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Transferring a Project from Rhino to Revit: Overview

Three ways to move a Rhino project into Revit — massing, generic model elements, and native Revit geometry — and when each one is the right call.

Transferring a Project from Rhino to Revit

This guide introduces three primary methods for transferring your Rhino projects into Revit. Each method is designed to suit different stages of design and documentation needs. Detailed instructions for each method are available on their respective pages.

Methods Overview

  • Massing Method (Insert SAT File into Revit Mass)
    Quickly bring a conceptual mass from Rhino into Revit for early-stage design development.

  • Generic Model Elements from Rhino (Layer-Based for Quick Documentation)
    Leverage Rhino layers to preserve material and graphic control, ideal for context models and schematic documentation.

  • Rhino to Native Revit (via ArchiTool)
    Convert Rhino objects into fully native Revit elements for detailed BIM integration and iterative design workflows.

Insert SAT File into Revit Mass

Use this method if you have a conceptual mass in Rhino that you want to quickly bring into Revit for further design development.

Create Floor Mass Autodesk- Create Mass Floors

Steps

  1. Model and Simplify in Rhino

    • Create your mass model in Rhino.
    • Remove unnecessary details to keep the geometry clean.
    • Work near the origin for optimal results.

  2. Export as SAT

    • Select your mass and go to File > Export Selected.
    • Choose ACIS (.sat) as the export format.

  3. Insert into Revit

    • Enable Show Mass in Revit (under the Massing & Site tab).
    • Go to Insert > Import CAD (or Insert SAT) and select your file.

    Tip:
    If the geometry isn’t visible, double-click the middle mouse button to zoom to the imported mass.

  4. Define Revit Levels

    • Switch to an elevation view and set your project levels.

  5. Generate Floors & Assign Elements

    • Use Create Mass Floor to assign floors based on the defined levels.
    • Convert Rhino surfaces into Revit elements using commands like Floor by Face and Wall by Face.

Pros & Cons:
Pros:

  • Quick setup for conceptual studies
  • Easy floor generation from levels

Cons:

  • No direct link to the original Rhino geometry; updates require re-importing

Transferring geometry from Rhino to Revit can be accomplished in multiple ways, each tailored to specific stages of design and detail requirements. Below are three primary methods to integrate Rhino’s modeling capabilities with Revit’s BIM environment.

Generic Model Elements from Rhino (ArchiTool)

This method is ideal for projects with multiple Rhino objects. It preserves material and graphic control through Rhino layers, making it perfect for context models or schematic documentation in Revit.

Requirements

  • Rhino.Inside Revit
    Install Rhino.Inside Revit from Rhino.inside.Revit Download.

  • 01A_ArchiTool Package
    Download or update the 01A_ArchiTool package in Rhino via the PackageManager.

Step by step

  1. Open Rhino Inside Revit

    • Launch Rhino within Revit by navigating to the Rhino.Inside tab, clicking Start, and then selecting Rhino.

  2. Organize Layers in Rhino

    • Open your Rhino file.
    • Group objects into layers by material or other relevant categories.

  3. Import into Revit

    • In Revit, run the command 01A_R2R_Generic.
    • Within the ArchiTool interface, load the Breps and click Run to import the geometry as a Generic Model.

  4. Adjust Materials & Graphics in Revit

    • Modify Visibility/Graphics Overrides, Materials, or Object Styles to control the appearance of elements by layer.

Pros & Cons:
Pros

  • Fast and effective for large context models
  • Offers control over material appearance via layers

Cons

  • Geometry is not native to Revit
  • Limited editing capabilities within Revit

Transferring geometry from Rhino to Revit can be accomplished in multiple ways, each tailored to specific stages of design and detail requirements. Below are three primary methods to integrate Rhino’s modeling capabilities with Revit’s BIM environment.

Rhino to Native Revit (via ArchiTool)

For creating true Revit elements (e.g. walls, roofs) while modeling in Rhino, tools like ArchiTool’s Rhino2Native offer a robust solution.

Steps

  1. Install and Configure
    • Install the ArchiTool plugin.
  2. Prepare Your Rhino Model
    • Organize your geometry with Revit categories in mind (e.g., walls, Floors).
    • Assign objects to layers that correspond to Revit categories.
  3. Import into Revit
    • In Revit, run the command 01A_R2R_Native.
    • Within the ArchiTool interface, load the Breps and click Run to import the geometry as a Native Model.
  4. Set Translation Rules
    • In the Rhino2Native interface, define how layers or object types map to Revit families and systems.
  5. Convert & Synchronize
    • Run the plugin to convert Rhino objects into native Revit elements.

Pros & Cons:
Pros

  • Produces fully native Revit elements
  • Facilitates iterative design with direct BIM integration

Cons

  • Constrained by the inherent limitations of Revit family definitions.

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