How do you Create a Custom Beam in Revit?

Creating a custom beam in Revit involves defining the beam's profile and then placing it in your model. Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Create a New Family for the Beam Profile:

   • Go to "File" > "New" > "Family".
   • Choose a family template, typically "Metric Profile.rft" or "Generic Model Line Based.rft" (the latter is useful for beams that will span between points). If you're using an imperial template, choose the equivalent. The profile template is ideal for simple shapes.

2. Draw the Beam Profile:

   • Within the Family Editor, use the drawing tools (lines, arcs, circles, etc.) to create the desired shape of your beam's cross-section.
   • Ensure the profile is drawn around the origin point (the intersection of the two reference planes). This point will be used as the insertion point of the beam.
   • Use dimensions and parameters to control the size and shape of the profile. Parameters allow you to easily adjust the beam's dimensions within your project.

3. Save the Profile Family:

   • Save the family with a descriptive name (e.g., "Custom Steel Beam Profile").

4. Create a New Beam Family:

   • Go to "File" > "New" > "Family".
   • Choose a structural framing template, such as "Metric Structural Framing - Beam.rft" or the imperial equivalent.

5. Load the Profile into the Beam Family:

   • In the beam family, go to "Insert" > "Load Family".
   • Browse to and select the profile family you created earlier.

6. Create a Sweep to Define the Beam:

   • Go to the "Create" tab and select "Sweep".
   • Select "Pick Path" and choose the reference line that defines the beam's length (typically, this is already defined in the template).
   • Click the green checkmark to finish defining the path.
   • Select "Select Profile" and choose the loaded profile family from the dropdown. You may need to adjust the profile's location relative to the path using offset parameters.
   • Click the green checkmark again to finish the sweep.

7. Define Beam Parameters:

   • Associate parameters like material, finish, and other relevant properties to the sweep. This allows you to control these aspects of the beam within your project.

8. Save the Beam Family:

   • Save the beam family with a descriptive name (e.g., "Custom Steel Beam").

9. Load the Beam Family into your Project:

   • Open your Revit project.
   • In the beam family, go to "Load into Project" and select your project.

10. Place the Beam in your Project:

    • Go to the "Structure" tab and select "Beam".
    • Choose the custom beam type from the Type Selector in the Properties palette.
    • Click to place the start and end points of the beam in your model. Revit displays listening dimensions for the length and angle of your beam.

Important Considerations:

• Reference Planes: Use reference planes extensively in both the profile and beam families to ensure parametric control and accurate placement.
• Work Plane: Make sure you're drawing on the correct work plane when creating the profile.
• Constraints: Apply constraints to lock the profile to the reference planes, ensuring it updates correctly when parameters change.
• Materials: Assign appropriate materials to the beam for accurate rendering and analysis.