Cutting a section through a linked 3d AutoCad file

[tcarver]

The structural engineer and fire protection guys have both drawn their stuff in AutoCad. All my stuff is in Revit. So, when I bring their models into Revit and cut a section through them, it shows ALL of the steel/pipe, making it very difficult to understand where my pipe/duct is in relationship to their's. Has anyone had or heard of this problem? I read on another forum something about bringing in the file as a "mass", but I'm not sure I did it right.

Any help would be fantastic!!!

[Jrobker]

Your right.
It will not cut the imported DWG.
What you have to do is create a generic in place familly and import the cad file into that
**update**
I just tested it and it worked fine for me.
How are you "bringing it in"?

[Simon.Whitbread]

I read on another forum something about bringing in the file as a "mass", but I'm not sure I did it right.

Partially correct - depending on what you want to use it for, but creating a mass object and importing into your project will work. You just have to remember to turn on the "Mass" category in every view that you want to print

...What you have to do is create a generic in place familly and import the cad file into that.

Also partially correct but I wouldn't recommend using an "in place family" due to the performance issues around in-place objects.

A much better workflow would be to create a separate Generic Family for each, and import 3D DWG. Then load the families into your project.

Depending on project size, you may want to load these families into a 'placeholder project' and link this into your Revit project, this way, if there are memory issues, you can choose to unload the placeholder project(s)

Attached is image showing (left) imported dwg, and (right) dwg imported into Generic Family and then loaded into project

hth

[tracyt]

I followed the directions above, and the acad link shows up and cuts fine in section and 3D view. But I can't get it to display correctly in plan view. Only about 5% of the link shows up. Does anyone know why it doesn't display right in plan view?

Thanks for your help

[Simon.Whitbread]

Can you elaborate a bit or post an image so we can get an idea of what exactly is missing, do you mean in the extents of the plan, or height?

[tracyt]

I attached an example revit model and an image of what the plan view looks like in the generic model family. The GM family is within the view range and VG has everything turned on. I am out of ideas of what to look for. Hopefully you can help. I left a section in the model so you can see it cuts fine.

[Simon.Whitbread]

Thanks for the file, it helped.

The issue you have is to do with the cut plane, if you extend the cut plane to say 20', the dwg looks fine.

This will however affect where your model is cut everywhere in that view.

HTH

[tracyt]

Thank you for figuring it out!

[tracyt]

Does this mean the cut plane always has to be above the cad file for it to display in plan view?

[Simon.Whitbread]

Does this mean the cut plane always has to be above the cad file for it to display in plan view?

If you want to see all of that obect in plan view, yes. There are alternatives:

1. using 'Plan Regions' although I've never been a great fan.
2. create another Revit project with the dwg. Adjust the view range and then link that project to yours, and override the graphics for your link
3. Create TWO views - one with your services and architecture, the other, ONLY the dwg family, overlay them both on a sheet