A faster way to add parameter to family

Now, when one created a new Generic Model family, there is no parameter other than the Identity Data. So one tend to add paramater all over again. It will be good that we can use some parameter already created in other family template so to save our time.

To achieve this, first you change the Family Category and Parameters from Generic Model to say for example: Doors.



























You notice that now you have additional Dimensions and Constraints parameters.


















Now draw a solid, dimension and assign the existing Width and Height parameter to it. Then change the Family Category and Parameters from Doors to Generic Model again.















You will notice that now you have only the parameters that you have assigned to your model. All other unused parameter are now discarded.

Creating Feature Wall in Revit

This is a follow up article on Revit Nested Families by DesignReForm.net posted on 26 Oct 2008. I notice that there are some comments that the video tutorial is a bit difficult to follow. So I have summarised it to be the following. I find that it useful to create feature wall in a landscaped garden hence the title.

1. Create a new Generic Model family and maybe named it "Box".

2. Goto Front view and draw 4 reference planes as shown. Notice that I did not use the existing Ref Level for the bottom reference plane. I also did not create an Equal Constraint for the left and right side.

3. Draw a Solid Form using Solid Extrusion. Lock the 4 edges to the Reference Planes.

4. Goto Floor Plan - Ref level and draw a Reference Plane above the Centre Ref Plane. Drag the edge of the box and lock it to the Reference Plane drawn.

5. Dimension the Reference Planes in Floor Plan view and add "Depth" parameter to it. Make it an Instance parameter.

6. In Front Elevation view dimension the Reference Planes as shown. Add "Width" and "Height" Instance parameter accordingly.

7. Save the family and named it "Box".

8. Create a new Curtain Panel family. In Floor Plan view place the created "Box" as shown. Note that the "Box" should face towards Exterior.

9. Drag the left and right sides of the placed "Box" and lock them to the respective Reference Planes.

10. Goto Elevation - Exterior view and drag the bottom Reference Plane away from the Ref Level as shown. Then drag the top and bottom sides of the "Box" and lock them to the respective Reference Planes.

11. Save the curtain panel family and named it "Box Panel".


12. Create a new project. Draw a curtain wall and add curtain grids as shown. I have used Single Segment Curtain Grids to draw the Curtain Grids.

13. Load the new curtain panel "Box Panel" into the new project. Named the project "Feature Wall'

14. Use Filter Selection and select all the curtain panels. Replace all the curtain panels with "Box Panel". Now, the wall looks interesting but we want to make an uneven feature wall. We can use some formula to make this happen.


15. Go back to the "Box" Generic Model. Add a formula on the "Depth" parameter. In this case, I want the depth to be driven by the "Width" and "Height" parameter. The formula I use:
(Width * Height) / 5000.

16. Load the new "Box" into the curtain panel family "Box Panel". Override all the existing parameters. Then load the modified "Box Panel" into the "Feature Wall" project. Override all the existing parameter as well.

17. The new "Feature Wall" is created. You may try to explore with a different formula to drive the Depth value to achieve different results.

Another Complex Curtain Wall in Revit

Recently I have been following David Light's blog. He is having this complex curtain wall that he briefly describe on how he do it. The following is a more detail version of it.

1. Create a new generic family. In this case, I am assuming my curtain panel to be 1000mm x 1000mm. Go to front view and create all the necessary reference planes as shown. Then use Spline to draw the path. Add the control points as necessary. The extra control points will make the curvature end at the top end bottom in a tangential manner.















2. Draw the profile as shown at the end of the path.









3. Goto Solid Form and choose Solid Sweep. Pick the path as shown.













4. Drag the Profile location to the end of the path.













5. Pick on Profile and choose the profile as shown.













6. Choose Finish Sweep and mirror the created sweep.



















7. Saved the generic model and loaded into a new curtain panel family. Placed the generic sweep with Left Reference as origin. This is so that the cutain panel will be placed properly.















8. Create a new curtain wall with the grid spacing of 1000mm x 1000mm. Replaced all the curtain panel with the new custom panel.

Making a 3D Roadway in Revit

I was asked by some one to help create a roadway in Revit. As the roadway is not straight but comes with circular curves, he cannot use Ramp to create it. The best way to achive this is using the Slab tool.

1. Draw the Roadway with Slab command as shown.

2. Use Polar Arrayed Lines to sub-divide the circular curve area.



















3. Pick on the Roadway created and choose the Sub-Element - Add New Points tool.












4. Add nw points to the edges as shown.












5. Modify the elevation of each points. Create a section through each edge lines will facilitate the proper changing of elevation.














6. With each points properly elevated, you will get a nice roadway as shown.

Generative design by Revit

To the contrary then most people believe, Revit Architecture can actually do complex shape as the Revit core engine can actually handles complex geometries. It is only that the current geometric tools are currently a bit limiting even though Revit Architecture 2009 Swept Blend function proves a great improvement.

The left is one of the illustration courtesy of Craig Barbier.

How to do Timber Lattice in Revit

I was looking around for a way to create lattice look fence and come across this article in HOK CAD Solutions. So this save my time in writing a new one about it. Enjoy!

Darryn B, LON asks: I need to create a timber lattice structure, such as the attached pictures, as a wall and possibly as a slab too. I was wondering if anyone knew of or has done anything like this before?


William LC responds: Here’s a couple of examples on the approach I would take for a Timber Lattice Material.
As you can see I’ve played with Transparency and Bump, for a straight and a 45º option. You can use it in a Wall or in a Curtain Wall setting (my recommendation), be careful to modify the Mullions accordingly too.
In my test the Lattice is roughly 8 cm wood x 12 void, but that can be customized through the Maps and Map Alignment. Notice the material has a 50% Transparency and a Surface Pattern, for Revit shaded or Hidden views.

Custom Family Template

There are quite a number of standard family template for us to create families of different categories. However, are you able to create your own family template? The answer is - it is possible.

1. You may copy an existing family template say Generic Model. Rename it Custom Template.

2. Now this is the trick. Rename the template from .RFT to .RFA. This will allow you to edit the template file.

3. Customize your template file as required. Saved it and rename it back to .RFT.

4. Now when you create a new family, there will be a new template call Custom Template.

Creating Axonometric Sectional View

Most of us uses Section Box to create a 3D sectional view. However, sometimes we may want to create an axonometric sectional view from a sectional view. Using Section Box is not so accurate. For this, we may use the 3D Views command to achieve this.

1. Use Duplicate View to duplicate the default 3D view. Rename it Axo View.

2. In the floor plan, draw a Sectional Line using Section. You may rename it Axo Section.

3. Double click on the Axo View to activate it. Pick on the empty area. This is important so that you can change the View Orientation.

4. Goto View pull down menu, pick on Orient and then To Other View....


















Select the view Section: Axo Section.


















Now the view is oriented to Section View.







5. Use Orient then Southeast View to see the Axonometric Sectional View.

Sculpture like curtain wall

I was checking out the blog by David Light. He and a couple of other bloggers are pushing the limits of Revit curtain wall panel. So I was trying to follow what he has done with the curtain wall panel to create some custom curtain wall which is sculpture like.

The following picture is the results of such experimenting:












If any of the readers is interested to know how this is being done. Please check out the blog by David Light or email me for further information. Basically I am just creating two Generic Models and load them into a custom curtain wall panel.

Now you see it now you don't

I was importing an AutoCAD dwg file into Revit 2009 for some project for my client. It looks OK on floor plan.


However, in 3D view, the screen just go blank with no Revit entities nor AutoCAD entities on sight. No amount of setting changes will make the drawing appear.

The mystery was finally revealed when I open up the AutoCAD file in AutoCAD. It appears that some part of the CAD drawing are having unusually high and low points. Even in AutoCAD the iso view does not display the drawing entities as well. After I edit the elevation of all the lines and blocks, then the drawing appear as per normal.

This apparently is only a problem in AutoCAD and Revit 2009. Seems that the display would not work properly when there are irregular Z points in version 2009 but other version will display the drawing with the irregular points. So, if your 3D view in Revit suddenly goes blank, please check your imported CAD drawing for a ny irregular points.

Problem with Host Sweep-Roof Fasia in Revit 2009

I was trying to model the ridge tile and hip tile on roof and realise that the Host Sweep on Roof Facsia do not allow you pick on the ridge or hip anymore in Revit 2009.

This is because of a bug in Revit 2009 Build: 20080321_1900. What you need to do is to update your RAC to Build 20080602_1900 and you will be OK. It's not a Hotfix or Service Pack / Patch it's just in the latest build. The Host Sweep > Roof Fascia now works on roof ridges again.

How to override graphics on screen

There are many a times that we need to show the graphics differently for same object in different situation. For eg. the wall outline are normally plot in black, but let's say for fire safety department, you need to show all the wall with fire ratings in certain color (as above).

To do this, you may use Filter which is a very useful tool to override graphics consistently for diffrent situations.

1. Setup Filter - pick Filters from Setting pull down menu.














1. Create a New Filter.
2. Give a Filter Name.
3. Choose from appropriate category. In this case, it is Wall.
4. Specify the Filter Rules.
5. Click OK.

2. Specify the properties for your object. In this case, it is Wall.

Notice that I have specified the Fire Rating.

















3. Select the object to apply the filter for graphics override and right click.

Choose Override Graphics in View - By Filter











4. When the Visibility/Graphics Override dialog appear, specify the line color accordingly.
















5. There you have it.

Problem with 3D View in Revit 2009

In Revit Architecture 2009, you may find a problem with 3D view (non perspective view). It would appear as half shaded and half wire frame (as attached).

This is because of a bug within the display of Revit Archietcture 2009. This also happens with AutoCAD 2009 as well. However, there is any easy way to solve this problem. Just delete the 3D View and goto View menu and choose New then Default 3D View. Voila! The 3D view appear as normal now.