Archinect
anchor

Revit 2009-custom panel in curtain system

Does anyone know why a custom panel that works in a curtain wall, fails in a curtain system (that was created by face from a solid)? Is there a special way to set up the panel for this type of system so that it works, or am I just screwed (the built-in panels work fine)? I've gone through the tutorials I could find (including those at designReForm). Links to tutorials would be much appreciated.

 
Apr 30, 08 1:08 pm
rehiggins

Here are some screen shots

it seems that this panel does not want to load because it would result in a non-rectangular panel because of the slope of the curtain wall.

the curtain wall is only sloping in this plane; it is orthogonal in all others.

elevation



panel family



is it because of the horizontals?

Apr 30, 08 4:13 pm  · 
 · 
rehiggins

nevermind…I figured out a way to fake it by adding the panel divisions manually, it's not exactly what I wanted (and it's tedious) but it'll work

Apr 30, 08 5:18 pm  · 
 · 
postal

how bout a model pattern? not sure what you're trying to illustrate... but wanted to try and help...

Apr 30, 08 6:51 pm  · 
 · 
rehiggins

thanks--your way is MUCH easier

it's a translucent panel with equally spaced (within the height of the panel) mullions. It's possible to do by manually placing the horizontal grid lines, but since the system slopes, the grid lines are shifted for each panel. This leads to a never-ending process of creating the grid lines for each panel, deleting them from the others and repeating…I figured it would be simpler to create one panel type that had the mullions built-in and were constrained to always be equally spaced.

I've tried using the "system panel: glazed" as a base; building the system in a fresh panel family; building the panel in a generic family then embedding that geometry in a panel family…all with different variations on how the mullions and panes are created and constrained.

Revit curtain systems just don't like me at the moment.

May 1, 08 10:57 am  · 
 · 
postal

dems curtainwalls are a tricky bunch... i wouldn't get discouraged.

We typically use model patterns in lieu of modeling louvers or anything else crazy. I played around with some louver families that had modeled louvers, and though cool, bogged down the file immensely. plus, there were just too many tiny lines to make sense of anything. (though if i were exporting to render, it might make sense.) the downside of using a pattern, is 3d, section, or plan representation of those mullions.

in your case, yes, the skewed panel will just plain throw out the division constraints you set up in the panel family. revit is just not that sophisticated.

however, you want the mullions to step down? or you want them to be consitently horizontal?... i think if you wanted them consistenly horizontal that whole section would be one piece with a grid line, pretty straight forward. if you want them to step down then i think you break out one window, put the grid how you want it, and array it. this only works however if the top and bottom slope are parallel. if that's not the case, you could make the single panel with the grid lines, put an "EQ" dimension on it, array it or copy it, ungroup, and stretch them to their final size. that "EQ" dim should array with it. (i'm thinking)

eh well, i've probably confused you more than before. but i hope you figure it out.

May 1, 08 2:02 pm  · 
 · 
rehiggins

Not confused just frustrated…

This whole thing is for an as-built so the model pattern will be acceptable--thanks for your help. I was just about to give up and model the complete thing by hand using masses…the file is already big and was taking a ridiculous time to process each grid addition/modification (it's a 2000' long convention center).

The horizontals are consistently horizontal within each panel and step down--seems like a reasonable thing to accomplish with a panel family, it's not like it's double-curves or anything. I just wish there were more controls for the curtain systems…


May 1, 08 3:02 pm  · 
 · 

Block this user


Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?

Archinect


This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.

  • ×Search in: