Revit Steel Beam Family Free Download |TOP|
Violet Midkiff
I'm kind of tired of creating every structural element from scratch - working with steel elements - creating in revit, send to robot for static calc./ drawings and NC files in Advance Steel. We have a lot of standard elements (with some small changes like length +-20 cm or so) and hence my question:
Is there a possibility to create parametric families with all the perks of structural columns / beams like possibility to add custom steel connections, analytical model lines (for robot export), export to advance steel so that it reads the profiles / connections / welds / bolts etc... ?
In general I find it hard to see anything simillar on the forums. I know how to create complex families but you can't use steel connections in there, I thought also about creating in place family with profile sweeps, adding analytical model line to it but I still can't create any connections (apparently they are working only with beams / pillars and simillar directly from revit :
Tbh I'd like to create a parametric family (example below) with parametric adjustment of few things and it needs to be created from profiles / plates / bolts so that advance steel can recognise particular elements without any huge effort (like messing with advance steels database).
I am working on a couple projects that have high and low roof framing. Along some grid lines or beams lines I have two or more structural beams in the same vertical plane. Is there a way to modify the stick symbol location so it will be offset from centre. I have in the pasted just used a detail line, but I am pretty sure I saw some where that you can modify a beam family to show this. The jpg of the plan view has the low beam line drawn in with detail work. Any help would be great. 3d viewplan view
No Luke, that value is "inaccessible". I already sought after that approach. In some cases irreconcilable constraints that won't flex in the family WILL in the project setting.
In this case the family type WILL work in the project but the length will be ignored, rendering the length of the beam wrong when you change the type.
End result...the same unworkable beam even though there is no "error" message shown.
Sorry I did forget to add that this all made irrelevant if you use the complex beam and trusses in the content generator instead. The other option applies if you want a 2 pic point family nested element.
The OOTB beams are a nightmare, I have never figured out exactly how they actually work, the constraints don't seem to be logical
Typically I have used lined based families for this type of nesting, but when shared you end up with essentially duplicate families. Which is acceptable in this case I think because it would be a separate package of steelwork
I came up with a workaround which would work in 2012. You could just make the beam at its longest length, and host a void component which you could flex to cut the beam back to size, unfortunately it would have to be a nested void family. Could be an option if you desperately need to use the OOTB beams. It wont cut back the symbolic linework though either
Hi Steve
Unless I've misunderstood something fundamental here, I think you maybe need to consider this from a different perspective. From what you've said, you don't want to create a new steel beam family, essentially in order to utilise a single source of 'real world' information. However, in reality, the actual single source is the type catalogue, not the family. The OOTB steelwork families leave a lot to be desired. We rebuilt the lot again from the ground up, with an emphasis on a more holistic approach to them as a set of families. This resulted in much more consistent model information. In addition to the geometric parameters, we use two shared parameters, 'Section Name' & 'Section Type'. These are only used in steelwork families and allow these as a 'set' of to be isolated in the model. It means that instead of having a 'Structural Framing Schedule' or a 'Structural Column Schedule' that list by Family and Type, we use a 'Multi-Category Schedule' that lists by these 'Section Name' & 'Section Type' shared parameters. So regardless of the Revit Family Category, the single source of information, the type catalogue, is being consistently presented. A 'Universal Beam' (if your from the UK for example) can be a 'Structural Column', 'Structural Framing', 'Generic Model' etc Revit family category, they simply act as a conduit to the model for that single source 'real world' information, the type catalogue
With regards to the modelling issues, I think this is down to the fact that the beams extend from opposite ends and the start/end extension parameters are pushing back against each other
Typically, in structural framing plans when indicating a beam above or below your modeled beam(s), users tend to just add a 2D line adjacent to the beam(s). On the one hand, this is an easy solution; on the other hand, you run the risk of having an errant line on your drawings if that beam were to move or be deleted. The following is a step-by-step instruction for adding the 2D line directly to the Beam family with the ability to turn it on/off and to offset the beam all within the Family Properties.
The family is ready for use in your project. Once in your project environment, click Insert, Load family, and navigate to the Beam family. Model your structural framing plans using this family and you now have the ability to add a beam, graphically, to your Beam family. Please note that this can be replicated into any Structural Framing family where you may need to indicate a structural member above or below.
This method used to work in Revit 2013 too, but you needed to use TAB key to select the Shape Handle of your beam in plan view. Now in Revit 2014 the shape handle shows up immediately. The shape handle is basically visible when applying instance parameters on two ref planes in a family. For structural framing the shape handle is generated programmatically. Besides this method now also works in 3D view.
One thing that persistently causes issues for our junior staff is Precast or Cast in Place Concrete Structural models. Although, in principle, the modelling of such structures should be quite straightforward there seemingly is always a few concrete profiles that change from standard affair to unique profiles in order to accommodate some bespoke architectural details, previously unknown site constraints or a change in the basic structural design principles of, for example, the slabs. Therefore, it is imperative that you understand how best to approach the creation and modelling of Structural Beam Families in Revit. So, the question to be asked, How should you create a beam family in Revit if you require some sort of unique shape that does not match the standard families provided?
There are a number of reasons why you may need to develop your own Beam Family for using in a Revit model. Here are a few considerations to make before beginning the process to check against so that you know you have covered all avenues prior to starting to create the beam family.