Can I get a beam family to be created above the level?

[scowsert]

I'd like to have a beam that has part of it above the reference level. I can make the beam go below the level just fine but the beam seems to look at the family and identify the highest point then set that as the reference level. In other words I can't get part of the beam to go above the reference level.

So I'd like to place a beam and have it automatically come in like "beam desired.JPG" (Image 1). "Beam low.jpg" (Image 2) works like almost like I'd expect. Drop the sweep down, it drops down in the project. "Beam high.jpg" (Image 3) ignores how high above the level I place the family. How do I make this obey with out changing each instance after placing it in the project?

[G_J]

It is all about the reference planes.

In your family, if you draw a reference plane at the level you want your beam at, and lock the model lines to the reference plane that should work.

You can then add parameters from that reference plane to the default horizontal reference plane in the family editor to enable control of that distance as an instance parameter within the project.

Hope that helps.


Regards