Architects detail lines not visible

We, the architects, are not lazy. We use detail lines sometimes to avoid modeling. This does not sound good. However, the mantra we have, is that if the objects is not visible in multiple views, and is not scheduled, tagged, used for cost estimating, etc., and IF it saves time (now and over the course of the project), then “detail line” it. (Sorry! This still sounds bad!)

When the engineers link the architect’s model, these detail lines are not visible in their model by default. For eg. the roof plan done by architects with some detail lines will not look complete without gutters; etc. To make these detail lines visible:

Go to VG > Revit links tab and click on “By Host View” (which is the default option)

Select the “By Linked View” option and then select the Architect’s view in which they have drawn the detail lines.

Now you can see all our detail lines. We typically create a separate view for consultants for this purpose to make things easier.

This change affects only the current view. You cannot hide individual objects from the architects model in this view. For more info you can check here and here.

Revit Architecture to AutoCAD MEP export best practices

AutoCAD MEP works in levels and so, expects Revit to export the building by levels. This is just extra work for architects. If the MEP guys had Revit, architectus can just burn the rvt project in a CD and call it a day. However, we had to export to AutoCAD and these are my notes to export to autocad each floor as a separate 3D dwg file.

*****update 20080731 - instead of using the elevation, one can use plan views too... as long as the view range in plan extends only to the level below.

Also as Scott commented below one can use IFC export and import it in AutoCAD (version 2008 and above...) ******

1. Duplicate an elevation and crop the boundary to display only the first floor. (the horizontal crop boundary aligns with project Levels.

2. Go to a 3d View. Rename it MEP-First Floor; Go to View Menu > Orient > and select the cropped elevation. Use the middle mouse button + shift key (or the view cube) to rotate the view.

3. Switch off unwanted elements for MEP. Create a view template from this view. This view template can be used if the project has multiple floors.

4. To setup other floors, go to the cropped elevation. Stretch the crop boundary to encompass the next upper floor. Create a new 3D view and follow the steps outline above.

5. After you have all the floors setup in 3D with cropped boundaries, you can export them to AutoCAD as individual DWGs. (File menu > Export > CAD Formats)

6. You have to export the RVT objects as ACIS solids. This setting can be done in options command in the Export CAD format dialog box.

Autodesk has released a white paper on this with more information:

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/whitepaper_-_effective_collaboration_exporting_acis_solids.pdf