Convert DXF to RFA in your application
3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read DXF 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 DXF · Writes Revit family
- Mixed geometry → triangle mesh
- C++ / C# APIs
DXF to RFA at a glance
DXF can mix exact solids and facets; Revit family stores triangles only, so the whole model is tessellated when it is written.
| DXF (source) | Revit family (target) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Drawing Exchange Format | Revit family |
| Standard / owner | Autodesk | Autodesk |
| File extensions | .dxf | .rfa |
| Geometry | 2D drawings and 3D data | B-Rep and mesh (read); mesh (written by 3D InterOp) |
| Assemblies / structure | Blocks and layers | Nested families; assembly structure written by 3D InterOp |
| 3D InterOp support | Read; write drawings only | Read and write |
What's preserved, what changes
Here is what your application can expect to carry across from DXF to Revit family.
-
Changes
Geometry written as meshThe Revit writer writes mesh only: exact B-Rep from DXF isn’t exported to the family.
Why software vendors add DXF 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 DXF input: DXF/DWG 2.5 to 2027.
- A DXF file that only contains 2D drawings has no 3D geometry to write.
- 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 DXF (.dxf) file?
DXF is Autodesk’s documented exchange format for AutoCAD drawings, mostly stored as text. Many CAD, CAM and cutting tools import it to exchange 2D geometry.
-
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).
No. The Revit writer writes the geometry as mesh, in millimeters, without Revit parameters.
Then there is no 3D geometry to write to RFA: 3D InterOp needs 3D content in the DXF file for this conversion.
Both the 2D content (drawing sheets) and the 3D data stored in the file.
No. 3D InterOp writes drawing sheets to DXF and DWG, but 3D export to these formats isn’t supported. To send 3D data back, write a neutral 3D format such as STEP.
3D InterOp reads DXF/DWG 2.5 to 2027.
3D InterOp writes Revit 2026 families (.rfa).
-
Building software that needs to convert DXF to RFA?
3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read DXF and write Revit family alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.