Complex Sweep

[Anonymous]

I have a louver jamb, most I'm doing as sweeps parallel to the section view, but this one has to be the profile in plan like I am showing on the left, circled in the ACAD drawing attached, and has to have an angled bottom like the section I have circled on the right.

I gave up, and modeled one of them as multiple extrusions, joined, modeling parallel to the plan view. That works fine, but is PAINFUL.

Does anyone have another idea as to how I could model this quicker?

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!!!!

[chrisplyler]

This isn't an answer.

Why oh why would you model that stuff? That's the kind of stuff that is a lot easier just to make as 2D detail components and place into an enlarged detail/callout/section view where needed.

[Anonymous]

Because the customer pays me a very large sum of money for modeling this. Do you not know a way?

[ToanDN]

This isn't an answer either. Is your customer an architect/engineer or a manufacturer?

[Anonymous]

True that, 😕 I'm just being goofy!!!! Manufacturer. I agree, these things are maddening!!!! But also a great challenge and that's what the customer is insisting on, so he gets it. Like I said I modeled another jamb that had a sloped bottom, but it only had a few faces, pretty straight lines, I wouldn't even attempt an extrusion in the left/ right direction on this one!

[aghis_no]

If you wish to be able to have a very detailed representation of the aluminum profile in section or, to be more precise, if you want, each time your widow family is cut by a section to show a very detailed profile, there is no need to model a complex extrusion:

• You will create simple extrusions that will represent the overall aspect of the window, with no interior loops and voids so that they will render fast.
• Then, you will create a section inside the family file (in the family editor).
• In the section view, inside the family editor, you will use “symbolic lines” (on the Left/Right reference plane) to represent the detailed profile, adding all the desired complexity.
• Using the “visibility parameters” tool you will assign all the “symbolic lines” the visibility parameter: “Show only if instance is cut” and choose the level of detail you want them to be visible.

That way you will be able to have a detailed representation of the profile in section without having a complex modeling.

Keep in mind that this technique will only produce a detailed profile representation in section. It will not work for a 3d axonometric section of the window.

Hope it helps
aghis

[RDAOU]

Hey @Anonymous ... Chris and Toan : o)

here is my opinion

1. Those are two different profile so you ideally model them as two elements. And you do not join the; they are typically/normally assembled using a connecting element (a bracket/angle...etc) 
2. Revit is not the right platform to model such detailed fabrication items...what @chrisplyler suggested is the safest and most feasible way to do it in Revit (controlled 2D elements within the family which you can switch on/off/display at certain scale/detail level)
3. pay or no pay, it doesn't really sever you or your client any good detailing aluminum profiles (or whatever those profiles in your attached CAD are) in Revit. It will just bloat the family and your model for no good reason

do not complicate things where things do not really need to be complicated.

cheers 

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

It is very time consuming but isn't all that complicated. I would model it like how they actually assemble it from different extrusion parts:

- Create the jamb, head, and sill as separate nested generic model families. I personally prefer sweep but either extrusion or sweep will do.

- Add a void to chop the sloped bottom of the jamb to match the slope of the sill.

- Follow this Louver thread to create a parametric louver

- Nest them to the host louver family and nest the parameters to control dimensions.

That is one reason why I hate using manufacturers' families, by the way.  Pretty much useless.

[Anonymous]

We've come full circle. Thank you so much for your ideas, but the manufacturer insists on a 3D full representation, and he's been advised of better options, and he pays the bill. The customer is always right, HAHA!

So symbolic lines are out.

It can't be done in two pieces right? See attached. I think that idea is out.

Also, I thought you could not cut a void from a sweep? I think this idea is out.

HELP ;/

[Anonymous]

We've come full circle. Thank you so much for your ideas, but the manufacturer insists on a 3D full representation, and he's been advised of better options, and he pays the bill. The customer is always right, HAHA!

So symbolic lines are out.

It can't be done in two pieces right? See attached. I think that idea is out.

Also, I thought you could not cut a void from a sweep? I think this idea is out.

HELP ;/

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It can't be done in two pieces right? See attached. I think that idea is out.

Also, I thought you could not cut a void from a sweep? I think this idea is out.

HELP ;/

---

It can be done in as many pieces as need be.  So that idea is not out.

And of course, you can cut a void from a sweep.  So neither this idea is out.

[RDAOU · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous

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@Anonymous wrote:

We've come full circle. Thank you so much for your ideas, but the manufacturer insists on a 3D full representation, and he's been advised of better options, and he pays the bill. The customer is always right, HAHA!

---

Out of curiosity...the customer/client pays you to use Revit or to provide the best service possible?!

Appart from that, how could one help when you rule out possibilities beforehand!

1. on what bases would you rule out the possibility of modeling the jambs, header and sill separately (they are in reality different profiles!) ideally you would model all 4 parts in separate families and then nest them all into one to assemble your window.
2. Did you even check the forum on how to cut a sweep using a void?! You may not have found a thread specific to a window profile but a sweep is a sweep regardless where it is used!
3. Considering that Aluminum Windows manufacturers do not use 3D printing for long extrusions, and 99% of the fabrication software in this industry relies on 2D as input... So How or why did you rule out 2D lines? On one thread you asked how one charges in this business ... This is another thing to think about; redundancy and unproductive efforts. While modeling something (quite time consuming) for a fabricator/manufacturer which the latter cannot make use of is a waste. Imagine spending 10 hours on a window you are being paid 80$ to do while your hourly rate is 50$. That's 420$ down the drain. ; o) 

Anyhow : o) good luck 

[Anonymous]

@RDAOU the lines are out, the customer won't budge 😞 he's paying enough so it works out in getting really fast at these haha. I'm sorry I misunderstood your first comment. The two items in the CAD attachment are one piece, the elevation and plan of the louver jamb. That threw me off. Yes I am modeling the jambs, head, still, pan, and blades as separate. Sorry, I mistakingly ruled out cutting a sweep early on because when I went to cut the sweep Revit was not being nice 😞 Cutting the sweep is definitely my solution!!!! Thank you all so much.