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BiM and Process change
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Finally, not everything in a Revit model is modeled in 3D. You can create pure 2D drawings,
drafting views, and details in Revit; import existing CAD details; and reuse details from other
Revit projects.
Revit Allows You to Draft
The tools may be a bit different than those in AutoCAD or any other drafting application, but
there is nothing you can draw in CAD that can’t be drawn in Revit. By using the intelligence of
Revit families, you can build your details into individual components, thereby embedding draft-
ing elements into the 3D object. Figure 1.6 shows an example of a detail drawn entirely in Revit.
The Family Editor Is a Powerful Tool
Most elements (families) in Revit are made with the Family Editor and can be built with incred-
ibly powerful behaviors. Don’t be afraid to dig in to the Family Editor and explore your creative
side. We’ve seen many beautiful families and clever tricks put to use that make Revit fun to use.
Figure 1.7 shows a curtain wall system with nested panels and attachment clamps. As we’ll
discuss in Chapter 5 and reinforce in Chapter 10, creating such families isn’t too difficult, and
requires no programming or scripting knowledge. Using 3D modeling tools and parametric
dimensions, you can create reusable and dimensionally flexible components for any architec-
tural element. By taking your time, being patient, and tackling problem solving, you’ll be pro-
ducing custom content in no time.
Figure 1.6
2D details can be
drawn directly
over the 3D model,
allowing you to
add much more
information to the
model.
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