FBX or DWG export for max import?

[Brian Cassil]

I know there are bits of info available for this in several other threads but I thought it would be valuable to consolidate the info into one thread since this seems to be a topic that several people are actively engaged in evaluating... at least I am. I will list what I know to be the advantages and disadvantages of each file format. I am hoping that people will be able to contribute to this so we can have a good collective understanding of what will work best for differing situations. I have added any mitigating factors to the disadvantages in blue.

FBX -

Advantages:

1. no block headers
2. mental ray materials applied in revit appear in max

Disadvantages:

1. everything is on layer 0
if materials are applied in revit, those can be used to select and assign materials in max.
2. the max fbx import options do not have any filters for geometry (everthing in the fbx file has to be imported)
a view template can be created in revit that would filter out the unneeded objects.
3. triangulated meshes
4. no file linking


DWG

Advantages:

1. clean non-triangulated meshes
2. layers
3. more geometry filters in max dwg import options (selected layers can be excluded/included)
4. file linking

Disadvantages:

1. no materials
2. lots of block headers

[Brian Cassil]

As I typed the above out I realized that the one list is a perfect inverse of the other... duh!

Anyway, a couple of comments and questions I have. In my experience the block headers is a major problem with the dwg option. They seem to enflate the file size to 2-3 times what it would be otherwise. Anyone else notice this? Also, what is the advantage of file linking a dwg that was exported from revit? Once revit exports anything (even fbx for that matter) the continuous update from revit is broken... isn't it? The only real advantage for file linking that I could see would be to link the revit file itself. Lastly, I have not looked at the mental ray materials in revit at all yet. How useable for rendering are they? Please feel free to comment and I will keep the above advantage/disadvantage list updated as well as post any mitigating factors.

[Chad Warner]

From my personall standpoint, I'm much quicker in AutoCad than Revit, so any changes that have to be made to the model (and there are always changes) I like to be able to do in AutoCad, so my preferred method is Revit-->Acad-->Max.

[Brian Cassil]

From my personall standpoint, I'm much quicker in AutoCad than Revit, so any changes that have to be made to the model (and there are always changes) I like to be able to do in AutoCad, so my preferred method is Revit-->Acad-->Max.

This is perhaps where a different solution for a different situation is worth considering. Since I work in an architecture firm I am looking for a solution where the revit file can be updated as quickly as possible in the max scene. I am working very closely with our reviteers (they actually call themselves that) so that there would be as little as possible that we would have to change in the model to prepare it for max renderings.

For rendering studios who get an exported file and have minimal contact with those who have generated the fbx or dwg I could totally understand why a different aproach could be taken. There would probably be fewer updates and therefore some tinkering with the model would not be so much of an inconvienance to do once or twice. To make those modeling corrections for 10-15 rendered updates (not uncommon with many of the projects we do) would be a major problem.

[StanZ]

i'm just going through a job where the revit architect did a very poor job of aligning windows and a few other crucial pieces of geometry - so when i exported FBX --> Max - i've got a lot more cleanup to do, plus remodelling columns and some other architectural features - i've had to virtually start all over with those in Max

the mental ray materials exported from Revit do come through ok - but once again they depend on the operator of Revit - which in this case hasnt been the best


so all in all i'm with Chad on this one - Revit - Cad - Max

cheers,

[Brian Cassil]

Thanks for the input Stan. Can you tell me if you are an in house visualization artist for an architecture firm or are you a freelance artist?

nm, I just noticed your website.

[Brian Cassil]

It appears that neither the dwg cleanup or the autoedges scripts have been updated for max 2009. Actually, we can't get them to work in 2008 or 2009. Has anyone had success with them in Max 2009?

[toxic_box]

See that Video...I've Liked the ACIS Solids

http://download.autodesk.com/us/3dsm...%20Interop.mp4

[Antisthenes]

i use a script that exports each layer to its own SAT (ACIS) file

[Brian Cassil]

i use a script that exports each layer to its own SAT (ACIS) file

Can you post what script that is and where you got it?