Exporting a Revit model to AutoCAD is vital for seamless collaboration, particularly when clear and precise DWG files are required. In multi-disciplinary projects, effective communication depends on delivering accurate drawings that adhere to established standards.

Properly setting up the export process ensures that layers, line weights, line styles, and other critical details are retained. This allows for a smooth transition from Revit to AutoCAD, minimizing the need for adjustments or corrections after export.

Managing these elements preserves the drawing’s clarity and organization, saving time and enhancing productivity for all stakeholders. By following a well-structured approach, you can ensure that the exported DWG files meet project requirements while maintaining the integrity of the original Revit model.

This step-by-step guide will help you successfully export your Revit model while preserving key attributes, ensuring professional results that streamline workflows and improve collaboration across project teams.

Step 1: Prepare the Revit Model

Start by preparing your Revit model. This includes reviewing views, hiding unnecessary elements, and ensuring all objects you want to export are visible. Reducing visual clutter simplifies the export process and keeps your DWG file clean and manageable.

Ensure that your views (such as floor plans, elevations, or sections) are scaled and detailed to the desired export level. This will help prevent issues with object scaling or missing elements in the final DWG file.

Step 2: Set Up Export Options

In Revit, go to File > Export > CAD Formats > DWG. This will bring up the DWG Export dialogue, where you can define the parameters for exporting. Choosing the correct settings is crucial for translating Revit’s model structure into AutoCAD’s layer-based system accurately.

• Layer Naming: Revit allows you to select how layers will be named in AutoCAD. You can choose between standard Revit names or configure a naming system that suits your CAD standards. Selecting the right option here will help maintain consistent layer names and organization.
• Layer Mapping Setup: The Layer/Export setup allows you to control how Revit categories (e.g., walls, doors, and floors) are mapped to AutoCAD layers. Use an existing template or create a custom one to ensure that every Revit category has a corresponding layer in AutoCAD. This is important for ensuring that all elements are correctly organized and easy to work with in the DWG file.
• Object Styles and View Templates: Object styles in Revit impact how elements are displayed, which also affects the DWG export. Ensure that view templates and object styles are set up properly so that the final output looks consistent with your project’s standards.

Step 3: Define Line Weights

Line weights control the visual clarity of the DWG file and are crucial for printed documents. To adjust line weights, access the DWG/DXF Export Setup within the export dialog. Revit’s line weights map to AutoCAD’s by default based on object categories. However, you can customize these to achieve the desired thickness for each element:

• Set Line Weight per Category: Assign specific line weights to individual Revit categories in the export settings. For example, assign thicker lines to walls or structural elements and thinner lines to furniture or annotation elements.
• Check Printing Standards: AutoCAD often relies online weight standards for print quality, so verify that your chosen line weights correspond to your office’s or client’s standards. This is especially important if the DWG files will be printed for final presentations or submittals.
• Test with Plot Preview: After exporting, test the line weights in AutoCAD using Plot Preview to confirm that everything looks as expected. This can help you identify any adjustments that need to be made to line thicknesses before final printing.

Step 4: Select Views for Export

Only export the views you need—such as specific floor plans, elevations, or sections. Revit allows you to export individual views or a set of views, so pick only the essential ones to keep the DWG file streamlined.

• Scaling and Detail Level: Ensure each view’s scale and detail level matches your desired output. Inconsistent scaling or levels of detail can result in unintended differences in line weight or element size.
• Exporting Linked Models: If you have linked models in Revit, configure them to export correctly as well. Linked models can be exported as Xrefs in AutoCAD, which can be helpful for projects where collaboration is ongoing.

Step 5: Review the Exported DWG in AutoCAD

After exporting, open the DWG file in AutoCAD to verify the result. Check layer organization, line weights, and visual consistency:

• Layer Structure: Review that all layers are correctly organized and named based on your setup. If the layers are misnamed or elements are missing, revisit your layer mapping and export settings in Revit.
• Line Weight Validation: Use AutoCAD’s Plot or Plot Preview tools to ensure that line weights appear correctly for printing. This preview shows how the lines will look when printed and is a good way to catch potential issues early on.
• Adjust if Needed: If you notice issues with layers or line weights, return to the Revit export settings, make the necessary adjustments, and re-export the DWG file. This iterative process can help you fine-tune your setup to achieve the ideal result.

Step 6: Save Your Export Settings

To save time in future projects, save your customized export settings in Revit. This saves the layer mappings, line weights, and other settings you used, so you won’t need to reconfigure them each time you export a new file. You can do this by creating a custom export setup under DWG/DXF Export Setup.

Conclusion

Setting up export standards from Revit to AutoCAD is critical for maintaining consistency, clarity, and efficiency when transitioning between the two software platforms. Revit, as a Building Information Modeling (BIM) tool, operates in a 3D parametric environment, while AutoCAD is predominantly a 2D drafting software.

When exporting a Revit model to AutoCAD, the lack of predefined standards can result in disorganized drawings, incorrect line weights, inconsistent layering, and visual clutter, leading to confusion and extra work for the project team. By establishing clear export settings, such as layer mapping, line styles, and line weights, you ensure that the exported files retain their quality, organization, and readability, reducing the need for extensive cleanup in AutoCAD.

Managing line styles and line thicknesses during export is particularly beneficial because it preserves the graphical representation and hierarchy of elements in the drawing. In AutoCAD, line weights and styles play a crucial role in conveying design intent, differentiating between major and minor components, and guiding the construction or review process.

Without careful management, the drawings may appear cluttered or lack the visual emphasis needed to highlight key elements, causing misinterpretation and delays. Well-defined line styles improve the clarity of printed and digital drawings, ensuring they meet industry standards and are easier for stakeholders to interpret.

Additionally, setting up export standards enhances collaboration between teams that may use different software. Consultants, contractors, or clients often require AutoCAD files for review or downstream workflows.

By exporting organized, clean, and professional files, you reduce friction, improve communication, and save time for all parties involved. In conclusion, setting up Revit export standards and managing line styles ensures accuracy, efficiency, and seamless collaboration, resulting in higher-quality deliverables and a more streamlined workflow.

Still looking for answers? Start a discussion with other professionals in your industry!