A very quick tip and trick when you need to create a 3D view that is oriented to another 2D view. In large projects you are presented with a list which does not come with a scroll bar or search tool. This means that you can spend a considerable amount of time clicking around to get your required view.
Simply create a new keyboard shortcut for the Orient to view command, take a look at the video for a quick and easy solution.
Hope this is useful
Been a little while since I posted a tutorial but this month I am going ‘back to basics’ to talk about Instance and Type Parameters and where to use them. I still find that many people are using OOTB families that are not suitable for certain modelling workflows. I will focus in on two specific families, Structural Openings and Structural Framing. The structural Openings will be created with a Generic model family that’s face based, this will be ideal for rectangular openings in walls, foundations, floors, beams etc. Let’s start by looking at the instance properties of Structural Framing. In the image below I have selected the UB section, notice that the Structural Material is instance based.
It may be more relevant if we made this a type parameter as the structural material needs only to be set once per family type. To do this you can simply edit the family and change the instance parameter to a type parameter. With the Structural Framing Element selected, click the Edit Family button on the Modify | Structural Framing context ribbon.
The Structural Framing element will now be open in the family editor. Select the Family Type button as shown in the image below.
You will now see the Family Types Dialog box displayed. Note that the Structural Material is shown. An instance parameter will always have the bracketed word (default) displayed. This is the easiest method to spot the instance parameters.
Select the Structural Material parameter and then select the Edit Parameter command by selecting the pencil icon in the lower left of the dialog box as shown below.
You will now see the Parameter Properties Dialog box as shown below. Select the Type Parameter radio button as shown below and then click OK.
Click OK to the Family Types Dialog box, note that the Structural Material Parameter has the (default) removed as this is now a type parameter.
You can then save the family and set the type parameter. This will then update all members of the same family type.
A full video tutorial is available here, the video also covers the creation and use of structural opening family.
In part 1 of this tutorial we looked at the creation of vertical bracing systems using Revit 2019, in this part we will focus on roof bracing systems in Revit 2019.
Roof bracing tends to get a little more complex than vertical bracing due to compound angles and complex connection configurations. Revit has some good tools to make the placement of roof bracing easier. We will also cover some tips and tricks for the representation of bracing in plan.
As mentioned in the part 1 of the tutorial, you should always use the dedicated brace tool rather than the beam command as shown below.
It is easier to add the roof bracing in a 3D view. It is very important to ensure that you have the 3D snapping option checked on the options bar as indicated below.
You can then roughly sketch your bracing configuration by snapping to the top of each rafter as shown below. Don’t worry about getting the exact position, this will be set in a later step. Do not snap to the column.
The bracing will automatically be placed on the centre line of the rafter, but the analytical model will automatically adjust to the top of steel.
When a brace is selected you have the option of setting the location via a ratio or a distance along the beam. The example below shows the start of the brace set 300mm from the column and the end of the brace set to 5000mm. The plan shows the position of the brace.
Another method of placing the bracing is to use a ratio. The ratio at the start of the beam is 0 and the end of the beam is 1. In the example below a brace is placed 30mm from the start of the first rafter and then at a ratio of 0.25 (25%) along the second rafter. This value will remain parametric if the length of the rafter changes.
PLAN REPRESENTATION OF BRACING
In part 1 of the tutorial you will have seen that plan bracing is represented in a course level of detail with an offset dashed line. This is perfect for vertical bracing but not so good for roof bracing! In the image below, you can see the offset showing in the plan.
This is due to the plan representation showing a parallel line and offset. However, we will use the Kicker brace symbol to represent the bracing in plan.
To set the bracing to kicker bracing, in the Properties Palette, set the structural Usage to Kicker Bracing as shown below.
You can of course edit the line pattern and the symbol for kicker bracing.
In the example shown below I simply edited the line pattern in the object styles for kicker bracing and deleted the X in the M_Connection-Brace-Kicker.rfa.
ADDING STRUCTURAL CONNECTIONS IN REVIT 2019
You can of course add some basic connections in Revit 2019, but you must make sure that you create the bracing first and then add the relevant connections. If you add connections before the steel model is complete you will not be able to 3D snap to the rafter.
The below image shows the Double Tube Bracing connection dialog box. The 3D representation of the connection is almost identical to the advance steel connection. However, of you require fabrication documents, accurate cutting lists, constructability verification and CNC code then Advance Steel can be used.
Advance Steel can create full fabrication documents and details. The image below shows the same frame in Advance Steel. This has been transferred using the Advance Steel extension which will keep both models synchronised.
In the images below you can see assembly drawings that are automatically created for the rafters and haunches.
Here is a list of plates and surface areas for galvanising.
Finally the CNC data is generated for the automated drilling and cutting of each item in the model.
LawrenceH
Whilst providing Reinforcement Detailing training I often get asked if it is possible to align the MRA (Multi Rebar Annotation) tags. Currently with Revit 2017 it is not possible to align the tags but I recently stumbled over a free application to achieve this task!
The application can be installed via the Autodesk Exchange Apps website by clicking the ‘X’ icon on the InfoCenter toolbar in the top right corner of Autodesk Revit.
You will now see the Autodesk App Store web page. Search for Align and then install the app from BIM 42 as shown below. (The app currently supports Revit 2016 and 2017)
Once the app is installed you can access the tools by selecting the Add-Ins ribbon. The tools are shown on the Align panel as shown below.
Here is the result of using the Align Left tool with a selection of MRA tags.
Overall this is a very useful set of tools for any tags that you may want to tidy up. See the GIF video below.
Autodesk Revit Structure 