getting started building autodesk revit...

TECHNICAL WHITEPAPER

In This Issue

Part One: Where to Start The Game Plan Part Two: Highlights of the Family Editor

Part Three: Building a Modeled Component Family

Part One: Where to Start

Before you start the process of building a family in Autodesk Revit, you must have a good plan of what you want this family to do before you even select an Autodesk Revit family template with which to start.

If the family is going to be used in multiple projects, it is worth taking the time and effort to make the family parametric. If it is something that you only need for one project, you can build it the way you need it and not worry about making it parametric unless you have multiple instances at different sizes. Also, do not try and build one family that can do everything you could ever imagine. The more you try and do with it, the more things you have to control and the greater the possibility it will break. For example, do not build one door family that might be solid core, vision, glass, raised panel, etc. They would be different door families.

Keep in mind the following: Just because something can be modeled, does not necessarily mean it should be modeled. Autodesk Revit is not Autodesk Inventor, you do not need to model nuts and bolts; you just need to model enough to represent the family and make connections to it if necessary. You do not need to be able to manufacture from this model.

Getting Started Building Autodesk Revit Families

What to consider before you start:

Which Autodesk Revit program and version do I need to work in?• KeepinmindthatAutodeskRevitisnotbackwardscompatible.Buildyourcontentinthe version in which the bulk of your projects are being created.

Use the right discipline of Autodesk Revit to build your content: not all functionality is available in all products.

What type of family will this be?• Thisfirstquestionhelpsyoutodeterminewhichtemplatetostartwith.

Willitrequireahost?• Ifitcanbebuiltwithoutbeinghosted,Iwouldrecommendthatyoubuilditthatwayto makeitmoreflexiblefortheusers.

Does it need to be modeled or can it just be represented symbolically?• Towhatlevelofdetail? • Doesitrequirematerials?

Do any of the parameters need to be able to be scheduled?

If this family is parametric, what do I want to be able to control?

Will those parameters be instance or type?

Will this family need visibility controls?

Do I need to control materials?

How many types will there be in this family?

Will I need a type catalog for this family?

Takingthetimetofigureoutexactlywhatyouwanttobeabletodowiththisfamilyisthefirstandmostimportant step. Having a well thought out plan will save you a lot of frustration and rework time.

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The Game Plan

In this example you are going to build a base cabinet.

1.Thefirstorderofbusinessistosketchitout.Youcandoahandsketchoftheplan,front,andsideelevations.Next you need to determine what you want to be able to control parametrically, and what can be a locked dimension. Keep inmindthatyoucannotassignalockeddimensionorparametertoeverything,somethinghastoremainflexible. Noticethefrontelevation:youwanttocontroltheoverallheight,butaparameterhasnotbeenassignedtothedoor height. It is the byproduct of the Height minus the drawer and toe kick heights. If you try to assign a parameter or lock a dimension to the door height in the model, it will over constrain the sketch. You can create a parameter to report that information but cannot tie it to the geometry.

• Getting Started Building Revit Autodesk Families

Summary of the Sketch:

According to the sketch, you want to be able to control the Height, Width, Depth, and Drawer height of the model. The toe kickwillhaveavariableheight,butthetoekickdepthisalockeddimension.Equalityconstraintsareassignedtothedoorheight, to half the width of the cabinet (because it has double doors), and to half the door width (for handle placement).

1. Autodesk Revit discipline, version, and template selection. 1. Autodesk Revit Architecture 2011. 2.Caseworktemplate(NOTtheCaseworkWallBasedfamily). 1.Eventhoughthecabinetwillprobablybesetagainstawall,youwanttohavetheflexibilityto place it as an island cabinet.

Additionally, you can make a list of other types of parameters that you need to add, whether they are instance or type, and whether they are shared.

It is also a good idea to establish standards for naming conventions for the following:

Family names

Type names

Parameter names

Sub category names

All custom content should go into a folder that you have set up to which all users have access. Custom content should NOTgointotheout-of-the-boxlibraries.Keepthefolderstructurethesameastheout-of-the-boxcontent,butaddsubfolderstomakeiteasiertofindthings.Forexample,intheDoorsfolder,youmighthaveDouble,Single,Specialty,etc.

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Part Two: Highlights of the Family Editor

When you start a new family, you will notice that the Ribbon is somewhat different than what is shown in the project environment.Aquickoverviewoftheinterfacewillhelpyoutoworkinthefamilyeditor.Inthisexample,youstartwith a casework family imperial template and use Autodesk Revit Architecture. Keep in mind that the interface changes somewhat depending on the family type that you are building and which Autodesk Revit discipline you are using.

Family Browser

Different templates will have different views that have been set up and named differently. For example, in the door template, the front and rear elevations are named interior (front) and exterior (back). Ifyouarelookingataplanview,thenamesareRear(North),Front (South), Right (East), and Left (West).

Home Tab

The Properties Panel has one tool that you will use a lot if you are building a parametric family.

It is the Family Types tool.

When you select this tool, the Family Types dialog box opens. It contains all of the parameters that are tied to thisfamily.Thesystemparametersthatcomewithafamilytemplateoftencannotberemovedormodified.


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You will notice that the parameters are all type parameters at this point: you know this because the word (‘default’) is not behind the parameter name. You can change them to instance parameters, but cannot delete or modify them in any other way. Most system family parameters are schedulable, but if they are not, you cannot make them schedulable. You do not have to use these parameters but they will always be in the family. If you want to change a system parameter to instance, you must be able to select it in the view and then select the toggle in the Options Bar to make it an instance.

Family Types:

You can add family types using the Family Types portion in the dialog box. This is where you add various sizes of an item. For example, in this case: 24” Base, 27” Base, etc.

RememberthatthefamilynameandthetypenameshouldNOTbe the same. You might name the Family: Base Cabinet Double Drwr over Door and the types would be the sizes.

Parameters:

You can add parameters that are not added in the model view or from elements, using the Parameters area in the dialog box.

When you click the Add button, the Parameters Properties dialog box opens that enables you to create other parameters.

If you click the Modify button, a dialog box opens that enables you to change the name or whether it is instance or type based, but not the Discipline or Type of parameter. If it is a shared parameter, you can change it to a different parameter of a similar type.

Note:Youcannotmodifymostofthesystemparameters.

Anatomy of the Parameter Properties Dialog Box

Parameter Types:

Family:Visibleandmodifiableintheprojectbutnotschedulable.

Shared:Visible,modifiable,schedulable,etc.,(createdfromasharedparametertextfile).

Parameter Data:

Name:Nameoftheparameter;casesensitiveifusedinformulas.

Discipline: Varies depending on product in which you are working.

Type of Parameter: Varies depending on selected Discipline.

Group parameter under: Controls its location in the properties box in either instance or type properties.

Property Types:

Type:Parametermodificationsareglobalforthisfamilytype.

Instance: Each family of this type could have a different value without creating a new family type.

•Reporting:Instancebasedandcanbeusedtoextract value from a geometric condition and report it in a formula or as a schedulable parameter.


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Understanding What Controls the Family

When you look at the working area of your screen you will see reference planes, reference lines (in some cases), dimensions, and parameters.

Reference planes are used to control most geometry.

Reference lines are generally used to control angular items.

Parameterscontroltheflexibilityofanitem.

Dimensionscontrolitemsthatwillnotbeflexible.

Keep in mind that your model is controlled by these items. You build the framework, and then use that framework as a means of controlling the geometry, not the other way around.

Properties of the Reference Plane

Wall Closure:Usedtodefinewherewallswraptoondoorsandwindows,orotherwall-hosteditems.

Name:Enablesyoutonametheplane,therebymakingitavailablefromadrop-downlistwhenyousetaworkplane.

Scope Box: Used to control the visibility of datum items.

Is Reference: Means that you can use it as a reference once the family has been loaded into a project, i.e. you can toggle to it.

DefinesOrigin: Used to indicate where you want the insertion point of the family to be located. It can be applied to tworeferenceplanesintheplanviewandtheintersectionofthetwoplanesdefinestheinsertionpoint.


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Understanding What Controls the Family

This gives you the ability to change the Family Category. For example, if you start with a Generic Model template, butwanttheitemtobeclassifiedasFurniture,youcanchange it here.

Note:Youcanchangeitemstoothercategories.However,ifyouarenotworking in the right discipline, you still will not have access to all of the parameters that you might need. This is especially true when building MEP content.

Manage Tab

Object Styles and Sub Categories

Adding additional sub categories gives you greater control of the items once they are in the project. Make sure you set the family category before you add sub categories, or you will lose any that you have already created as the original family type. These are basically line types to which you can apply a pen weight, color, pattern, and material if you want the material to be controlled by the subcategory rather than by the modeled element.


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Project Units

I recommend changing the unit format for length to inches in the family if it is something that you generally measure in inches. This will not affect anything in the project, but it makes it easier to work on the family.

Additional Settings

Thisiswhereyouwillgoifyouneedtoaddanyadditionalfilledregiontypesorlinepatterns.IwouldNOTrecommendchanging the pen weights.

I did not go over every feature of the interface, because many of them are very similar to what you are familiar with in the project environment. The rest I will cover in more detail as I progress through this series.

Part Three: Building a Modeled Component Family

In this segment you are going to start applying some of the principles outlined above as well as expand on them with some actual modeling.

You are going to build a Support for an Island Base Cabinet.

Thefollowingillustrationshowsthefinalresultofthecompletedexercise.

You are going to start by building a decorative leg.

Start a new Family.

Use the generic model for the template.

Save it into a folder that you create for this project.

NamethefileGM_DecorativeLeg.

You will be building this at the intersection of the two existing reference planes. Remember that by default, the origin of these two planes is the origin.

You will be using the following two types of forms for this component:

AnExtrusionisashapethathasthesameprofileforthetopandbottom.

ARevolveisashapethatdefinesanaxisofrotationandaprofilethatissweptaroundtheaxisatthedefinedrotationvalue (this value is often 360°).


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Tostartthisprocessyouaregoingtodefinetheframeworkfirstandthenapplydimensionalconstraintsandparameters.Anythingthatdoesnotneedtobeflexiblewillbealockeddimension.

1. From the Floor Plan Ref. Level, create reference planes as shown in the following illustration. Their exact location is not important right now. I generally draw one on the top and one on the right, and then mirror them to the opposite side of the primary reference planes.

a. If you draw your reference planes shorter than the ones that came with the template you can easily see which ones are the ones that you created and which are part of the template.

2.Changetheprojectunits(UN)tofractionalinches.(Thisisnotrequired,butifIamworkingwithsomethingthatis generally done in inches it makes it easier for me to build it by not having to type the inch marks or place a 0 ahead of the value.)

3.Changethescaleoftheviewto11/2”=1’-0”(sothatthedimensionsdonotcovereverything).

4.Nextyouaregoingtoapplytheequalityconstraint,becauseyouwantittoflexequallyfromthecenterinbothdirections.Tocreatetheequalitydimension,selecttheAligneddimensiontoolandpickthereferenceplanesthat youwanttoincludeaspartofthedimension.SelecttheEQsymboltochangeittoanequalityconstraintbut DONOTlock.Thedimensionshouldnowlookliketheoneshownontherightinthefollowingillustration.

5. Repeat this process for the other reference planes.

6.Next,placedimensionsfortheoverallwidthofthereferenceplanes.ClickModifyandthencontrolandselectboth ofthedimensionsthatyoujustadded.IntheOptionsBar,expandthedrop-downlistintheLabeltool,andselect the Add Parameter option.


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7. In the parameter properties dialog box enter the following information and click the OK button. (Keep in mind that if you want to be able to schedule this information, it would need to be a shared parameter if a system parameter is notalreadyinplaceinthetemplate.ForagenericModelfamily,therearenopredefinedparameters.)

8. The dimensions will now have the parameter ahead of the value.

9.Younowneedtoflexthemodelwhenyouaddparameterstoverifythattheframeworkismovingasexpected. You can do this in two ways:

a.Selectthedimension,typeanewvalue,andpickoutsidethedimensiontofinish.

b. Open the family types dialog box and change the value. Click the Apply button to see the change occur without closing the dialog box.

c.Ifyougetanerror,youneedtofixitbeforeyoumoveon.Atthispointitshouldhavemovedthereferencelines that you added in or out from the center depending on what the value has been changed to.


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10. NextyouaregoingtogototheFrontelevationandaddthefollowingreferenceplanesanddimensions. Each dimension must be individual to apply a parameter to it.

a. Make sure you use <Tab> to get the reference plane that is at the same location as the reference level. You want to dimension to the reference plane.

11. Add the parameters shown on the right in the illustration above, in the same way you added those on the Reference Level. Lock the 16” dimension.

12. Open the family types dialog box and create a new parameter named Top, using the settings shown in the following illustration.


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13. Next,entertheformulashownbelow.Makesureyoutypetheparameternamesexactlyasyoucreatedthem ortheywillnotwork.Noticethatonceyoufinishtheformula,theHeightparameteranditsvaluearegreyedout because it is controlled by the other values.

14. Select any of the values that you can change and modify them so that you can make sure the model is working correctly.

Thisshouldcompletetheframeworkpart.Ifsomethingisnotworking,gobackthroughthestepstofixtheproblembeforemovingon.Iftheframeworkisnotflexingproperly,themodeleditemstiedtoitwillnotflexcorrectlyeither.

NowtheModelingPortion:

A lot of your modeled elements can be created from more than one view. Select the view that makes the most sense. For example, you want to create a box that is open from top to bottom. You could create this from an elevation view, but then you would need to create a void to cut the box. If you create the shape from the plan view you will not need to use a void. Voids should only be used when absolutely necessary as they are heavier.

Therefore, you will start by creating the extrusions and then you will create the revolve.

1. GototheManagetabandselectSnapsintheSettingspanel.UnderObjectsnaps,selectCheckNone,andthen put a check mark in Intersections.

2. Go to the ref level. Zoom in if necessary to make it easier to see the ref planes.

3. From the Home tab, select Extrusion in the Forms panel.

4. Items in the view will be greyed out, a good indication that you are in sketch mode. In the Draw panel, select the Rectangle tool.

5. Draw the rectangle from one corner of the intersection of the reference planes that you drew for the width to the diagonalopposite.Aslongasyouacquiretheintersectionofthereferenceplanes,youwillnotneedtolockthe lines to the reference planes.

6. In the Properties palette, select the box to the far right of the Material parameter. This will open a dialog box in which you can add a parametertocontrolthematerial.Selectaddparameterandfillinthe information as shown here:


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7. Click OK to close the dialog box. Verify that Material is highlighted in the second dialog box, and click the OK button.

8. Selectthecheckmarktofinishthesketch.

9. Flex the Width parameter to verify that the geometry is moving with the ref planes.

10. Go to the front elevation view and align the bottom of the extrusion to the ref plane above the ref level. Align the top of the extrusion to the ref plane above the one that to which you aligned the Base.

11. Flex the Base and Toe Kick parameters.

12.Savethefile.

13. Repeat Steps 5 to 9 with the exception that you will not have to create a new parameter for the material, just select it from the list and click OK.

14. Go to the front elevation and align and lock the top and bottom of the new extrusion to the top ref plane and the one below it.

15. Flex the model.

16. Save.

Revolve 1:

1. Working from the Front elevation: Go to the Home tab, Forms panel and select Revolve.

2. You have not changed your workplane. Therefore, it will default to the center front to back for placement.

3. In the Draw panel, select the Axis Line tool and draw a line vertically along the middle reference plane. You do not need to lock it since this is your origin.

4. In the Draw panel, select Boundary Line. Sketch the following shape using the dimensions as reference. Dimension the straight segment at 1/4”.

5. Select the top radius. In the Properties palette, select the check box to show the Center Mark Visible.

6. With the radius highlighted, select the dimension symbol on the radius temporary dimension to make it a permanent dimension.

7. SelectthedimensionandaddaparameternamedTKR(forToeKickRadius).Itwillbeatype-basedparameter.


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8. Add a dimension from the reference plane at the top of the radius to the center mark. Assign the TK R parameter to this dimension.

9. Open the Family Types dialog box and add the following formula:

10.Flexthemodelbeforeyoufinishthesketch.MakesureyoudonotsetthevaluefortheToeKicktolessthan3” or you will break the sketch. (You could add more parameters to control it, but I am assuming that the Toe Kick will never be less than 3”.)

11. Assign the material parameter.

12. Finish the sketch.

13. Save.

Revolve 2:

1. RepeatSteps1to4fromthefirstrevolveusingthesketchshowninthe followingillustrationasaguideline.Thisrevolvewillnotbeflexible.Turn on the center mark for the top and bottom radius. Dimension and lock as shown in the following illustration.

2. Apply the material parameter.

3. Flex the model.

4. Finish the sketch.

5. Save.


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Creating Types:

1. Open the Family Types dialog box.

2. ClicktheNewbuttonintheFamilyTypesdialogbox.

3. Namethefamily29”.

4. Adjustthedesiredparameterstomaketheheightequalto29”.

5. Create two more family types for 35” and 41”. Adjust the parameters as needed.

6. Save.

Creating the Symbolic Representation Views:

1. Go to the ref level.

2. Createamaskingregionforthesquareshapeatthetop.Makesurethatyousnaptotheintersectionsofthe reference planes.

3. Go to the 3D view and select the extrusions and revolves.

a. In the Properties, click the Edit button next to Visibility Graphics.

b. Clear the check mark for the Plan/RCP box.

c. Clear the check mark for the Course for the Detail Levels.

4. Go to the front elevation.

a. Draw a rectangular masking region to represent the support in Course detail.

b. In Properties, edit Visibility Graphics and only leave a check mark in the Course box.

c. Finish the sketch.

5. Repeat this process in the right or left elevation.

6. Flex the model to make sure the masking regions are changing.

7. Save.

Cleaning Up the File:

1. In the Manage tab, select Purge All, verify that everything is selected, and click the OK button.


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imaginit.com • Getting Started Building Revit Autodesk Families

Setting the Preview and Compacting the File:

1. Rename the View 1 3D view as Preview.

2. Set the scale of the view to 1 1/2”.

3. Set the visual style to Shaded.

4. Save As Family. In options, select the following features as shown in the image on the right.

5. Click the OK button to close the Options dialog box.

6. Save.

Note:Thepreview,eventhoughsettoshowthefront,will display the back of the item once it is loaded into a project. This is a known issue and there is currently no workaround. If it is critical that the family display properly as a preview in a project, build the family with the back as the front and modify the origin as needed.

Testing:

Nowthatyouhavetestedthemodelinthefamilyitself,itshouldalsobetestedinatestproject.

1. Start a new project.

2. Load the family.

3. Change to the different types to verify that the family is working correctly and is visible in all views.

4. Create a new type to verify that you can create a new type in the project.

5. If everything performs correctly, it can be used in an active project or family.

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