Question
I have a civil construction model drawn in Revit that I need to reference in to my AutoCAD Plant 3D project for adding pipework. How can I do this?
Answer
AutoCAD Plant 3D does not support the direct import of .rvt files. To reference a Revit model into Plant 3D, it must first be exported to an AutoCAD .dwg file. The .dwg file export may be configured to export detail in 1 of 3 formats: polymesh, ACIS solids or AutoCAD Architectural objects. Of the 3 formats, ACIS solids produces the largest file size but is the only format that produces fully detailed Orthographic drawings in Plant 3D. Polymesh is a smaller file size and ARCH objects produce the smallest file size but each of these show inconsistent detail in Orthographic drawings.
From a modelling perspective, ARCH objects are the most lightweight, but looking at the deliverables, ACIS solids enable the productions of fully detailed Orthos. Also, the ACIS solid drawings must be inserted as attachments, not overlays, if they are to be detailed in the Orthos.