Chosing which part of a structural member have to be cut off, when cutting using a reference plane

[G.Mulderij]

To create complex objects, which are to be made out a wood, do I regularly use reference planes to cut structural framing family's. It works in most situations, but Revit cuts automatically the smallest part off the family. And this is not always the desired part.

This leads me to a forced workaround by creating multiple family's which are one part in reality. And in this forces me to use the Linework Tool <invisible lines> on all drawings.

I would me much easier for me to be able to chose the desired part to be cut off.

[Anonymous]

You should consider using the "By Face" option on the "Opening" tab. That allows you to select a plane on the structural member (top or side) and then you can draw any shape or free form cut you want. Using reference planes and grids are easy when you have lots of members that need to be trimmed with a simple cut, but the "By Face can let you put in scroll work or other details without needing to create a new family for this singular need.

[G.Mulderij]

@AnonymousIn posted situation are there multiple boxes to be made. And these are (in groups) in different dimensions, and rotated in the x-, y- and z- axes. These boxes are to be fixed at a single vertical wall (the Reference Plane) . Therefore will this functionality be very useful.

In general do I prefer the use of "Workplanes" in stead of "By Face" when modelling multiple objects. It is easer to change thing is all of them, without the risk of forgetting one.

But anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

[BDMackey]

As you stated Revit will cut the smallest part of the member, however you can then move the reference plane and the cut will move with it.  Most of the time I simply draw a reference plane, cut the geometry, then move the plane to the desired location.

[G.Mulderij]

@BDMackeyIn my experience will the "to be cutting off part" switch to the other side of the line if that became the smaller part, while by moving the reference line.

[BDMackey]

@G.Mulderij no when you move the reference line the cut off part remains.  When it moves the smaller part can become the larger part.