Convert CATPart to RFA in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read CATPart files and write RFA, writing a Revit family (.rfa) as mesh geometry.
Spatial does not offer an online converter or a desktop conversion app. 3D InterOp is a component that software vendors embed in their own products.
- Reads CATPart · Writes Revit family
- Exact geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
CATPart to RFA at a glance
CATPart stores exact geometry; Revit family stores triangles. The translation is a tessellation, and the settings you choose decide how close the mesh stays to the original.
| CATPart (source) | Revit family (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | CATIA V5 Part | Revit family |
| Standard / owner | Dassault Systèmes | Autodesk |
| File extensions | .CATPart | .rfa |
| Geometry | Exact B-Rep | B-Rep and mesh (read); mesh (written by 3D InterOp) |
| Assemblies / structure | Part file (assemblies are CATProduct files) | Nested families; assembly structure written by 3D InterOp |
| PMI | Semantic and graphical | None |
| 3D InterOp support | Read and write | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from CATPart to Revit family.
-
Changes
Geometry written as meshThe Revit writer writes mesh only: exact B-Rep from CATPart isn’t exported to the family.
-
Not carried
PMIThe Revit writer writes no PMI, so the PMI read from CATPart isn’t written. Keep STEP AP242 as an output when PMI matters.
Why software vendors add CATPart to RFA conversion
Bring product content into Revit
Manufacturers publish their products as Revit families so architects can place them in building models. Writing RFA files lets your users produce that content from CAD data.
Coordinate with Revit-based teams
Many building projects are modeled in Revit. A Revit family gives those teams the geometry in a form they can load into their project.
Fewer manual remodeling steps
Without a direct export, CAD parts are often remodeled by hand in Revit. Writing the family directly saves your users that step.
Things to check before you ship
- Written RFA versions: Revit 2026 families (.rfa).
- Revit families are written in millimeters, without Revit parameters.
- Supported CATPart input: CATIA V5 R8 to V5-6 R2026.
- Validate a sample of translated files in the target system your users actually work with.
Working with Spatial was a real milestone for us: Thanks to the powerful 3DInterOp library, we were able to successfully bring our complex CAD-based solutions to the cloud while remaining flexible to meet individual customer requirements. For us, Spatial is not just a technology partner, but a true enabler of our product strategy.
Dr. Arno Michelis, Founder, Simus Systems
Read the Case StudyAbout the formats
-
Source format
What is a CATPart (.CATPart) file?
A CATPart file is a CATIA V5 part: one component with its exact 3D geometry, features and, often, PMI. Assemblies of parts are stored in CATProduct files.
-
Target format
What is an RFA (.rfa) file?
An RFA file is a Revit family: a reusable component such as a door, a window or a piece of equipment, with its geometry, types and parameters, loaded into Revit projects.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Revit writer writes mesh geometry only, without B-Rep or Revit parameters, for the latest Revit version (Revit 2026 in 3D InterOp 2026 1.0.1).
The Revit writer writes no PMI, so the PMI read from CATPart isn’t written. When PMI matters, offer STEP AP242 as an output.
No. The Revit writer writes the geometry as mesh, in millimeters, without Revit parameters.
No. 3D InterOp reads CATPart files directly, without CATIA or a CATIA license on the machine.
3D InterOp reads CATIA V5 R8 to V5-6 R2026.
3D InterOp writes Revit 2026 families (.rfa).
Yes. 3D InterOp reads and writes both formats, so RFA to CATPart is supported too.
-
Building software that needs to convert CATPart to RFA?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read CATPart and write Revit family alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.