How to Convert AutoCAD details into Revit Drafting Views
Many companies may have a legacy library of AutoCAD details in DWG format that have been developed over many years. Sure Revit can import a DWG file, however whilst you can start with a standard detail in most cases you need to customise the detail to suit you specific situation on the project.
So its not a case of just import the DWG and place it on a sheet. And the absolute worst thing you can do in a Revit project is explode a DWG file!
ERROR:
NEVER EVER EXPLODE A DWG in a live Revit Project file!
Utilising existing AutoCAD Details
To make use of an AutoCAD Detail there are 2 solutions,
The quick method
The full method
1. Quick Method
This is the bare minimum you need to do to utilise the detail in your Revit Project file. It will allow you to bring the detail in without bringing in any rubbish, but is not the best for solving the long term problem of developing an awesome Revit Detail Library.
Start a New Project using the Company Template. NOTE: This will be a sacrificial model.
Select View ► Create ► Drafting View and provide a Descriptive Name (something that will help someone identify what the detail contains from a list) and set the Scale appropriately, select OK.
Select Insert ► Import ► Import CAD
Set the following settings:
Import CAD SettingsColours = Black and White
Layers/Levels = All
Import Units = millimeter (or as appropriate)
Correct lines that are slightly off axis = Yes
Positioning = Manual - Center
Select Open and place the DWG anywhere in the view and Zoom Extents
Select the DWG and choose Full Explode
Now you need to go through the clean-up process:
Delete Filled Regions that are not required (caused by Wipeouts or Solid Hatches in the Source CAD file)
Merge Text notes into the same Paragraphs and swap out the Text Types for Standard Text Types.
Delete Linework from Leaders and apply as actual leaders from the Text
Edit Filled Region Sketches and adjust boundary lines to be standard linework
Adjust any Dimensions/Witness Lines to be Standard Revit Dimensions
After the clean-up process it looks more like this:
There should be zero non-standard Line Types (including within Filled Region Boundaries), Text Types, Dimension Types and Filled Regions.
Finally select all the content of this Detail and Copy to Clipboard then Paste into a New Drafting View of your Target Project (preferably advising the Revit Admin so this Detail can become part of the Detail Library if appropriate).
2. Full Method
Sure Method 1 works, but we are still relying on Filled Regions and Detail Lines for all of the detail. This makes it painful to edit and not the best for re-using.
The next step is to eliminate the use of these all together and to utilise smart components (Detail Item Families).
As per the Quick Method, however instead of spending time cleaning up the Filled Regions and Linework utilise the families from the Detail Library instead wherever possible.
For example you can utilise all the content from the Xrev Detail Library