Need to same time and money? Sure we all do. Nowhere is this more true than in the BIM world. If you are not leveraging free bim content and buying libraries, you are spending too much time modeling products you do not need to.
Before you read this article, go here to find info on installing or finding libraries and how to download Revit.
What are the best family content libraries?
- Arcat - Free, easy to search, connected to building product manufacturer CAD, Specs and other critical information. Of all the family libraries, this one takes the cake ... Yes, we are a little bias. :)
- Revit City - Community favorite and one of the oldest libraries on whe interwebs.
- Parallax - The most sophisticated Revit components on the web. And a great place to up your BIM game with tutorials and courses.
- BIMsmith - Another great resource for quality BIM on the web.
- Library Revit - This is a new comer to the BIM game and they, too, offer a wide variety of content.
- NBS Source - Is the new home for the National BIM Library.
- BIMstore - Another great free library.
- CADDetails - Long time site filled with CAD and BIM.
- Modlar - Quality library that has been around for quite some time.
- BIMObject - Spans manufacturers worldwide with tons of quality content.
Why is one BIM library better than another?
- Key Attributes - The attributes you should be looking for in a BIM library should linclude: cost, account registration, quality content and breadth of content. Arcat's parameters are in English. Sorry, other languages are not available for our content.
- How much does this great content cost? - Free is always great. But, sometimes you need to shell out some cash to get some very useful Revit families. For example the Doors collection from Parallax is an amazing set of content with features galore. Certainly worth a look.
- Privacy? - If you are comfortable giving your info to a site where you are not sure what they will do with it, then plow forward. If you are paranoid, like me, you may want to steer clear.
- Quality is King - Revit families that do not work, have too much geometry, or are missing data and parametrics will not do. All the libraries listed here have quality content created by real pros.
- Time = $$$ - It is always a time saver when you search for '3 floor residential elevator bim' and you get results. Sure, not every library will have every type of family you need. But, the more Revit loadable families returned, the better.
- Breadth of Families - If you a user and can't find the family you need, then how useful is the library? Not very. All the libraries listed excel in this aspect. Being able to quick navigate categories or quickly search and find product's families, is a must have. Again, most of these sites provide great findabilty.
Formats, formats, formats ...
What good is a content library if they do not have the format you need? The answer is no good. So, what BIM formats are there? The largest would be AutoDesk Revit Architecture and Trimple SketchUp and AutoDesk AutoCAD. But, there are many others out there. IFC and AutoCAD DWG can work with most software out there. And what if you have Revit 2021 or 2023 versions? Having multiple years can be very useful as well.
Another Format for Viewing
It is always great to see the geometry before you download and load families into your project. Arcat has a tool to view the top products in 3D. Give it a try - you'll love it.
AutoDesk Revit Library - Revit Family Templates Settings - Download Revit
Refer to these educational YouTube videos for more information on Revit's libaries, where they are found, and more:
Go here: to download Revit and or buying AutoDesk Revit and or getting support.
Conclusion
You could spend your weekend away from your family and your dog, Sparky, modeling those metal roof ladder families in Revit ... Or, you could go to the Arcat BIM Revit Library and find, download and use the revit family content you need quickly and easily. Come on Sparky, let's go for a hike. :)