3D AutoCAD Export Problem - ArchiCAD 11

[Srinivas]

Hi,

I have a problem exporting an ArchiCAD V 11 model into AutoCAD 3D. Attached is the image that I saved from ArchiCAD V 11.

I am working with ArchiCAD USA V 11 - Build 1033.

I am using the same DWG translator settings in both the versions, but still with no luck.

Thanks in advance.

- Srinivas

[Erika Epstein]

Granville,
When I read through your original post, you mentioned that DWG was an interim software. It might be worth finding out what the final software is. Can it read IFC files? If so, they may already have established a way of exporting from that software to DWG in which case the 2D drawings they might need can be for them to create.

I'm starting to iron out using IFC working with an MEP firm that is evaluating Revit's MEP package. This isn't the first project we have done so I sent them a model from a previous collaboration to play with. They can successfully open the IFC files I send them and navigate through the 3D model Back then I had put in correctly sized place-holders using beams and walls to simulate the MEP and verify everything fit. Or not

In the IFC model there are some bizarre behaviors of a few pieces. So far they concern pieces that are mirrored and fortunately are exterior trims. I can open the IFC file here, see what went awry and fix these errors.

I created a layer combination in AC akin to DWG layer combinations so they need only get what they need.

From the engineer I haven't received anything as of yet. Their trial version is Revit 9 and IFC 2x2. They had trouble exporting. Really all they need to do is have a layer combination of only their work, have that showing, and choose the option of "only converting visible layers". Like DWGs you send them an updated IFC model as changes mandate.

Since I haven't yet received anything from them I tried some sample MEP IFC files from Revit that I found on the site Djordje mentioned above
http://www.buildersnet.org/IFC-BIM/

Both those files were IFC 2X3 and opened fine. I am curious about several points and will be posting my questions on that forum as well.

1. Why did everything come in on the Archicad layer?
2. The modeling was of piping and seemed to be set to very high resol and toler levels. Is there a way in the Revit MEP software to set these?
3.Is there a way to in Revit MEP software to set these resol and toler levels to be scale dependent?

[Anonymous]

Erika, Matthew, thanks for your responses.

Sounds like everything is still experimental and being developed and debugged in use. Hardly re-assuring for a first time user.

In my case, the TF processing has developed from paper print interpretation to data exchange, but is still then going through a manual process of engineering design for primary structure, followed by panel breakdowns and subsequent modification for door/window openings.

They state that they are happy with this sequence of events and are set up to do it as part of their process.

I just don't like loosing control, if I choose to move or resize a window, the "single building model" benefit is lost and I become reliant upon others to have picked up and dealt with changes, made the extension in the correct (not mirrored) direction, etc. I just fear an avoidable buggers muddle developing. Will have to wait and see how it pans out.

[Anonymous]

I haveexported AC 3d model to 3D dwg without any problems with AC10 and Autocad 2006. AC11 had messed up 2D dwg export, so it is quite normal it screwed 3D export too.

Have yu tried to export from AC as 3ds and the import it in Autoad?

[Anonymous]

Not yet activated a 3D transfer, been looking at it and investigating.

Yet to try exporting from the View Window but will do shortly and test opening it with my old 2004 ADT. Not holding my breath on this one.

[Eduardo Rolon]

Just to mix things up.

Has anyone taken into consideration the legal ramifications of "sharing" our models? It is one of the selling points of BIM but in the past year I have started to think that it is not such a good idea and that forcing the consultants to "recreate" the model from 2D data serves as quality control of the project.

a "measure twice, cut once" approach?

[Erika Epstein]

Sharing a model, 3 dimensional information, on a project everyone is working on TOGETHER makes sense. Everyone is working with the same information.

Multiple groups separately replicating information is MORE chance of error, not less.

What specifically are your concerns?

[Eduardo Rolon]

Possible example,

Newbie at office changes by mistake the thickness of a wall that structural specified to be 10". Since it is a mistake it does not go into the change log.

Model is updated and the structural engineer (other not the one that specified 10") thinks that there is a reason for the change and instead of verifying changes the specs for that wall.

Formwork collapses during pouring of concrete or whatever.

Who is responsible? The architect for making the mistake or the structural for not catching it?

Since there is one model supplied by the designer the structural engineer has a big out.

-----

With 2 models there will be discrepancies and these can help force the review of the decisions, thus catching the mistake. We know there are going to be mistakes the trick is creating a situation were they are obvious. That is why I am thinking that sharing one model might not be such a BIG selling point as Autodesk tries to promote. With two models or one architectural model and a set of structural drawings the rule that "In case of doubt structural plans are senior to architectural" can still be used and if something falls down we (as architects) do not inherit the hole of the structural mistake.

[Erika Epstein]

perhaps we are not being clear.

As I work with consultants' 3D models, each discipline models in 3D their own portion of work in their own software and remains responsible for it. IFC is a tool for us to temporarily combine our respective models to better see how our work is progressing together.

In your example, Junior changing the size of a structural member while COPY of the engineer's model, not their original.

As for what Junior gets up to ...

[Eduardo Rolon]

Then we are talking about the same thing basically.

The reason I bring it up is that one of the "key" selling points that Autodesk uses for Revit is their data sharing feature between its different flavors and in the seminars that I teach I always have to explain the reason why I don't consider it a good idea. But that is my opinion, it might be wrong, thus the question.

Another recent example, I was talking with one of my consultants (structural) and on another job the architect was using Revit and in the drawings that were given the floor plan cut plane was too low and it didn't show a set of windows above it, he assumed it was a continuous wall, yada, yada, yada. The junior guy blamed the software.

[Erika Epstein]

Junior is having a tough week!
In Revit can you set and save different cutplanes per view like archicad?
Recently I was working on a renovation of a house with a very steeply pitched 2nd floor roof. In studying where and how much of the roof would be changed to low slope for more usable area, I did a series of saved views, varying cutlplanes from at 3' AFF to 8' AFF at about 1 foot increments as a study. Client found it quite helpful, along with us to make sure we stayed within the habitable SF allowed by the city.
Real-time navigation through the model at the client's eye level was also a strong tool.