Casework Parameters and Crown Molding

[Anonymous]

As seen in the screen shot, I am working on creating a crown molding for my parametric casework. I am having a hard time locking the crown molding to the reference planes. Any suggestions? 

I use dimension tool, take the reference 'bottom of crown' to the next reference plane below, and lock. This didn't work.

I deleted any locked dimensions associated with the crown molding, and then dimension locked each piece to the 'above door' reference plane. Did not work. 

thank you

[ToanDN]

Is it a sweep?  Simply create the sweep path by Pick Edge and pick the top edge of the cabinet, then the sweep will follow the size and location of the cabinet without any further constraints.

[barthbradley]

Let's check out the family. Post it here.   We'll figure out what's going on.  

[ToanDN]

Looking at you picture I think while it is entirely possible to constrain the molding to the casework and turn on/off pieces for different configurations, it may be better to model them directly in project so that they are cleaner, without any visible joints, especially at the corners.

There is a host of in-project tools that make the task painless: in-place sweep, fascia, gutter, railing...  They all can be constrained properly to the cabinet geometry in case the cabinets moved or changed sizes.

[bin]

Also line-based family possibly. 

[Anonymous]

This doesn't seem to be a solution because for my specific needs we want to have the settings as we described them originally, built into the closet. My company focuses on standardized design and want our three standard profiles programmed into the casework. 

What is the best way to lock the casework to the cabinet height within a family?

[ToanDN]

Then read the 1st response.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

The solution was to make sure no reference planes were pinned. How silly to over look. 

[barthbradley]

Ah, the old loose nut behind the keyboard. I've had the same problem -- more times than I like to admit. 😉

[Anonymous]

Now I can't change the width of the cabinet... I have attached the family file. I fixed the crown issue. Thank you for teaching me how to make this a great model. I can't adjust the cabinets anymore. 

[barthbradley]

because you don't have a dimension labeled to "Width"

[Anonymous]

So any dimensions searched for in parameters is determines by it's label in the Family? News to me. Thank you. Maybe I can make half decent parametric models now

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So any dimensions searched for in parameters is determines by it's label in the Family? News to me. Thank you. Maybe I can make half decent parametric models now

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Yes. Dimensions must be labeled with parameters to be parametric.  Wonder how you even changed the size of your family in project before if you didn't have that setup.

[Anonymous]

I was doing it this way on accident. I thought only locked dimensions were capable of determining the model shape. I think I had height and width without intention, and at some point deleted them. Now I am going to program the doors to able to be turned on and off and have their own parameter for size. 

[barthbradley]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So any dimensions searched for in parameters is determines by it's label in the Family? News to me. Thank you. Maybe I can make half decent parametric models now

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I think why it's "News" is because you've been learning how to build families by referencing OOTB Revit Families. By default, some of them have all the Annotations turned off.  When you open any family, it's a good idea to type "VV" and go to the "Annotations" tab and make sure everything is turned on.  FWIW. 

[Anonymous]

Indeed I have been learning OOTB. Every time I need to modify a family at work I have to convince the principals we need to have completed families, and half the time they just want what's fastest and available online. I finally convinced to let me do the windows from scratch next.

Is there a way I could make the family so when I go into Type Properties, I can just type in the dimension for the doors of the cabinet? If not I will determine it by locking it to the reveal... but less ideal. 

[Anonymous]

Oh! I figured it out here:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/EN...

Thanks Autodesk.

[barthbradley]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Is there a way I could make the family so when I go into Type Properties, I can just type in the dimension for the doors of the cabinet? 

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This is exactly what a parametric family is. What you can do with Revit.