Extrusion for Rafter Tail "constraints of sketch cannot be satisfied"

[mkgraboski]

hello all,

I am trying to make a decorative rafter tail for a project.

Followed along with this video here (except I'm using lumber not a W shape) : https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/screencast/Main/Details/4af...

When I try to import the family into my project however, I get the following error message (image attached):

"The constraints of the sketch defining the highlighted element cannot be satisfied."

I have tried redrawing the sketch from scratch, I have removed all constraints within it (not aligning and locking to anything) and I still get this message. The family will not import into the project, it deletes itself! I also tried a simpler sketch... same error.

Please help. What am I doing wrong?

-M

[ToanDN]

I haven't had the chance to watch the video but it can simply be done by a face based void family host by the structural framing, or even by the opening by face tool on the Modify tab.

[mkgraboski]

Hi Toan - thank you for the quick response!

the cut by face works - I cannot get the void face-based family to work.

Ideally, since this is for beams in a structural system, I would like to get the cutout into the family... 

[ToanDN]

---

@mkgraboski wrote:

Hi Toan - thank you for the quick response!

the cut by face works - I cannot get the void face-based family to work.

Ideally, since this is for beams in a structural system, I would like to get the cutout into the family... 

---

Same deal.  The void should be a nested face based family constrained to one end of the beam.  It's easier to associate parameters and constrain a nested family than model the it directly in the beam family.  See attached.

[mkgraboski]

Thank you!

I am installing Revit 2019 right now, but it looks like the family you sent will work!

I will accept as solution as soon as i can confirm! thanks again!

M

[mkgraboski]

Hello Toan-

I was able to open your file, and adjust the cutout shape. But when I loaded it into my model, the voids are not constrained to the ends of each rafter in the structural system.

Photo attached below.

I did not change any of the constraints you had made within either family, only the extrusion sketch.

(edit: without any changes by myself, your family works fine)

Thank you again for your help with this! I really appreciate you taking the time.

M

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

Get rid of the locked dimension in the family.  It wasn't there in the original one I posted.

[mkgraboski]

Thank you.

I think my troubles were with the nested family, as the height and such of the rafter were parameters in there as well.

It is working now! Thanks!