RTCNA2014_Session 11-Profiling-PhilipChan

Session 11

Profiling – Power Up Your Revit Family with Nested ProfilePhilip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects

Class Description

Understanding and using Profile in Family creation can be a key to make your Revit Family more robust and powerful. Profile family has always been overlooked in family creation. In this lab, we will discuss and demo how to create parametric profile family and apply the technique in family creation. We will show practical use of this technique in a real Revit family content.

Profiling – Power Up Your Revit Family with Nested Profile Philip Chan, Lake|Flato Architects

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About the Speaker:

Philip Chan currently is the BIM Manager at Lake|Flato Architects in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Philip is responsible for directing the usage of BIM in the office. He develops, maintains and administrates all Revit templates and contents, and conducts continued education for the staff in the use of Revit. Philip holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Environmental Design from University of Houston and is a LEED AP, BD+C. He is also an Autodesk Revit Architecture certified professional. Philip has spoken at the Autodesk University as well as RTC North America and has been an active speaker at the local Revit/BIM user group. Email: [email protected] Blog: http://phil-osophyinbim.blogspot.com/


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Key Learning Outcomes Learn how to create parametric profile family and use it to drive

geometry in family creation Learn how to use profile family to control rotation in family geometry Learn how to use profile family and combine with conditional

statement to control void visibility Learn how to utilize void with profile in families

Introduction In the Family Editor environment, only using Sweep and Swept Blend can accept profile family as part of geometry creation.

What is Profile Family? A profile family contains a 2D shape (a closed loop) that you can load into a project and apply to certain building element, such as curtain mullion in a curtain wall system. Besides, a profile family can be nested into another family to use it for making sweep and swept blend object.

Why nested profile? Using nested profile family on sweep and swept blend can streamline the family creation process. Since one can create parametric profile that can be linked to the host family, it minimizes the need of constraining the host family; thus, one can create a more complicated family without breaking.


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Exercise 01 - Nested Profile for Rotation in Family The first step is to start creating profile family in family editor. New Family Choose “Profile” Template

Set up Reference Planes and created parameter such as “Width” and “Thickness”. Draw outline like image shown below:

Start another family (Generic Model) and nest/load the profile family into the generic model family. Set up ref. plane and parameter for “Height”. Create a Swept Blend by sketching a path first in Front elevation.


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Once the path is done, you need to “Select Profile” either by drawing a sketch or choose one from a “Profile family”. Choose the nested profile from the drop down selection for both Profile 1 and 2; finish the swept blend.

When finished, select the swept blend form and look under properties. Using nested profile family gives you additional properties to control the behavior of the profile. There are 2 sets of parameters “Angle” from the swept blend form. **When making a sweep, only 1 set of “Angle” parameter will be available. **


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These “Angle” parameters is going to be used as rotation for this family. Click the button “Associate Family Parameter” to create parameter called Rotation_Top and Rotation_Bottom.


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With the parameters linked to the family, you can easily control it to create a twisted form. **Note** This rotation value can be either positive or negative.


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Before you nest this family to the next one, make sure you transfer the parameter “Width” and “Thickness” from profile family to the generic model. Go to project browser, select the profile family, double click and open the type properties dialog box and associate those parameters.

Start another generic model family and nest this vertical slat into it. Layout ref. plane and set up “Height” and “Width”. Create an array with the nested slat family.


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Repeat the same step to transfer the parameter from the slat to the host family. You can now create a louver with rotation that will never break!


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(Louver at 45 degree) (Louver at 90 degree)

(Louver at 135 degree) (Louver at 180 degree)


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Exercise 02 - Void Cut Visibility Start off with a profile like this in order to use it for the void sweep of the raised panel

Nest it to another family where you have the solid panel created. Go to Create Solid Sweep Pick Path

Use ‘Pick 3D Edges” and pick four sides of the panel. Finish the path, choose the profile family from the dropdown selector.


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Next, have the profile family offset from the edge like the image below and finish the sweep.

Go to the properties of the sweep and change it from “Solid” to “Void”. Under the properties, notice there is a parameter called “Horizontal Profile Offset”. By setting this parameter with a positive value, it will offset/push the sweep away from the panel. You can take advantage of using this value and assign it as a parameter.


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Here’s what we know: When Horizontal profile offset is at 0”, the void sweep cut out the panel; when the offset is at 6”, it will move away. By associating this as a parameter, you would be able to control the void sweep location.

Use Cut Geometry to have the void sweep cut out the panel. Go to Family Type, change the value from 0” to 6”, and notice the void now moved away; therefore, the panel appears to remain flush again.


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With this idea, you can set up a yes/no parameter to drive the void sweep (visibility). Name the parameter (Show_Raised Panel). Next, go to parameter Sweep Offset, under the formula field, type a condition statement like this: If(Show_Raised Panel,0”,6”)


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Once this is done, you can use the check box (yes/no parameter) to drive the void’s location, as if you made a switch to control the visibility of the void form. With this set up, you can now have 2 types of panel style for casework family like kitchen cabinet. **The images below illustrate the panel style is set as instance parameter.


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Exercise 03 – Control Void Cut Visibility for Exposed Structural Beam Start a new profile family and layout ref. plane and parameter as shown below:

Have parameter “Radius” and “d” linked to parameter “Setback” using formula in family type.


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Open the dimensional lumber beam family (or any desired beam family) and save as a new family. Nest the profile to the beam. Create Sweep form by using “Pick Path” (3D edges) option to pick the top edge of the existing geometry.

Once you are done picking the path, choose the nested profile family as profile and finish the sweep.


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Your solid sweep should look something like this: Select the solid sweep and go to properties where you can change the sweep from “solid” to “void”.

Use cut geometry to cut the beam with the void…

Next, go to the project browser, find the “Void” profile family again and link the “setback” parameter to the beam family.


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You can now control the parameters of the exposed profile in the family and it will self-adjust it when it changes from one size to another. Repeat the same step at the other end of the beam to create the cut. To do this, go to the properties of the void sweep, there is a yes/no parameter called “Profile is Flipped”, associate it to the family and name “Show_End Cut” as an instance yes/no parameter. Now go back to family type and toggle the check box, you will see the void flip to the other end of the beam thus it does not cut the beam.


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The last step is to have the type catalog (.txt) file copied from the original family and rename it to the same as the new one, you are all set to go!


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Modify an existing beam family with nested profile as a void gives you a lot of flexibility. You can create different shape of profiles and build up your library for your company’s need. Application like this is endless.

(Exposed beam used to build trellis structure)


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Conclusion Profile family is a hidden gem in family creation. Making the profile with parametric properties can further enhance the power in Revit and allow the creator to have more flexibility to build a more complex family. Sky is the limit. Keep in mind to be creative and to have fun!

Documents

RTCNA2014_Session 11-Profiling-PhilipChan