How can I create a cable tray that is curved in plan?

[BalajiHTI]

I want to create a cable tray by an arc. But I can create only straight lines. Is there any workaround otherthan splitting it with regular intervals and modelling it originally as an arc / spline?

[bvm76]

what you could do is to create a special equipment/generic model to represent this curve tray using sweep tool.

[BalajiHTI]

That is an option but it can not have branches of the cable tray. It will not trim or extend with normal cable trays if I used In Place Families.

[bvm76 · Accepted solution]

Cable tray are system families which you can't create/customize

[BalajiHTI]

Yes, I realized it lately. Thank you for the information. I think Revit will only enable options that can actually be created/constructed practically. Thats a good restriction.

[smbrennan]

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@bala8vijay wrote:

Yes, I realized it lately. Thank you for the information. I think Revit will only enable options that can actually be created/constructed practically. Thats a good restriction.

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I think system familes can tend to get too complicated. While they're easy for us to visualize, it may be hard for a computer to process - or Autodesk hasn't put the time into allowing us that flexibility - and that comes from not enough people voicing their opinions. So first things first, use the link in my signature to provide product feedback. They listen - and I've been getting a lot of responses lately for the feedback I've submitted in recent months.

Now, for the comment about products that are constructable/practical - well I would love to be able to create a new cable tray that more closely represents the tray that's being installed. If it's basket, I want to shot that. Whalebone, ladder rack, etc. However, the only workaround is to make a parametric family (i've seen generic models, electrical equipment, cable tray fittings - pick your poison).

So again, I urge you to please not settle on workarounds and assume Autodesk have everything figuired out - because they don't. They wouldn't be in business anymore if they did. Submit the request to Autodesk. The more people that do so, the better.