Importation of 3D models other than Archicad

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone:

I have done my previous designs using the typical mechanical CAD programs such as Solidworks, Ironcad, Solid Edge, etc. and it has been OK but with my desire to go on to bigger things and BIM I have been evaluating some Architectural software like Revit, Bentley Microstation, Constructor (Vico) but I have found that importing an existing model done in a mechanical CAD product to be very difficult or impossible. While I can generate ACIS and Parasolid kernel files it would seem that the Architectural CAD software uses custom 3D kernels that are unique to each company. I am assuming that this is also true with Archicad. I managed to find out that Archicad is capable of importing ASIC files but when I tried to find out the steps necessary to do so I couldn't find any. Is it possible for someone to provide the step by step instructions that will allow a person to import an existing building that is saved in the ACIS format? Without this function it would seem that Archicad might be a no-go for me.

Regards,

DrWho

[Anonymous]

ArchiCAD can import ACIS, IFC, DWG and 3DS (and others). With the MEP add-on it is also possible to export an IFC file from AutoCAD MEP that is specially formatted for ArchiCAD MEP.

[vfrontiers]

3d information MUST be imported into an ArchiCAD OBJECT and then the object placed in the model... You can't import walls, etc. directly into the plan view.

Therefore, it would appear that MEP models will be imported as ONE (really big) Object to be placed into your architectural model. It must then be "aligned" in the 2d and 3d space.

The only importer that attempts this is coming from Sketchup... But in my experience, leaves a lot to be desired (that is import Sketchup Models as ArchiCAD native elements).

I have no experience with ArchiCAD's MEP Modeler.