Learn how to use Revit's Displace Elements feature to create visually engaging exploded views and detailed assembly representations without altering your model's underlying geometry. This powerful tool is essential for clear communication in architectural and engineering projects.
Understanding Displaced Elements in Revit
In Revit, displacing elements allows you to visually move selected model components in a specific view (2D, 3D, or perspective) without affecting their actual position in the project model. This creates a "displacement set" that exists only within that particular view. It's an invaluable feature for creating:
- Exploded Axonometric Views: To show the assembly or breakdown of complex building components.
- Construction Sequencing Diagrams: To illustrate the order of construction.
- Detailed Connection Callouts: To highlight how different parts connect.
Step-by-Step Guide to Displacing Elements
Displacing elements in Revit is a straightforward process, primarily managed through the Modify tab.
1. Selecting Elements for Displacement
To begin, you need to select the model elements you wish to displace. This can be a single element or multiple elements working together as part of an assembly.
- Open a 2D, 3D, or perspective view where you want to create the displacement.
- Click to select one or more model elements. You can use standard Revit selection methods like clicking individual elements, window selection, or filtering.
2. Initiating the Displace Command
Once your elements are selected, the context-sensitive Modify tab will appear.
-
Navigate to the Modify |
View panel (e.g., Modify | Walls, Modify | Floors, or just Modify depending on selection). -
Click the Displace Elements command.
The selection now becomes a displacement set, which means these elements are now part of a group that can be visually moved in this view.
3. Managing Constraints (Important Note)
Before proceeding, be aware of existing constraints:
- Elements that are constrained cannot be displaced until their constraints are removed. If you try to displace a constrained element, Revit will typically provide a warning.
- To remove constraints, you might need to select the element and look for the 'Remove Constraints' option in the Modify tab or detach them from specific conditions.
4. Adjusting the Displacement Path
After creating a displacement set, a gizmo (a set of XYZ arrows) will appear on the selected elements.
- Drag the gizmo's arrows to pull the elements along the X, Y, or Z axes away from their original position.
- For precise movement, select an arrow and then type a specific distance in the temporary dimension field that appears.
- You can also use the Move or Rotate tools from the Modify panel on the displaced set for more complex positioning.
5. Adding and Customizing Path Lines
Path lines visually connect the displaced elements back to their original position, enhancing clarity.
- With the displaced set still selected, in the Modify | Displaced Elements tab, click Path.
- Click on an edge or vertex of the displaced element to define the start point of the path line.
- Click on a corresponding point on the original element's implied position (or a nearby element that would have been connected) to define the end point.
- You can adjust the line style of path lines in the properties palette or by using the "Graphics" options.
6. Resetting Displacement
If you need to revert a displaced set to its original position within the view:
- Select the displaced set.
- In the Modify | Displaced Elements tab, click Reset. The elements will snap back to their actual model location in that specific view.
Practical Applications and Benefits
Displacing elements offers significant advantages for design communication:
- Creates Exploded Axonometric Views: Clearly illustrates the individual components of an assembly.
- Visualizes Construction Stages: Helps demonstrate how different parts come together sequentially.
- Highlights Complex Connections: Makes it easier to understand intricate detailing in assemblies.
- Enhances Construction Documentation: Provides visually rich details that are hard to convey with standard plans or sections alone.
Tips for Effective Displacement
To maximize the impact of your displaced views:
- Group Elements Wisely: Select logical groupings of elements that belong together (e.g., all layers of a wall, or all components of a roof assembly) before displacing them as a single set.
- Use Different Views: Remember that displacement is view-specific. Create duplicate 3D views for different exploded states or assembly sequences.
- Precision is Key: Use numerical inputs for exact displacement distances to maintain accuracy and consistency, especially when multiple sets are involved.
- Consider Path Line Styles: Customize path line graphics (weight, color, pattern) to match your presentation standards and improve readability.
- Save as Views: Always duplicate and rename your views (e.g., "3D Exploded View - Roof") before applying displacement, so you retain your original model views.
- Beware of Constraints: Regularly check for Revit warnings related to constraints, as they can prevent elements from displacing. Resolve them by removing constraints when necessary.
Example Scenario: Exploding a Roof Assembly
| Step | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Select Roof Elements | In a 3D view, select all elements forming the roof structure: slabs, framing, insulation, and finishes. |
| 2 | Displace Elements | Go to **Modify |
| 3 | Adjust Position | Drag the Z-axis (blue arrow) of the gizmo upwards to visually lift the roof assembly above the walls. |
| 4 | Add Path Lines | Click Path. Add lines from key edges of the displaced roof components down to the top of the walls or columns, showing their original position. |
| 5 | Refine View | Adjust the camera angle, add annotations, turn on shadows, and set graphic display options for a clear and impactful presentation. |
Further Resources
For more in-depth information and official documentation on displaced elements:
- Autodesk Revit Help: About Displaced Elements (Note: Link may lead to a specific Revit version; search Autodesk Knowledge Network for your current version if needed).
