Think Revit Can’t do That? Think Again!
Beyond what was learned in Part 1 where Revit’s ability to model in situ in the Project environment using Planes, Faces and Edges was explored, here we take these methods in to the Family Editor environment via Family Templates for when a 3D Component is required. Revit’s ability to “model anything anywhere” will be applied to creating Forms commonly found in building components. This blog will look at some typical examples you may encounter
Justin Gillard, BIMgineer® and Sr. BIM Consultant
This approach:
Step 1) To identify and differentiate primary from secondary Reference Planes I am using Revit 2017 and have created the Annotation Object Subcategories
Step 2) Using the Door Template .RFT Draw the primary Reference Planes that will drive the sides and top of your door leaf and Padlock them in to Constraint with the Default ‘Height’ and ‘Width’ Parameters
Step 3) Method: Planar Modelling – Draw and Constrain a primary Reference Plane driving the distance from the ‘Exterior’ Wall Face to the opening Face of the door leaf and name it ‘Opening Face’. Now make this the current Work Plane in your open Views
Step 4) With the minimal primary framework in place and Work Plane Set, now Extrude the primary Form of the door leaf and Constrain it to the primary Reference Planes
Note: The geometry of the primary Form of the Extruded Door leaf becomes the host for subsequent secondary Forms or Reference Planes
Step 1) Method: Edge Modelling – Create a Sweep and Pick Path from the primary leaf’s edges to define the field mouldings geometry then apply the Profile
Note: Whatever changes are made to the primary geometry of the door leaf Form, the secondary field moulding will follow with no need for more control via Ref Planes and Parameters
Step 2) Method: Face Modelling – Continuing the use of primary driven geometry let’s add the secondary raised panel. Any face of the door leaf or moulding parallel to the new panel can be used. Use Work Plane>Set>Select a plane and pick a usable Face and define a secondary Extrusion relative to the secondary mouldings
Step 1) To conclude this exercise change the primary Parameter Width and ‘Opening Face’ distance to see all secondary geometry follow the primary geometry Constrained to it. Successful rapid and simple to follow up with edits
Good planning and a robust primary framework of Ref Planes and Forms will facilitate Families created and edited more efficiently and understood by users other than the original author.
If you found this useful, check out Part 1. Series #3 Modelling Anything, Anywhere Part 1 – Model-in-Place in the Project Environment
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