Tracing Linework From AutoCAD

[peter]

Hello Group,

First Post here...

I have developed a very complex geometry steel frame in AutoCAD, and want to import it into Revit Structure and convert the 3d lines to steel members.

I attempted the import and exploded the import into lines and found that when I try to trace the lines, they do not allow me to get snap points on them.

Is there a way to do this, or an automated way of doing this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Peter

[Thomas Maleski]

Don't explode the AutoCAD link file. Also to clarify, did you Import or Link the CAD file? I would link the file, so in the Open Link dialog, select the Link option check box.

When you go to add the Grids, Columns, Beams, use the pick option NOT the draw option.

[peter]

OK I was able to link the drawing.

Can you eaborate a little more on how to set the pick instead of the draw.

Peter

[Thomas Maleski]

I'm sorry about the pick option for beams, I was thinking of a future release.

The process I would do is:

Link in the CAD file
Convert the Grids: Select the Grid command. On the Option Bar, which is the third level of toolbars, there are two icons to place the Grids. The first, the pencil, you pick you start and end points. The other icon, the mouse pointer, is use to pick existing objects, in your case the CAD background.

Add Columns

Add Beams: Select the Beam command. On the Option Bar you can select the Grid button to place Beams between Columns. You can select one by one by holding the ctrl key or pick in the lower right and drag to the upper left corner to select multiple grids. Just make sure to end the command by selecting the Finish button on the Option bar.

[david_peterson]

On another note, make sure your acad file if close to or centered on 0,0,0. Revit dosen't like it when you have files located far away from 0,0.

[Jshaver]

"Thomas Maleski
I'm sorry about the pick option for beams, I was thinking of a future release. "

Which release? How will the justification issue be handled?

You can use the pick tool for solid sweeps and a defined profile but if your profile is not symetric (like an L angle) using the pick tool can result in an incorrectly oriented member. When you use the draw method you can pick a left then right to define the orientation. \

It may be possible that the default orientation using the pick tool is determined by the order the linked autocad linework was created?

There is an option to rotate the profiles of solid sweeps but it must be done individually and in the edit/sketch mode...not very efficient.

I am also currently building a model off of a 3d autocad line model I would suggest only using solid sweeps for complex geometry and try to utilize the native beam/brace tools aas much as possible.

Note: If any of your linework is generated via autocads spline tool you can not select it using the pick tool. Instead convert them to arcs in autocad.