Inventor can open the Solidworks assembly

Browse to the SLDASM file and open it.

I used the default options for import.

Now go to the BIM Exchange Environment

Note that one is able to add MEP connectors and to shrink-wrap the component (we will do this later to show the difference between shrink-wrapped and non-shrink-wrapped building components)

Checking the design reveals that it is deemed to be complex. This is because no simplifications have been made.

A warning is displayed about the complexity.

A recommendation is made that invisible parts can be suppressed.

Accepting the defaults

Save the file as an ADSK file.

A report can be generated.

It displays in a browser and in this case states that the ADSK component was created successfully.

Open the ADSK file using Revit. By default it is a family of type Generic model. I change it to a Speciality Equipment family.

By default the units are set to imperial, so change the units to metric if required.

Partial Explode the ADSK component and delete the Bounding Box.

Delete the Bounding Box and change the visual style to realistic.

It is evident the materials have been ported from Inventor to Revit. If the component is fully exploded, the geometry consists of one solid part.

The faces of the fully exploded part can be painted in Revit if required.

Lastly, notice the size of the partially exploded and fully exploded Revit families are the same: 752 KB.

This is a rather large file even though the component is relatively simple. Imagine the size of the file if it had lots of complex geometry like a gearbox! The shrink-wrap function, meant for instances like this, is discussed it he next blog.