How to create custom structural framing members?

[Anonymous238]

I have a custom steel girder I need to replicate over a grid numerous times. I started with creating a >component >model in place >structural framing >model that looks perfect but I can not copy it. Is there a way to copy or do I need to make this thing all over again a different way?

[Tom_Kunsman]

Model in place families are always good for "one time use" cases, but if you need to use it in other projects then that is a different story.

You should be able to copy the In Place element, but I would almost recommend remakign the component as a structural framing member so you can use it in other projects. 

[Mike.FORM · Accepted solution]

It is probably not letting you copy it because it is using the grid it is currently at as a reference for and extrusion or ne of the modeled pieces within the model-in-place family.

Copy it first with ctrl+c, ctrl+v to disassociate it from the grid or uncheck the constrain and check disjoin if possible in the ribbon when using copy.

However, as @Tom_Kunsman said it is probably better to make this as an actual family. Copying a model-in-place family in a project duplicates the family in the project browser (makes it an entirely separate family). If you need to make a change later you would need to change every one of them individually.