3D Family or Assembly to display as Symbol

[RFreund]

Is it possible to create a 3D family component or an Assembly that will display as a symbol in certain views?

For example: I have a small bracket that will be placed 100's of times in a model as part of a shop drawing submittal. The brackets will be turned off on "full elevation views". On enlarged elevation views I would like the bracket to appear as a symbol (due to it's size). The only place the bracket would appear is in section view and a "typical" displaced view. The bracket will also be scheduled. 

A second part to this question:

Does it make more sense to place 100's of 3D components / Assemblies. Or does it make more sense to just use a detail item or annotation symbol in the enlarged view. The detail item could still be scheduled so no loss there. Then in the section and displaced views i would also use detail items. 

I like the idea of everything being "3D", but maybe placing 100's of 3D items isn't worth it?

Any opinions are appreciated. 

Thanks!!

[TripleM-Dev.net]

Hi,

You can place a Generic Annotation family in the 3D Family, this will automatically scale to the view.

The visible part of this generic annotation can be tricky, if possible work with detaillevel.

For instance only show it on detaillevel Medium.

Or

You can Tag the element with a Tag that includes the Generic annotation. (don't know the Families category).

For the second part of placing 100's of Families, you state the bracket will be scheduled (number of placed, or just detail info like Model Type, manufacturer etc...). If you need quantities, I would definitely make a "3D" family.

Elements have to be placed, whether it's "3D" families or Symbolic families or even detailfamilies, so in that case I would always opt for the Model "3D" family.

Note: You can also embed a detailitem IN the 3D family, without any geometry.

- Michel

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

The family can be both 3D and 2D, and all the element can have specific Visibility Settings. But, this sounds like a textbook example of where a Project View Template would be useful.  One thing that would be very smart to do here is assign all the elements in the Family to Subcategories. It is these Subcategories you will be changing the Visibility/Graphics of in the View Template.  

[RFreund]

Thanks for the response. I will look into this. 

One question - Is it possible to apply a view template or a view Filter that would basically turn your 3D element into a "square hatch" or "triangle" (basically some detail element or I suppose a generic annotation, not sure which is more appropriate)?

[RFreund]

Thanks for the suggestions. And yes I would need the number placed. 

If I "... Tag the element with a Tag that includes the Generic annotation" I would then want to 'hide' the 3d element, but would want the tag to remain visible. However, I would think that the tag would also be hidden once I hide the element. 

[TripleM-Dev.net]

Hi,

This can be solved by @barthbradley suggestion of using subcategories for 3D geometry and turn on/off in the viewtemplates. Or also use Detail Level, but for 3D geometry subcategories is the way to go.

Detail levels can get complicated if used to much, there's only 3 settings, and Coarse already affects walls appearance etc, and would limit it's use to generic annotations.

The Generic annotation can also be nested in a seperate Generic Model Family (3D family), make this Generic Model family shared and nest it in the Bracket, now also the "Generic Annotation" visibility can be controlled by per view by filters.

- Michel

[RFreund]

Just so I understand this a little better:

At first I wanted to create the bracket as a generic model ("bracket only.rfa"). Then I wanted to create the symbol as a generic annotation ("bracket symbol.rfa"). I wanted to nest these into a new generic model ("bracket + symbol.rfa"). The I would assign "bracket only" to a subcategory called 'elements' and "bracket symbol" to a subcategory called "symbol". However, it appears that you cannot assign an entire nested family to a subcategory, is that correct? 

Therefore, I need to create the subcategory 'elements' inside the "bracket symbol.rfa" family and like wise for the "bracket symbol.rfa" family. Correct? 

Also within the "bracket symbol.rfa" family if I have different line types such as a hidden line, I'll need to assign that line to a subcategory such as 'elements_hidden'. Is that correct?

Edit - Since my generic annotation is just filled region, I can't seem to assign this to a subcategory. How do would I handle that portion? Also is it more appropriate to handle this filled region as a generic annotation or as a detail item?

Thanks again!