Rhino to IFC — convert 3DM to IFC 4.3 online, free in your browser
To export Rhino to IFC, open IFCraft, drop in your .3dm file, map Rhino layers to IFC classes and export. No plug-in, no export scripts, no upload: IFCraft works as a free Rhino IFC exporter in your browser — it reads the 3DM directly (meshes, Breps and the full layer hierarchy) and produces a valid IFC in IFC4x3 (IFC 4.3), IFC4 or IFC2x3.
Open IFCraft — free, no sign-up → Runs in your browser.
How to convert Rhino 3DM to IFC step by step
- In Rhino, organise the model into layers (one layer per element type works best) and save as .3dm — with render meshes, so Breps can be tessellated. Grasshopper users: bake to layers first.
- Open IFCraft, create a project and choose the schema (IFC4x3 ADD2 for infrastructure).
- Drop in the .3dm. IFCraft reads meshes, Breps (via render mesh), the layer hierarchy, object colors, names and groups.
- Map layers to IFC classes in the element tree — per layer, per Rhino group (one product each) or aggregated.
- Enrich and export. Property sets, materials, CCI classification, georeferencing — then one click writes the IFC locally.
What Rhino content is supported?
| Rhino content | Support |
|---|---|
| Meshes | Yes — converted directly to IFC tessellated geometry |
| Breps / surfaces | Yes — tessellated from the cached render mesh |
| Layer hierarchy | Yes — nested layers keep their full path for mapping |
| Rhino groups | Yes — a group can become one product or a composite element (e.g. a gantry from several parts) |
| Object names & GUIDs | Yes — the source GUID is written to the IFC Tag attribute for traceability |
| Colors | Yes — by object or by layer, exported as IFC surface styles |
What you get in the IFC
- Valid IFC2x3, IFC4 or IFC4x3 ADD2 with deterministic GUIDs
- Composite elements from Rhino groups (parts as IfcShapeAspect + material constituents)
- Element assemblies (IfcElementAssembly) for structured products
- Property sets, materials, CCI classification, documents
- Georeferencing via IfcMapConversion (S-JTSK / EPSG:5514 supported)
- With a LandXML axis: linear placement of elements along the alignment
FAQ
Can I export Rhino to IFC without a plug-in?
Yes. IFCraft converts 3DM to IFC online: open the app in your browser, drop in the .3dm file and export IFC2x3, IFC4 or IFC 4.3. Nothing is installed in Rhino and nothing is uploaded.
Does it work with Grasshopper models?
Yes. Bake your Grasshopper geometry to Rhino layers and save as .3dm. A well-structured layer tree maps naturally to IFC classes.
Does IFCraft read Breps or only meshes?
Both. Meshes are used directly; Breps are tessellated using their render mesh, so save the 3DM with render meshes included.
Why Rhino 3DM instead of DXF?
3DM carries real solids/Breps, a clean layer hierarchy, object UserStrings and stable object GUIDs. IFCraft can also convert DXF/DWG solids (ACIS) to meshes, but for Rhino workflows 3DM remains the richer input.