Move Elements in 3D space but with no common work plane

[Wojty1]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently learning the basic features of Revit on my own by playing around and now I'm struggling with understanding basic commands and Work Planes.

As you can see below there is a steel structure construction in the screenshot which I need to align.

I would like to align the smaller beams (12 Sweeps) on the (12) Model Lines between the bigger beams (2 Sweeps).

Unlike Civil 3D (where you can move around objects with absolute freedom) Revit only seems to know Planes.

Planes, Planes, Planes and even more Planes. Nothing but Planes. OMG.

I'm really lost here.

Could someone tell me how to get this done?

P.S.

Is there a way to make the 12 smaller Sweeps (2 bigger Sweeps respectively) depending on only 1 Sweep which I can change and all others change dynamically based on the "mother" element?

I am at the very beginning of learning Revit self-taught, the same way I learned AutoCAD and later Civil 3D by try and error.

Many thanks in advance.

Best regards

[RC_RVT]

why are you using a sweep for this? Could you not use an extrusion if you are modelling them?

If so you could then create one extrusion and then use it to create an array of the 12 beams. From here, you could edit just one of the beams and it would change all 12. You could also change the number of beams and distance with ease. See below example of what I mean. I've never worked much with steelwork, but hopefully it helps.

[RC_RVT]

Did this solve your issue? If so can you accept the solution, if not, let me know.

[Wojty1]

@RC_RVT partially...

Your idea to create an array of extrusions seems to be the way to go.

But... I'd like to know if it is also possible to move elements around in 3D like in Civil 3D...

or if Revit only operates on planes.

I was asking this because it would change the way I currently think.

[Wojty1]

@RC_RVT

almost. Your hint with using arrays seems to be good practice.

Just one thing:

I'd like to know if it's possible in Revit to move elements around in 3D space like in Civil 3D.

I am asking this in particular, because it would change the way I currently work.
Once I know how Revit "thinks" I will adapt to that, because right now I think "like Civil 3D" does.

[RC_RVT]

You can do this, just make the family constrainable to its own reference planes that aren't attached to anything else.