Create a casting mold automatically according to element shape

[simon.jerabek]

Hi, I have this floor element with specific elevations, that needs to be casted in a mold. Is there a way to somehow imprint / trace this shape to create the shape of the mold and then flip it upside down?

The closest I got was to create an extrusion around it, join the extrusion with the floor and then isolate the extrusion, but I can't flip it nor does it follow the slopes of the floor accurately. 

Could Revit Precast handle this? I am not too familiar with its capabilities.

Any tips appreaciated, thanks!

[Alfredo_Medina · Accepted solution]

This can be done in Revit, like this:

1) in a generic model adaptive template, create some reference lines, as shown:

2) Then select groups of lines and do Create Form > Void Form, several times, as needed, as shown below. For each form, select the upper face, and unlock the pad lock. Then select points at corners. Revit will show a temporary vertical dimension from zero. Set that elevation to the required number. As shown here:

3) Now create a solid box that contains all the previous forms. Select the outer rectangle of reference lines > Create Form > Soild Form, as shown here:

4) Now use Cut > Cut geometry, several times. Select the positive first, then a negative. Then repeat until all the negative forms have been subtracted. Now you have the mold. Then load this family into a project. Place it on Level 1. Make a section that passes through it. For clarity, I added a surface pattern using VG > Generic models > Cut > Pattern. Now the mold, in section, looks like this:

5) Now select the family and make it a group. From the section view, select the family and rotate it 180 degrees. Now it looks like this, in section view:

Now the mold is upside down. If we go to a 3d view, it looks like this:

And if I cut the family with a section box, for clarity, it shows the internal forms, like this:

[simon.jerabek · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the thorough answer, Alfredo! I will give it a go.
Do you think that there is a way to keep it on a project level, though? Ultimately, I am trying to find a way that this casting mold would be adjusted according to the adjusment made to the floor.

[constantin.stroescu · Accepted solution]

you can create  a Mass Element by using Points , as in my screencast:

[Alfredo_Medina]

@simon.jerabek , once the family is loaded, it is part of a project. Doing it as floor is possible, but if you want to do it upside down, that might be more difficult. As I said in my post, I would do it like that. But there are other ways to do it. I just choose the adaptive template becuse the points of solids are flexible compared to other methods.

[simon.jerabek]

You are definitely onto something with this! Thanks a lot!

[simon.jerabek]

Yes, makes sense. Thanks again!