topic Re: Creating a baluster panel in Revit Architecture Forum

Creating a baluster panel

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:50:27 GMT

I have tried to create a baluster panel family using extrusions. I am not sure if the panel was done correctly or if I am trying to place it into the railing incorrectly, but when I do, I get 90 errors. Just to see what would happen if I deleted all of the erroneous parts, the railing showed absolutely nothing. I need help, desperately!! I guess I need to know how to load what I created into the panel or if I used the wrong family to create the panel.

Thanks,

Stephen E. Brown

Re: Creating a baluster panel

L.Maas — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 21:16:37 GMT

The screenshot does not tell us very much, maybe you can upload the family so we can have a look at what you've got.

Re: Creating a baluster panel

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 03:57:58 GMT

Thank you for getting back with me so quickly. I attached the .rfa family panel that I created. Like I said, I am not sure if I used the correct family or if there are too many angles, or some other madness going on.

Best,

Stephen

Re: Creating a baluster panel

L.Maas — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 08:29:30 GMT

When I look at your family I think something happend to your template. Further the category is set to Air terminal

If you are going to make a baluster panel you should use the right template for that, There is one in the templates folder

You should have one named "Baluster-Panel.rft"

It looks like this

What you also see is that the panel template also has a slope angle. This is because the angle of the panel will vary depending on the stairs you are going to create. This will create a big challenge for your panel. Because the panel should be able to adapt to the different angles.

Your panel is also highly detailed making it a large file. When using this panel inside a project it will give a big hit on performance. Consider making a simplified panel and use detail drawings to show all the details

Re: Creating a baluster panel

RDAOU — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 08:42:40 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

Added to what @L.Maas

It is not wrong to use the family Baluster.rfa; but you didn't pick the preferable category (Air Terminals)...And if it is a Panel why not start with

Baluster Panel.rfa or
Generic Model.rfa (and set category Railing

Wha have been done in this family, is just traceing of the scanned patern and then extruding it. Howver;

The Pattern/Panel has not been constrained by the parameters in the family (At least neither the cut nor the slope)
The extrusions were grouped...fine; but you don't neet to...why?

Lots of other questions ... I think you need to look more into tutorials for Families; Family Parameters and (Just maybe) adaptive components...

Re: Creating a baluster panel

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:34:25 GMT

Thank you for your help. I will go back and make the corrections you noted. I do have one question though, If I use detail lines on a glass panel, will it give me depth like the extrusion? Also, if I use detail lines, am I able to apply a material to them to make them appear to look like a metal?

Stephen

Re: Creating a baluster panel

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:39:43 GMT

I made an error by not looking closely at what family I used to make the baluster. When you suggest using Generic Model, how would I place it in the baluster panel? Lastly, you say "the pattern has not be constrained by the parameters in the family" are you saying that I needed to add a parameter, such as material (metal) when I make corrections to the baluster?

Thanks,

Stephen

Re: Creating a baluster panel

RDAOU — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:09:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I made an error by not looking closely at what family I used to make the baluster. When you suggest using Generic Model, how would I place it in the baluster panel? Lastly, you say "the pattern has not be constrained by the parameters in the family" are you saying that I needed to add a parameter, such as material (metal) when I make corrections to the baluster?

Thanks,
Stephen

Material is a parameter but when I said not constrained I meant that the patern you extruded was not constrained to any of the parameters I meant the parameters which are already there by default...ie: One example is the Rotation angl...when you flex this angle the panel should rotate with it to follow the angle/slope of the stair/handrail. What you have in that family is just an extrusion but it is not parametric

Modeling using generic model templates is a whole concept...it can be as simple as modeling the panel extrusion separately in a generic model template; adding all the parameters you need there then nesting that into a baluster panel template OR just modeling the whole rail using generic model family or generic model adaptive family templates...ie: without resorting to the Revit default railing tool where you just load panels and balusters.

Unfortunately I cannot elaborate more than that here...You need to look more into some decent tutorials starting from Revit Help files on families and family parameters.