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How to create a 3D detail to use in several projects?

15 REPLIES 15
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Message 1 of 16
ruipfbarreiros
3645 Views, 15 Replies

How to create a 3D detail to use in several projects?

Hi,

 

I'd like to create a 3D view of an element to be able to use in different projects. The best logical way I can think of would be to create such element in a project just for that purpose, create 3D views with annotation and then somehow import only those 3D views to the project i'm working on...

 

I think it can't be done this way but it shows what I want to achieve.

 

What's the best way to reuse a 3D detail with annotations?

 

Thanks

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Using Building Design Suite 2019
15 REPLIES 15
Message 2 of 16
damo3
in reply to: ruipfbarreiros

I may stand corrected... but 3D views are of modelled objects. So you won't simply be copying a view into the project like a drafting view... you would be copying all the model components.

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Message 3 of 16
ruipfbarreiros
in reply to: damo3

yes you are quite right...i also think that the 3d object would come along...but i've read of a workaround to that, which would be to create a design phase exclusive to those 3D models so that they only appear whenever I want to...

 

would this be the best way to go about the problem? 

 

still, I can't import 3D views from the project which has the element, even if it's linked to the project i'm working on, right?

 

I can't work out the workflow for this situation..

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Using Building Design Suite 2019
Message 4 of 16

anyone?
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Using Building Design Suite 2019
Message 5 of 16
CoreyDaun
in reply to: ruipfbarreiros

There is no way to import the 3D View into another Project - you'd have to copy over the elements and then recreate the View. Perhaps you can include those elements and the desired 3D View(s) in your Project Template, so they are there at the start of every new Project. And perhaps instead of creating a dedicated Phase for these element, maybe you could create a dedicated Design Option and place these on a Secondary Option, so they don't display unless you want them to.

 

If you have to import it into an existing Project, you can link it in from another Project file (create one that only has those elements) and create a 3D View that is set to "By Linked View" and link it to the desired 3D View. It'll still take a little fiddling around with the V/G Settings, though.

Corey D.                                                                                                                  ADSK_Logo_EE_2013.png    AutoCAD 2014 User  Revit 2014 User
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Message 6 of 16
ruipfbarreiros
in reply to: CoreyDaun

i'd rather have a separate project in which I create all my annotated 3D models. my workflow now is this:

 

  1. Create a project (or projects) with the 3d models i'd like to reuse 
  2. Following your advice, create design options: a) Create an option set and name it "Main Model", b) Name the primary option "Main Model", c) Create an option in that option set name "Auxiliary 3D models"
  3. Choose the "Auxiliary 3D models" option and then link the projects containing the 3D models to that design option. This way, these 3D models will only appear if the secondary option is selected
  4. I can then activate the "By linked view" option in the visibility graphics overrides of the link and choose the view previously defined in the 3D model project. This way, I get all the annotations and detail items from the 3D model...

I just realized a major flaw to this workflow...I can't choose the design option in a view by view basis...

 

Almost had it!

 

Any suggestions?

 

PS: I don't understand why this situation has never been discussed before...I would think this would be very handy for a lot of Revit users...

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Using Building Design Suite 2019
Message 7 of 16

I think my only solution is to make use of phases since i can then select the phase I want to show on a view by view basis...

 

Correction! Through the visibility/graphic overrides I can in fact choose which design option to show! This solves the problem...

 

I'd like you now to comment on this workflow and how would you improve it..

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Using Building Design Suite 2019
Message 8 of 16

I think if you search for "legends" you will find a lot of discussion on the subject, maybe not exactly the way you want but very close to it.

 

I'm trying to find a way to do legends for windows and door families, but without remaking them at every new project (that´s why i´m following your post). I will try your workflow as soon i have some free time. Certainly this is a revit area which needs a lot of improvement.

 

Gustavo

Message 9 of 16

Maybe these steps I've made in one of my projects could help you:

  1. in original Project file choose a 3d axonometric view with dimensions .
  2. Select all the entities you want to reuse incuding dimensions - Isolate Element to control exactly what you will save 
  3. Make a Group from these selected entities.
  4. from Application Menu (R) :Save As > Library > Group >Save Group- choose Group to Save >Save 
  5.  Now , open the .rvt file saved in step 4 - it will contain the selected elements from previous steps - In 3 D Views you will find the saved View with dimensions
  6. Linked in another Revit File it will keep the elements but loose the dimensions...

step 4:

Image 01.png

Constantin Stroescu
BIM Manager AGD
Message 10 of 16
damo3
in reply to: ruipfbarreiros

So I often ask users who come to me with a problem about how or why they can't do something in Revit with the question.... "How did you do it in AutoCAD?" I ask this, because sometimes we get too bogged down with 3D modelling in Revit, when sometimes, it doesnt need to be modelled, heck sometimes it doesnt even have to be drawn, let the schedules do the work. 

 

If I assume for a moment (and correct me if I am off) you previoulsy had these 3D details in AutoCAD as 2D isometrics, that you pulled up everytime you needed them? 

Why not do the same in Revit? Now before you all go "Are you crazy! what is the point of using Revit"... Revit is not just about documenting in 3D, in my opinion its all about the coordination and creating far more efficient and coordinated documentation. Messing around with phases, design options, groups etc doesnt sound efficient to me. Sounds more like stress days factored into every project. 

 

If they were 2D isometrics "3D details" in drafting views exactly as you want them, then inserting them project to project would be a breeze, and as a previous post suggested, even have them in your template if they are that common amongst projects. 

 

BUT... this may all get shot down if you tell me you need the 3D geometry as part of your sections, elevations etc. I really don't have enough information about the context of these details within your drawing set. but my 2cents. 

 

p.s. the other beauty of this option is you can callout to these drafting views in any view with ease. 


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If you find posts have solved your problem, please don't forget to mark them as 'SOLVED' to help others with similar questions. - Thank you.
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Message 11 of 16
ruipfbarreiros
in reply to: damo3

Hi damo3,

 

Well, I don't really agree with the "How did you do it in AutoCAD" approach, because the way I see it, AutoCAD and Revit are conceptually very different programs, and the goal here is to make the most out of Revit and what it was built to do.

 

In fact, I don't have these 3D details in a 2D isometric dwg file. My intention here is to go to the next level and try to improve those detail views, making them a 3D because some of them are somewhat complex. (Mind you, my discipline is Structure. I'm asking you in the Architecture forum because the question i'm asking is not specific to structure or any discipline for that matter.)

 

Now, I completely agree with you when you say that the main purpose of BIM is actually providing for a more efficient and coordinated way to create deliverables (documentation, etc.). I also think that displaying 3D views is actually around 10% of the benefit of using Revit, but nonetheless, those 10% become more and more important as people start to get used to the BIM concept and start to require 3D views to understand our concepts.

 

I'm not too pleased as well with having to mess with design phases or design options. It's just not what those tools were made for. But in this case, I can't find an alternative way to accomplish what I'm trying to do.

 

Actually, I think that the 3D detail in a 2D drawing fits the BIM concept better when it comes to documentation, but the problem is that I can't find a way to achieve that. One possible workflow to achieve that would be:

 

  1. Make a revit project with the 3D models and create as many views as I want, fully annotated
  2. Export the 3D view to .dwg. PROBLEM: When I export to .dwg i'm exporting the 3D model, not the 3D flat view! Any alternative?
  3. Create a generic annotation family and import the previously created .dwg file to that family, so that I have a 3D model represented in a 2D detail.
  4. Insert this family into further projects as needed.

I just thought about this based on your comment. This workflow has the benefit of not having to mess around with design phases / options, but there's a major flaw: exporting the 3D view to autocad doesn't provide me with a 2D view, but also a 3D model. Where could I go from there to create a 2D view so that I can import into a generic annotation family in Revit?

 

Thanks for your input damo3. It provided me with an alternative which is almost perfect.

 

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Using Building Design Suite 2019
Message 12 of 16
damo3
in reply to: ruipfbarreiros

I should clarify, I wasn't suggesting AutoCAD and Revit are similar. However, I have noticed, that sometimes, Revit can make simple problems complex, but my point being, if you can do it in AutoCAD, you can definately do it in Revit, even if it means at a 2D level. 

 

Glad it was helpful, even if there isnt a direct solution, always good to bounce ideas and spawn various thinking. As for your remaining problems, I would have to play around with Revit. I've never explored this concept myself, like i said, just bouncing ideas. Ill post again if i come up with anything further. 

 


________________________________________________________________________________
If you find posts have solved your problem, please don't forget to mark them as 'SOLVED' to help others with similar questions. - Thank you.
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Message 13 of 16
bms953
in reply to: ruipfbarreiros

it's possible to add 3d detaili for your project with different shape and regarding to your current project.

 

take a look to this page : https://dddmodeling.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/how-we-can-create-good-presentation-in-revit-for-wall-f...

 

Behzad Meskini

Competitor in World skills Competition 2005 Finland (Mech,Eng,CADD)
Member of Iranian Elite Foundation
Autodesk Certified Professional-AutoCAD
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Message 14 of 16
ToanDN
in reply to: bms953

The tutorial is well done!

 

But the question is how to bring annotated 3d views from one project to another, not how to create them.

Message 15 of 16
bms953
in reply to: ToanDN

Thank you.

 

I understood about what he need, but honestly the way i'm coming is little different because of this: In most of the time when we are doing this is because, if we want to create same detail like our previous project is tedious and hard. and then we are trying to do something like AutoCAD . ( In AutoCAD we have many predefined detail and regarding to the project we are making edit in Text or some simple shapes and then we can submit them as documents for new project ) 

 

with this method i really believe we can create our detail regarding to the project object and this could be more logical and more sensitive for anyone who is looking and reading our documents.

Behzad Meskini

Competitor in World skills Competition 2005 Finland (Mech,Eng,CADD)
Member of Iranian Elite Foundation
Autodesk Certified Professional-AutoCAD
Autodesk Certified Professional-Inventor Pro
Autodesk Certified Professional-3ds Max
Autodesk Certified Professional-Revit Architecture
Autodesk Certified Professional-Revit Structure
Autodesk Certified Professional-Revit MEP
DS CATIA Certified V5 Mechanical Surface Designer Specialist
DS CATIA Certified V5 Associate - Part Design
DS CATIA Certified V5 Associate - Surface Design
DS Solidworks-CSWP-Mechanical Design Professional
DS Solidworks-CSWA-Advanced Sheet Metal Professional
DS Solidworks-CSWA-Advanced Weldments Professional
DS Solidworks-CSWA-Advanced Surface Professional
DS Solidworks-CSWA-Advanced Drawing Professional

Message 16 of 16
cescobar
in reply to: bms953

I know I'm necroing this thread. But to whom ever is coming here later...

 

How about creating all these 3D views in a repository file and export each one as a jpeg to be used in projects?

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