an introduction to autodesk® revit® massing, surface...

An Introduction to Autodesk® Revit® Massing, Surface Divisions, and Adaptive Components Chad Smith – KarelCAD, Australia

AB2463-L As the Revit massing tools become more polished and robust, users are becoming aware that these tools deserve to take their place as part of the main toolset. In this hands-on lab, we will focus on practical real-world examples. The lab will include three parts: how to model an in-place mass, how to create a pattern-based curtain panel family that you will apply to a divided surface on your mass, and how to create an adaptive component. After this lab, you will be able to use these tools to help improve your design and speed up the workflow by making Revit work for you.

Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to:

• Improve your modeling workflows

• Create mass elements to further design intents

• Create an adaptive component that easily adapts to your design

• Divide a mass surface with curtain panel pattern-based families

About the Speaker Chad has been an Autodesk® product user for the past 14 years in the area of building design, of which 10 of those years have been using and pushing Autodesk® Revit® to its limits. Having recently changed career paths, he now works as a Solutions Integrator with Australia's largest Autodesk reseller. As an approved Autodesk instructor, he actively teaches Revit, supports Revit users, and gets to share his personal Revit experiences with companies around the country who are looking to move into a BIM environment through the application of strategic implementation plans.

An Introduction to Autodesk® Revit® Massing, Surfac e Divisions, and Adaptive Components

2

Massing

1. Open the file Massing.rvt

2. Massing & Site > In-Place Mass , give the mass a name.

3. Home > Model > Line , trace over the starting reference lines. This will be the starting

footprint of the building.

4. Select the lines, then Modify | Lines > Create Form > Solid Form . Set the height to

140000.


3

5. Select part of the solid and then Modify Form > X-Ray .

6. At the base of the form, select the Vertex (1) as shown in the image below and using the

transform gizmo move it 5000 in an outwards direction.

1

2


4

7. Repeat with Vertex (2).

If you want to be exact with your movements, try activating the Workplane Viewer , then

select the Vertex and use the move tool in the Viewer window.

8. At the top of the form, select the Vertex (3) as shown in the image below and using the

transform gizmo move it 5000 in an inwards direction.

9. Repeat with Vertex (4).

3

4


5

10. Move Edge (5) 10000 in an inwards direction.

11. Open view Elevation .

12. Select part of the Form, then Modify | Form > Add Profile . Place a profile at around

Level 18.

13. Open view {3D} .

5


6

14. Move Edge (6) 8000 in an outwards direction.

15. Move Edge (7) 3500 in an inwards direction.

6

7


7

16. Move Vertex (8) 10000 in an outwards direction.

17. Move Vertex (9) 10000 in an outwards direction.

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9


8

18. Select part of the Form, then Modify | Form > Edit Profile . Select one of the Edges of

the middle profile. Select one of the long sketch lines and delete.

Modify | Form > Model > Start-End-Radius Arc . Draw in a new arc as shown.

Repeat on the other side.

19. Modify | Form > Model > Start-End-Radius Arc . Draw in a new arc as shown.


9

20. Modify | Form > Finish Edit Mode .

21. Move Edge (10) 10000 in an upwards direction.

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10

22. Finish the Mass.

23. Select the Mass. Modify | Mass > Mass Floors . Select all the levels by selecting Level

1, then selecting Level 36 while holder the SHIFT key, and then clicking the checkbox for

one of the levels. Press OK.

Revit will then place a Mass Floor at each level which is within the envelope of the form.

24. It is at this point that you can open the schedule Mass Floor Schedule to review the

floor areas for each level and the grand total.

25. Analyze > Energy Settings . Check the Create Energy Model parameter. Press OK.

26. Open Sheet P01 – Layout .

27. Save and close the file.


11

Adaptive Component 1 (Shade Sail)

1. Start a new family, Application Menu > New > Family

2. Select Metric Generic Model Adaptive.rft from the list of templates.

3. Home > Point Element , roughly place four points in a clockwise direction.

Accuracy of Adaptive Points isn’t important since their position will change when loaded

and placed in a project.

4. Select all four Points, then Modify | Reference Points > Make Adaptive

Notice how the Adaptive Points are numbered in the order you placed them. The order is

important, because this is the order in which you will place the points when placing the

family in the model. We will test the family later in the exercise.

1

2

3

4


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5. Home > Reference > Line , making sure that Options Bar > 3D Snapping is checked,

and Options Bar > Make surface from closed loops is unchecked.

Join all four Adaptive Points with the Reference Lines so they form a closed loop.

Using the 3D Snapping option makes the ends of the Reference Lines stay connected to

the Adaptive Points.

6. Home > Point Element , then place a point at the Midpoint of all four Reference Lines.

1 2

3 4


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7. Home > Reference > Line , connect a Point on one side of the perimeter with the Point

on the opposing side, press ESC once, then connect the points in the other direction so

that the new Reference Lines cross in the middle.

8. At this point it would be wise to flex the framework. Select one of the Adaptive Points

and drag it up/down. Notice how the Reference Lines which are attached flex with it.

9. Save the family as ShadeSail.rfa .

1

2

3

4


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RESTORE POINT

ShadeSail_1.rfa

10. Home > Point Element , place a point towards the ends (not at the ends) of each of the

four Reference Lines which you last placed.

11. Select one of these points and look at the Properties. Notice the parameters

Measurement Type and Normalized Curve Parameter . Both of these parameters work

together to drive the distance at which the point is located along the length of the

Reference Line. The Normalized Curve Parameter value is between 0 and 1, in other

words a percentage. We will now refer to these new Reference Points as curve points.

Flex the framework again and notice how the curve points change location on the

Reference Lines, i.e. the shorter the Reference Line, the closer to the end the curve

points are located. Also notice the behavior of the points we placed at the midpoint of the

perimeter Reference Lines. They always remain at the midpoint.


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12. Home > Reference > Spline Through Points , then draw the spline from one Adaptive

Point, through the curve point, then to a second Adaptive Point. After the second

Adaptive Point, hit ESC to cancel the spline.

Do the same process for the remaining three sides. Note that you must press ESC after

each Reference Line that you model.

13. Select all four curved Reference Lines, then Modify | Reference Lines > Create Form

> Solid Form , then select Surface . Then flex the model by selecting one of the Adaptive

Points and dragging it up/down. Notice the triangulation?

We will use a different method to create this form without the triangulation. Undo back to

the framework.


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RESTORE POINT

ShadeSail_2.rfa

The Workplane Hack (Steps 14 - 18)

14. Home > Reference > Line , starting at an Adaptive Point draw a Reference Line to a

curve point, then the next Adaptive Point, then the next curve point, and so on.

15. Now select the three straight Reference Lines (that form a triangle) on one of the sides,

then Modify | Reference Lines > Create Form > Solid Form , then select Surface .

16. Select the surface and in the Properties, uncheck Visible . This surface will be used

purely to host a dimension on, and therefore is won’t be visible in the project.


17

17. Home > Aligned dimension, Modify | Place Dimension > Set workplane, and then

select the surface along Side 1. Then select one of the Adaptive Points at the end of the

surface, and then select the Adaptive Point at the other end, then place.

It is critical that you are picking the Adaptive Point and not the Vertex of the surface

element. Read the Status Bar is you are unsure.

18. Repeat steps 15 to 17 for the other three sides.

19. Save the family.

Side 1 Side 2

Side 3 Side 4


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RESTORE POINT

ShadeSail_3.rfa

20. Starting with the Dimension which is positioned clockwise to Adaptive Point 1, select it

and turn it into a Label which is associated with a new parameter called s1. Make the

parameter an Instance , and have the Reporting Parameter checked. Do the same for

the other three sides in a clockwise direction.

We are going to use these Reporting Parameters to control how far the curve points are

located from the edge of the sides. The longer the edge, the greater the curve.


19

21. Starting with the curve point which is positioned clockwise to Adaptive Point 1, select it

and associate the Normalize Curve Parameter with a new parameter c1. Make the

parameter an Instance , and group is under the Constraints group. Do the same for the

other three sides.

22. Home > Family Types . Two of the curve points family parameters are going to have a

low value, while the other two are going to be high. The following two formulas need to

go into the respective parameters, depending on whether they are low or high, and

where [x] is the side you are adding the formula to;

Low = s[x] / 300000

High = 1 - (s[x] / 300000)


Low

High Low

High


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RESTORE POINT

ShadeSail_4.rfa

24. Select the four perimeter Reference Lines, then Modify | Reference Lines > Create

Form > Solid Form , then select Surface .

25. On one side, select the perimeter Reference Line and the curved Reference Line, then

Modify | Reference Lines > Create Form > Void Form , then select Solid , then

immediately in the Properties set both the Positive Offset and Negative Offset to 2000.


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Do the same for the remaining three sides.

26. Flex the model by selecting one or more of the Adaptive Points and dragging them

up/down. Notice that we no longer get any triangulation across the surface.



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RESTORE POINT

ShadeSail_5.rfa

28. Select the shade sail surface, and then in the Properties associate it with a new Material

parameter.

29. Home > Family Types , for the Material parameter go into the Materials dialogue.


23

30. Create a new material called ‘Shade Cloth’ with the properties as set in the image below.

31. Save and close the family.


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Adaptive Component 2 (Shade Sail Frame)




and Options Bar > Make surface from closed loops is unchecked. Draw a line as

shown.

4. Home > Point Element , and roughly place a point as shown.

5. Save the family as Frame.rfa .

1

2

1

2

3


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RESTORE POINT

Frame_1.rfa

6. Select all three Reference Points, then Modify | Reference Points > Make Adaptive .

7. Select Reference Points 2 and 3, then from the Properties set the Point parameter to

Shape Handle Point (Adaptive) and the Constrained parameter to XY Plane .

8. Home > Point Element , and place a point as shown at 3000mm from Adaptive Point 1.

To set the point at a distance of 3000mm, select the Reference Point, then on the

Properties set the Measurement Type parameter to Segment Length , and then the

Segment Length parameter to 3000.

2

3


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9. For the next few steps we need to create a nested Adaptive Component which will form

the support that will run from Adaptive Point 3 and through the Reference Point on the

Reference Line, as shown below.




and Options Bar > Make surface from closed loops is unchecked. Draw a line as

shown.

13. Select the Reference Line and in the Properties set the Visible parameter to unchecked.

2

1


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14. Select the Reference Points, then from the Properties set the Point parameter to

Placement Point (Adaptive) , and the Visible parameter to checked.

15. Home > Point Element , then Modify | Place Lines > Set workplane and select the

workplane on Adaptive Point 2 as shown, then place the point on Adaptive Point 2.

16. Select the Reference Point, then in the Properties set the Offset parameter to 500, and

the Visible parameter to checked.

17. Home > Model > Line , then draw a line from Adaptive Point 1 to the Reference Point.

18. Save the family as Support.rfa . Close the family.

1

2

1


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19. Make sure you have the Frame family which you originally started on screen.

20. Insert > Load Family , select the Support family, press Open.


RESTORE POINT

Frame_2.rfa

22. Home > Component , the Support family should be listed in the Type Selector. Modify |

Place Component > Set workplane, select the Reference Line.

Click to place it on Adaptive Point 3, and a second click on the Reference Point which is

on found the Reference Line.

23. Flex the family by selecting Adaptive Point 3 and moving it. You should find that the

nested Adaptive Component will pivot around the Reference Point on the Reference

Line.

24. Select the Support family, then on the Properties set the Visible parameter to

unchecked.

3


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25. Home > Point Element , place it towards the end of the model line in the Support family.

26. Then select it, then in the Properties set the Normalized Curve Parameter parameter to

a value of 1. This should put the Reference Point at the end of the line.

Now set the Show Reference Planes parameter to Always .



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RESTORE POINT

Frame_3.rfa

28. Home > Model > Circle , then Modify | Place Lines > Set workplane, select the

workplane on the Reference Point which was last placed.

Draw a circle with a radius of 65.

29. Select the circle and the model line in the Support family (read the Status Bar for

details), then Modify | Multi-Select > Create Form > Solid Form .

30. Home > Model > Circle , then Modify | Place Reference Lines > Set workplane, select

the larger workplane on Adaptive Point 1. Draw a circle with a radius of 65.


31

31. Select the circle and the Reference Line, then Modify | Reference Lines > Create

Form > Solid Form .

32. Modify > Join Geometry , then select both Forms to join them together.



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RESTORE POINT

Frame_4.rfa

35. Set the view to Wireframe .

36. Home > Model > Line , then on the Options Bar > Placement Plane set to Level : Ref

Level . Place lines between the points as shown below.

Make sure that you select the Points and not the ends of the lines.

37. Set the view back to Hidden Line .


1

2

3


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Testing the Families

1. Open the project file Massing.rvt .

2. In the views Properties, Edit the Visibility/Graphics Overrides .

3. Turn on Generic Models , and Lines > Walkway References .

4. Insert > Load Family , then select the two Adaptive Component families that you have

created, press Open.

Placing the Frame

5. Zoom to the end of the walkway reference lines (as shown below), then Home >

Component checking that Frame is selected in the Type Selector, then select the lower

line to place the component.


34

6. Select the Adaptive Point at the top of the family, then Modify | Adaptive Points > Pick

New Host , then select the top line.

7. Select the Adaptive Point at the end of the support in the family, then Modify | Adaptive

Points > Pick New Host , then select the middle line.


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8. Another way to create a new instance of the frame is to click and drag an existing

instance while holding CTRL.

Placing the Shade Sail

9. Set the view to Wireframe .

10. Home > Component checking that ShadeSail is selected in the Type Selector, then

select the points on the frames to place the component.

CTRL + Click and Drag

1

2

3

4


36

11. Test the adaptation of the families by dragging one of the frames along the reference

lines.

12. Set the view to Consistent Colors .

13. Save and close the project file.

Click and Drag


37

Curtain Panel Patterns


2. Select Metric Curtain Panel Pattern Based.rft from the list of templates.

3. Select the Tile Pattern Grid, then in the Properties set the Horizontal Spacing

parameter to 20000, and the Vertical Spacing parameter to 3000.

4. Home > Point Element , then place 5 Reference Points along the Reference Line as

shown. Starting with the first point which was placed, select it and in the Properties set

the Normalized Curve Parameter to 0.025. For the remaining points set the same

parameter to 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 0.975.

These points will provide the

references we require to build

a Sine curve above it.


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5. Repeat step 4 with the Reference Line on the opposite side.

We’ll come back to the second set of Reference Points later on.

6. Save the family as Screen.rfa .

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5


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RESTORE POINT

Screen_1.rfa

7. Home > Point Element , then Modify | Place Lines > Set workplane and select the XY

plane of the Adaptive Point at the start of the line of points on the first side, then place

the point. Do the same for the remaining points including the last Adaptive Point along

that Reference Line.

8. Select all seven Reference Points, then in the Properties set the Offset parameter to

1000. Notice how some of the Reference Points moved in a downwards direction.

To correct this so they move upwards, select the corresponding Reference Points which

are on the Reference Line, then in the Properties set the Mirrored parameter to be

checked.


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This will reverse the direction of the associate Reference Point. Your family should now

look as below.

9. Select all of the seven offset Reference Points, then Modify | Reference Points >

Spline Through Points . With the Reference Line still selected, in the Properties set the

Is Reference Line parameter to be checked.



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RESTORE POINT

Screen_2.rfa

11. Home > Family Types , then Add a new parameter called Offset which is a Length

type, grouped under Other and is a Type .

12. While still in the Family Types, Add another parameter called Amplitude which is a

Number type, grouped under Other and is a Type . Set this parameter to a value of

1500.


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13. Add six more parameters called a through f which are all a Length type, grouped under

Dimensions and are an Instance .

14. Now fill out the Formula fields for parameters a through f as below.

Type ALT+0176 to insert the ° character.

Press OK to close the dialog.


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15. With each offset Reference Point, starting with the one on the left, select them then in

the Properties associate the Offset parameter with the Family parameters a through f.

i.e. The first point is associated with a, the second with b, etc.

Note: The seventh point will also be associated with a.

16. You should have something which looks like the below.


1

2

3


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RESTORE POINT

Screen_3.rfa

18. Home > Family Types , then Add a new parameter called WaveOffset which is a

Number type, grouped under Other and is an Instance .

Then change the Formulas to reflect the addition of the WaveOffset parameter as shown

below. The formula addition is + (WaveOffset * 360°)

This new parameter will allow us to shift the peaks and troughs of the curve left or right.

19. Set the WaveOffset parameter to 0.75.

20. Before you close the Family Types dialog, set the Offset parameter to 250. After you

have done this, press OK to close.


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then connect the Reference Points on the curved Reference Line with the corresponding

Reference Points on the back Reference Line.


1 2

3

4

5

6 7


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RESTORE POINT

Screen_4.rfa

23. Home > Reference > Point , then place a point on each of the Reference Lines which

were previously modeled, with the points located at the end closest the curved

Reference Line.

24. Select the new Reference Points, then on the Properties set the Measurement Type

parameter to Segment Length , and the Segment Length parameter to 2500.

Notice how the points moved the other end of the Reference Line.

To correct this, reselect the points, then on the Properties set the Measure From

parameter to End , and set the Segment Length parameter back to 2500.

Tip: When you select a Reference Point hosted on a line,

the Flip Arrow will indicate which end of the line the point

is measured from.


1 2

3

4

5

6 7


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RESTORE POINT

Screen_5.rfa

The next few steps are a workaround for an issue which would otherwise be resolved by using the Segment Length parameter which we set in the previous steps.

26. Insert > Load Family , select Gizmo_CircleRadius.rfa and press Open.

Tip: It’s handy to have a library of gizmos like this to help aid the creation of Adaptive

Components.

27. Home > Component , checking that Gizmo_CircleRadius is selected in the Type

Selector. With the Reference Line at the back of the family, click the Endpoint. Then

repeat at the other end of the Reference Line.


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28. Home > Component , then Modify | Place Component > Set workplane, select the

vertical workplane of one of the Reference Points on the Reference Line at the back of

the family. Select the Reference Point to place the component.


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29. Repeat for the remaining Reference Points on the back Reference Line.

30. Select all seven components, then on the Properties set the Visible parameter to

unchecked .



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RESTORE POINT

Screen_6.rfa

32. With each of the components select the Adaptive Point, then Modify Adaptive Point >

Pick New Host , then select the front straight Reference Line. Repeat for the remaining

components.

These circle components, when the radius is hosted on the front Reference Line will

provide means to position the Reference Point on the interconnecting Reference Line

the same distance from the back Reference Line.

1

2


51

33. Select the Reference Point on the interconnecting Reference Line. Then Options Bar >

Host Point By Intersection , then select the circle in the component.

34. Repeat for the remaining Reference Points.



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RESTORE POINT

Screen_7.rfa

36. Select the circle components, and temporarily hide them in view.

37. Select all seven Reference Points on the interconnecting Reference Lines, then Modify |

Reference Points > Spline Through Points . With the Reference Line still selected, in

the Properties set the Is Reference Line parameter to be checked.

38. Select the Reference Point as shown below, then on the Properties set the Show

Reference Planes parameter to Always .


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39. Home > Model > Circle , then Modify | Place Lines > Set workplane and select the

Normal workplane. Draw a circle with a radius of 50mm.

40. Select the Circle and the Reference Line which it is hosted on, then Modify | Multi-

Select > Create Form > Solid Form .

41. Select the previous Reference Plane and the back Reference Plane, then Modify |

Reference Lines > Create Form > Solid Form .


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42. Select the Form, then on the Properties set the Material parameter. In the Materials

dialog press Duplicate giving a name of Screen , the set the Shading Transparency to

25%. Press OK to close the dialog.



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Testing the Family

1. Open the project file Massing_Finished.rvt .

2. Insert > Load Family , select Screen.rfa and press Open.

3. Select the Mass element called Surface Division , then Modify | Mass > Edit In-Place .

4. Select the outside Surface of the Form, then Modify | Form > Divide Surface .

5. Options Bar > U Grid > Number and set it to 1, and Options Bar > V Grid > Number

and set it 3.

6. Modify | Form > Intersects List > Intersects , check the boxes for Levels 2 to 10.


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7. With the surface division still selected, from the Type Selector select Screen .

8. On the ViewCube press the Back face of the cube.


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9. Using the TAB key to aid element selection, select an entire row of screens in the

surface division. Then in the Properties set the WaveOffset parameter 0.5.

Keep selecting different rows of Screen elements to change the façade pattern.

10. Home > Finish Mass .

11. Save and close the project.


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Wrap Up - Basic Principles

� Sketch out what you want to achieve – Plan!

� Add control Reference Points, Reference Lines and Parameters first, then generate the modelled geometry - Like you would with a regular family

� You can achieve most of your work in 3D

� Control Reference Points from other Points by using the ‘Offset’ parameter

� Set the correct Work Plane

� Take advantage of ‘Spline Through Points’

� Keep an eye on the ‘3D Snapping’ option

� Choose carefully between Reference Lines and Model Lines

an introduction to autodesk® revit® massing, surface...

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