant 3D items to display properly Revit will not cut any linked CAD files - in plan or section.

This link confirms that Revit is behaving as designed!

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/3D-DWG-or-SAT-is-n...

[dbutts7]

Now that part is correct - native DWG solids are not cuttable. Most native Revit categories are with a few exceptions.  You're good on the version, that's definitely not an issue.

Now I'm wondering how to use a different format - wondering what happens if you try IFC? Probably will wind up with the same display issue but I'd be curious to see how it looks.

We mainly use P3D for diagrams and not the models. I helped the development team with the P&ID modeler application that was never completely finished, but we could at least associate items in the diagram to physical representation of objects in the model. That we were using native Revit objects all the time.

[dbutts7]

I was about to ask if you exported from a 3D view for the DWG - P3D uses similar display behavior for objects as ACAD MEP, which is why you get lines if you export from a plan view. The 3D view gives you the solid representation. Did you turn the pipe off or did it just not export?