Custom curtain wall panel family cannot create non-rectangular panels

[jb3chen]

My greenhouse project uses a custom curtain wall family, made to simulate the assembly of polycarbonate sheets with dimensional lumber framing. It needs to connect to the top of the sloped polycarbonate roof, so there are some trapezoidal pieces in the project. 

However, when I attempt to connect the curtain wall panel to the roof, I receive the error "Can't make type <name of family>." I think this may have to do with how I've set up the family itself. Currently the top of the panel is locked to the strong top reference plane, but it doesn't seem to work when the top isn't horizontal. Any help would be appreciated, excuse my amateurish Revit family setup. Thanks. 

[ToanDN]

A custom curtain wall panel does not work when you change the profile of the curtain wall to a non-rectangular shape (attach to a sloped roof or edit profile).  If you change the panel to a system panel then it should work.  And by the look of it, you don't need a custom curtain wall family at all.

[barthbradley]

Select the panel, unpin it, and replace it with a Basic Wall Type.  

Call the Basic Wall Type "Polycarbonate Panel".  

[jb3chen]

Could you elaborate on how to convert the curtain wall panel into a system panel? I'm not familiar with system panels. 

[jb3chen]

Do you mean to convert the curtain wall family into a basic wall?
For clarification, this curtain wall family doesn't use any mullions. The frames are part of the individual curtain wall panels.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

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@jb3chen wrote:

Could you elaborate on how to convert the curtain wall panel into a system panel? I'm not familiar with system panels. 

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When you attach a curtain wall to a sloped roof, it creates non-rectangular cells and custom panels in those cells will be deleted and replace with a default system curtain panel (for example Glazed panel). 

If you want those panels with different material or thickness, you can duplicate Glazed panel and change such properties. 

If you want composite panels (multilayers with different materials), tab select those panels and change it to a basic wall type with layers.

If you want complex divisions (think a grid system within another grid system) with in a curtain wall, it can also be done within using entirely system curtain walls/system curtain panels.  The example below is a curtain wall without any custom panels.

[barthbradley]

Select the Curtain Wall Panel, unpin it, and replace the panel with a Basic Wall Type from the Type Selector on the Properties Pallet.   Of course, the Wall Type needs to be created before it will appear it the Type Selector.  Regarding the Mullions, one way to create "Mullions" on a Basic Wall Type, would be by using Sweeps. However, it would probably be easier to just define them in the Curtain Wall.  

FWIW: If you downloaded a Curtain Wall Panel from a Manufacturer, those are typically Pattern-Based Curtain Panels - meant to be applied to Divided Surfaces.   

[jb3chen]

For clarification, are you suggesting to use a modified version of the Glazed curtain wall panel type for the non-rectangular components instead of the curtain wall family?
Also, I am still not sure what the difference is between system curtain walls and system curtain panels,

[jb3chen]

If I understand correctly, you are suggesting to use a modified Basic Wall instead of the custom curtain wall family? And to use the Mullion function to create the frames instead of using the custom family?
And no, this family was not downloaded from a manufacturer.

[ToanDN]

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@jb3chen wrote:
For clarification, are you suggesting to use a modified version of the Glazed curtain wall panel type for the non-rectangular components instead of the curtain wall family?
You need to get the terminology correct.  I suggested to use a system curtain panel (a modified version of Glazed panel), or a basic wall type, for the non-rectangular components, instead of the custom curtain panel family.

Also, I am still not sure what the difference is between system curtain walls and system curtain panels,

One are components of the others.

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[jb3chen]

Alright, I think I understand what you mean now. Instead of using the custom curtain panel family, modify the Glazed curtain panel family to produce the polycarbonate parts. And so to make the frames, use Mullions instead of modeling them in the curtain panel family?

Initially I modeled the frame in the custom curtain panel family instead of as custom mullions, because it was easier to see how the frames oriented and connected and wouldn't require a new mullion family for the edges, the interior, etc. The greenhouse uses self-supporting panels instead of a true curtain wall system, anyways.

I've tried fiddling around making a custom mullion, and I've run into this issue where the curtain wall is trimmed too early and doesn't go into the groove.

However if this doesn't work for non-rectangular panels, then I'll look into properly modeling the frames as mullions.

[ToanDN]

To have panels go in the mullion groove, draw the mullion profile like this:

[jb3chen]

Alright, I'll try making mullions that way. Thank you!

[barthbradley]

Are your Polycarbonate Panels ribbed?   If so, another approach would be to model the ribs as Mullions. Curtain Wall Mullions will work with Edit Profile/Attach Top/Bottom.   

....there's a bunch of tutorials on line - just a keyword search away - if you want to learn more. Keywords: "Revit", "Corrugated", "Curtain Wall" should get you a few useful hits.  

[jb3chen]

The panels are twin wall, not corrugated, but thanks for the tip. Might keep in mind in the future.

[basil_abualiaBLT36]

how these panels can be created to be like this flexibility except Curtain Panel pattern based