How to Create Sweeps In Revit

The Sweep tool in Revit extrudes a 2D profile along a path to create a 3D form. Swept Blend does the same, but blends two different profiles along one path. Use them for repeating, linear shapes such as cornices, rails, frames and spirals. Use massing when the form is free-standing or parametric. The steps below follow Autodesk’s current Revit help for Sweep and Swept Blend.

Here are three ways to use sweep in Revit, swept blend and an in-place mass sweep in real projects. Each one is a different level of difficulty, from a simple stepped pyramid to a helix tower.

How to Use the Sweep Tool in Revit: Simple Step Pyramid

The classic Revit sweep tool is mostly used to model simple elements, such as cornices and door and window profiles. Let’s model a simple stepped pyramid for practice.

Where is the Sweep tool in Revit?

1. Go to the Architecture tab > Component drop-down menu.
2. Click Model In-Place > Select Generic Models.
3. Press OK.
4. Go to the Create tab > Click Sweep.

Sketch Path or Pick Path

Optional: We will add Reference Lines and pick them as a path. Dragging them later instantly changes the extruded profile of a solid sweep component.

Use Sketch Path to draw connected lines to sweep the profile on. If you drew reference lines or planes before sweeping, use Pick Path instead to select them.

✨ Tip: Save a frequently used profile as “.RFA” or “.ADSK”. To import a profile, go to the Modify | Sweep tab > click Load Profile.

In this example, I preferred to import a profile image and then manually draw over it. To import images, go to the Insert tab > click Import Image.

Read our post about tracing images in Revit.

How to edit a sweep profile in Revit

1. Go to the Modify | Sweep tab > click Edit Profile.
2. In the Draw panel, select the Line tool.
3. Draw the profile you want to sweep.
4. Click Finish Edit Mode.

Voilà! Check the result in the 3D viewport.

How to Use Swept Blend in Revit: Spiral House

The difference between a swept blend and a sweep is that a swept blend is defined by two different profiles at the ends of a user-defined path. Autodesk notes that the path must be a single segment, which can be a straight line, an arc or a spline, and each profile must be a single closed loop.

What about drawing and modeling a 3D spiral form to test the efficiency of the swept blend tool?

1. Go to the Architecture tab > Click Model Lines.
2. In the Draw panel, select the Start-End Radius Arc tool.
3. Click and drag the line to its end (25 meters long).
4. Click to set a radius for the curve.
5. Apply a Mirror with Draw Axis (shortcut: DM) to the arc to get a split circle as a path that guides the 3D sweep shape.

Continue with the rest of the modeling process in the 3D viewport.

How to create a Swept Blend in Revit?

1. Go to the Architecture tab > Component drop-down menu.
2. Click Model In-Place > Select Generic Models.
3. Go to the Create tab > Forms panel > Click “Swept Blend”.

Swept Blend Profiles

1. Go to the Modify | Swept Blend tab > click Pick Path.
2. Select a curve > click Finish.
3. Select Profile 1 > click “Edit Profile” in the Tools Ribbon.
4. In the Draw panel, select the Inscribed Polygon tool.
5. In the Options bar, change the value for the sides to “4”.
6. Click the red dot and then move the cursor down to draw a uniform polygon profile.
7. Select Profile 2 and repeat the same actions.
8. Click Finish Edit Mode.

Now we have the first part of the curved spiral mass. Next we need to mirror this shape and edit the profiles of the mirrored mass.

Double-click the mass, then move the mouse over a profile and double-click to edit it. Mirror – select the axis (MM) of the finished mass. Repeat the process three times. Edit the opposite profile for each part accordingly.

To create upper and lower extensions, we need to create a reference plane that determines the path for the sweep:

1. Go to the Architecture tab > Click Reference Plane.
2. Draw the line perpendicular to the top end line in the plan.

3. Go to the 3D view and navigate to a side using the navigation cube.
4. Create a new generic model and name it “Extension”.

Sketch the path of the sweep:

1. In the Draw panel, select the Spline tool.
2. Click and draw a line from the end of the previous mass.
3. Click twice in a short line segment at the end to draw a smooth spline curve upwards.
4. Click Finish Edit Mode.

Edit Profile 1 and Profile 2 to have two (4 meters) Inscribed Polygons at both ends.

Now mirror the extension mass using the same method you used to assemble the middle parts.

To mirror it horizontally:

1. Switch to the 3D view.
2. Mirror – select the axis (shortcut: MM).
3. Select a visible horizontal line to which you want to mirror.
4. Switch to an elevation view.
5. Select the extension mass and move it (shortcut: MV) to the right place.

Watch the video tutorial to make further improvements and changes to the spiral house model:

In-Place Mass Sweep in Revit: Helix Tower

A mass in place is specific to its context. Here you can sweep across a path and across two profiles.

The Amazon Helix Tower is a complex but useful practice mass for in-place sweeps.

1. Go to the Architecture tab > click Floor.
2. Sketch or import a 2D spiral ramp boundary line on the ground floor plan.
3. Click Finish Edit Mode.
4. Select the floor.
5. Go to the Modify | Floors tab > Mode panel > Click Modify Sub Elements.
6. Change the elevations of the ramp lines accordingly.

✨ Tip: A video tutorial is attached at the end. Watch the second segment: Drawing spirals in AutoCAD. You can find the DWG file in the video description, and it is also included in the Patreon files above (Spiral_Drawing.dwg).

To add sections to help us model, go to the View tab > click Section. Add horizontal and vertical sections on the plan.

Learn more about conceptual massing.

Now it’s time to design the facade.

How to Create an In-Place Swept Mass in Revit?

1. Go to the Massing & Site tab > Click In-Place Mass.

Swept In-Place Mass Profiles

1. Go to the Architecture tab > Properties Panel > Click Reference tool.
2. In the Draw panel, select the Point Element.
3. Place reference points on the intended path.
4. Select all reference points in the view.
5. Go to the Create tab > Draw panel > Click Spline Through Points.

The path that connects all these points to create a facade is the reference line. Points are the sweep profile hosts.

✨ Tip: If you notice imprecise connections in the result reference line, try connecting the reference points in groups using CTRL + Selection. The “Spline through points” connects additional selections to one or more newly selected points when you click on them.

Between the points that create the spline, we add model points that will hold our sweep profiles. Select the spline and Isolate Element (shortcut: HH) to add these points directly.

1. Go to the cross sections created in the Project Browser.
2. In the Work Plane panel, click Set Reference Plane.
3. Move the mouse pointer over a model point in a cross section and select the vertical plane of the point.
4. In the Draw panel, select the Start-End-Radius Arc tool.
5. Sketch the sweep profile.
6. Repeat the process for any number of point elements to create all sweep profiles.

✨ Tip: Make sure you select the Is a reference line check box in the left sidebar after you select a sketched profile when you sketch it.

Finally, select all the reference lines and click Create Form > Solid Form.

Find the best solution for your project and apply it. In short: use Sweep for one profile along a path, Swept Blend when the profile changes from one end to the other, and an in-place mass sweep for free-form facades like the helix tower.

Sweep and Swept Blend FAQs

Mohamed Fakhry

Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed

His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.