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For software developers · 3D InterOp SDK

Convert Revit to 3DXML in your application

3D InterOp is a CAD interoperability SDK that lets your software read Revit files and write 3DXML, generating the 3DXML mesh from the geometry it reads, with tessellation settings your application controls.

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 Revit · Writes 3D XML
  • Mixed geometry → triangle mesh
  • C++ / C# APIs
building.rvtRevit project · BIM model
Your application
3D InterOp SDK
Revit readerTessellation3D XML writer
assembly.3dxml3D XML · tessellated · product structure

Revit to 3DXML at a glance

Revit can mix exact solids and facets; 3D XML stores triangles only, so the whole model is tessellated when it is written.

Revit (source)3D XML (target)
Full nameAutodesk Revit project3D XML
Standard / ownerAutodeskDassault Systèmes
File extensions.rvt.3dxml
GeometryB-Rep and meshTessellated geometry
Assemblies / structureYes: levels and building elementsYes
PMINot imported by 3D InterOpGraphical PMI
3D InterOp supportRead onlyRead and write

What's preserved, what changes

Here is what your application can expect to carry across from Revit to 3D XML.

  • Preserved
    Product structure
    The Revit product structure is written to 3DXML.
  • Changes
    Geometry is tessellated
    The exact Revit B-Rep is replaced by a triangle mesh, generated by 3D InterOp from the exact geometry it reads. Accuracy depends on the tessellation settings your application uses.

Why software vendors add Revit to 3DXML conversion

Lightweight review

3D XML carries tessellated geometry that opens much faster than the full CAD model, so design reviews and digital mockups stay responsive.

Sharing outside engineering

Marketing, training and sales teams rarely have CAD software. A 3D XML file gives them the shape in a format their tools can open.

Easier handling of large assemblies

Without exact surfaces and feature data, 3D XML files are easier to transfer and display, even for large assemblies.

Things to check before you ship

  • Written 3DXML versions: 3D XML 4.3, as static tessellation.
  • Only static tessellation is written, not XML tessellation.
  • Supported Revit input: Revit 2015 to 2026.
  • Test tessellation settings on your heaviest parts: finer meshes mean larger files.
  • 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 Study

About the formats

  • Source format

    What is a Revit (.rvt) file?

    An RVT file is an Autodesk Revit project: the complete building model with its elements, levels, views and BIM properties.

  • Target format

    What is a 3D XML (.3dxml) file?

    3D XML is Dassault Systèmes’ lightweight XML-based format for sharing 3D product data. 3D InterOp reads and writes its tessellated representation, with product structure and graphical PMI.

Frequently asked questions

3D InterOp tessellates the geometry it reads from Revit when it writes 3DXML. Your application sets the tolerances, so it controls the trade-off between accuracy and file size.

Yes. 3D InterOp reads the Revit product structure and writes it to 3DXML.

3D InterOp writes 3D XML 4.3 with static tessellation. XML tessellation isn’t written.

3D InterOp reads Revit 2015 to 2026.

3D InterOp writes 3D XML 4.3, as static tessellation.

No. 3D InterOp reads Revit but doesn’t write it. To send data back to Revit users, write IFC, or Revit families (.rfa) with 3D InterOp.

  • Building software that needs to convert Revit to 3DXML?

    3D InterOp is an SDK that lets your application read Revit and write 3D XML alongside 30+ CAD and BIM formats.