How to improve on underwhelming Autodesk updates for trades

Stop Waiting on Autodesk: Smarter Rebar Detailing with Custom Plugins

The Problem: Autodesk Rebar Updates Don’t Cut It

If you’re a drafter, BIM manager, or engineer responsible for rebar modeling in Autodesk Revit, you know the drill. Autodesk announces their “long-awaited updates” for rebar detailing — and you get your hopes up — only to be totally underwhelmed.

Where are the features you were hoping for? Automated bar placement? Smarter shop drawings? Consistent bar marks? Instead, you get small cosmetic tweaks that don’t touch your real pain points.

Frustration is inevitable. Autodesk’s updates for trade detailing rarely address the challenges firms face on a daily basis.

The Alternative: Build the Autodesk updates for trades you actually need

The truth is, you don’t have to wait for Autodesk to finally decide rebar is important. Instead, you can build custom plugins and tailored tools that fit directly into your workflows — no drastic software changes required.

A custom plugin can embed your firm’s standards into Revit, so every bar, every tag, and every schedule comes out the way you want it. The result? Faster modeling, fewer mistakes, and shop drawings that actually match what the field needs.

Autodesk Native vs. Custom Plugin Workflows for Rebar Detailing

Workflow Area	Revit Native Tools	Custom Plugin Tools
Bar Placement	Limited to standard path and shape tools; irregular geometries require manual workarounds.	Automated placement rules for beams, slabs, columns, walls, and irregular shapes. Handles lap splices, hooks, stirrup spacing automatically.
Cover Settings	Manual per-element adjustments; prone to errors when multiple standards apply.	Dynamic cover assignment based on exposure class, code requirements, and project rules. Built-in compliance checks.
Bar Shape Codes	Default shape library often mismatched with local (ACI/Eurocode/BS8666) standards.	Customizable shape libraries aligned with regional and fabricator standards. Auto-bending diagrams.
Scheduling & Numbering	Default schedules treat each bar instance uniquely; requires manual renumbering and cleanup.	Intelligent bar mark generation, grouping by pour or sequence, and shop-ready bending schedules. Export directly to Excel/fabrication software.
Shop Drawing Production	Manual cleanup of tags, overlaps, and annotations; time-consuming for congested areas.	Automated tagging, clash-aware annotation, drawing legends, and batch sheet export to PDF/DWG in one click.
Quality Control	Minimal checks—no automatic validation of cover, bar length, or spacing rules.	Built-in QC engine flags cover violations, invalid lap splices, max bend length errors, and rebar congestion before fabrication.
Integration	Isolated inside Revit; requires manual transfer to Excel or fabrication platforms.	Seamless integration with fabrication software (ASA, Soule, Tekla EPM), ERP systems, or project databases.
Time to Detail	Slow, repetitive, and error-prone—requires lots of manual intervention.	50%+ faster detailing with reduced RFIs and consistent outputs across projects.

Faster, smarter rebar detailing with custom Autodesk plugins.

Real-World Results

We’ve seen firms cut rebar detailing time in half with custom tools, while also reducing RFIs and field issues caused by inconsistent drawings. Instead of wasting hours renumbering bars or cleaning up shop drawings, detailers can focus on accuracy and coordination.

By codifying your firm’s own standards into Revit, every project benefits: consistent outputs, fewer mistakes, and less time spent fixing Autodesk’s shortcomings.

The Bottom Line

Autodesk’s rebar tools will continue to evolve slowly — but your deadlines won’t. If your productivity and constructability depend on it, stop waiting.

Build the update you wish Autodesk had released.

Talk to us today about how you can make Autodesk work most effectively for you!

Just one thought from our extensive AutoDesk series!