Create new railing family

[Anonymous]

I need to create this family, may you guys tell me the simplest way to create it.

The vertical segments are simple rectangular balustrades. My problem is the repeated small horizontal segments. 

Thank you

[barthbradley]

You can define the horizontal placement through "Rail Structure". 

Instead of individual balusters; how about a repeating panel that has the vertical and horizontal bar pattern? 

[Sahay_R]

Hi @barthbradley! I was trolling this thread incognito, because I was holding out on the same thought because - my thought is would the horizontal bar follow the slope, or stay horizontal?

[barthbradley]

The Railing would follow the slope, but it couldn't make the pattern that is shown. That's a toughy. I think a repeating panel is the easiest way to go here. 

[Sahay_R]

Even with the repeating panel - I am talking about the itty-bitty little horizontal piece that's a part of the pattern. Can that be made to follow the slope?

[barthbradley]

@Sahay_R: You did it! There's sparks shooting out of my head! I think I'm short-circuiting! 

Yep, I see what you are seeing now. It's a bigger challenge that I thought. This may need to be a custom job.  

[Sahay_R]

What about the verticals as repeating panels with a nested void that will cut through the rail, and the angled part as a rail that will be cut by the void?

[Sahay_R]

@Anonymous. The best that I can think of is create your repeating baluster family with the three posts, place it as one baluster per tread with a skinny rail on top. For the little horizontal pieces - I would just use linework in elevations. If (heaven forbid!) you need 3D views or renderings, then I would add in little extruded pieces. I hope that is not what you want to do.

OR - model the entire railing as an in-place railing extrusion, add a separate handrail on top. That would be worthwhile for a single instance, not if you need multiples.

[barthbradley]

@Sahay_R: Still at it I see.  

I ditto your second option, but instead model the whole enchilada.  

[Sahay_R]

@barthbradley - Just got done fighting with an obstinately uncooperative repeating panel balustrade family. BLAAHHH. I hate problems that make me feel stupid.....

[barthbradley]

not stupid! You're "learnid" now. If you do the same thing all over again, expecting a different result...then your stupid.  

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

@barthbradley

@Sahay_R

First of all, I'd like to thank you very much for your replies and useful ideas.

I tried to use some of your ideas and I did it.

I may not have reached the best solution, I like to know what you think if you have any comments or additions. I'd be thankful

Kindly find here-under some screen shots for the family and the railing on a stair and on a horizontal surface.

Baluster Panel Family

[Anonymous]

My current problem is that the baluster family can be top constrained to the tiny rail under the top rail only in the horizontal railing, in the sloped stair railing, it always reaches the top rail.

[Anonymous]

Stupid?! Nooooooooo

Railing and stairs in Revit are Stupid 😉

[Anonymous]

The second problem is the discontinuity of the handrail, as in the following screenshots,

[Sahay_R]

@Anonymous 

Oh GAWD. This is the railing that nightmares are made out of!

I would strongly suggest cutting your losses, creating the railing with the repeating pattern of three posts and adding the other bits and pieces with linework. Dealing with those intersections may not be possible - or practical.

Sometimes you do need to know when it is time to walk away from a problem.

However, I'm intrigued. Can you share a stair with the railing on it, please?

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with you, but I do not have this luxury. I need to have a complete LOD 400 Model.

That's the problem. I can not use 2D linework, also the handrail should be a complete handrail can't add some bits and pieces in the end.

It must be a complete type where anyone in the project can use, there are many stairs.

[Anonymous]

Yes, sure I can share it. Version 2017

[Sahay_R]

@Anonymous - Got a marginal improvement over here - the highlighted areas are improvements, the circled area is still a mess. Look at the attached file for more info.

Another thought - have you considered breaking up the panel into individual balusters, and then assembling them together in the railing in a pattern? If you choose Truncate Pattern, this may clean up the nastiness that you see in circled in the screenshot above.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

You cannot use only the railing tool and expect it can work out this type of railing perfectly.

- create baluster panel types, one for run, one for landing
- create railing types, one for run, one for landing
- create a separate railing type just for the continuous top rail
- stairs should have a consistent slope
- landing should have dimensions to fit n*baluster panel or you further need custom corner panel from in place model