AutoCAD ArchiCAD interoperability

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am a services engineer who uses AutoCAD MEP and works with some Architects who use ArchiCAD 11. Is there anyway of saving the ArchiCAD 3d pln as a dwg so that I can work on it as a 3d object? I have tried using the IFC format but the building model does not transfer accurately 100%

Regards,

Andrew

[Erika Epstein]

Yes.
They can save 2D dwgs. From the 3D window they can also save a 3D DWG. This is a much smaller file than IFC, not 'smart' but you can put them in the same space so they overlap and see how they work together. Navigating in each programs 3D windows you can find many of the clashes. Do a search here for additional posts on this topic, there have been many in the last year.

[Anonymous]

We tried that but the software has problems saving the 3d dwg. it seems that there are some archicad files that cannot transfer to autocad.

[Anonymous]

Andrew wrote:
We tried that but the software has problems saving the 3d dwg. it seems that there are some archicad files that cannot transfer to autocad.

When you say "some ArchiCAD files", can you be more specific? The 3d dwg export seemed pretty accurate, so it would be useful to highlight any problems you have noticed.

[Laura Yanoviak]

I know that there may be some issues with "triangulation", but we've actually experienced smoother interoperability with ACAD MEP then Revit Structure.

[Anonymous]

The new Archicad MEP package is supposed to help with that as well. You may want to try a .3DS file if you want just the massing of what is in Archicad.