Nested family - HSS length issue

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I have only basic knowledge in creating families, and so I've been trying to find a way for several days now and have no idea still.

Hope somebody can help me!

I'm trying to make a frame family where the LxWxH are all instance parameters so I can change as I need inside the main project.

I created what I want successfully with just a general mass/shape made as framing. see below:

What I really want to do though is to make all of the frame elements with nested family of an actual HSS member.

This is where I encounter into a problem. I can't seem to constraint the length of the HSS member so it doesn't change as I change the overall dimensions. 

Do I have to change the original HSS member family somehow to make it work in my new family?

Or is there a way to constraint the length to the reference planes I've created in the new family so that it will become parametric?

Thanks!

[Sahay_R]

Some family creation basics (in the desired sequence)

1) In the 'host' family - Create reference planes

2) Apply dimension parameters

3) Flex to test

4) Insert>>Load family of HSS component, place an instance anywhere in the host

4) Select component. From its properties, click the little grey button next to a dimension parameter, associate it to a corresponding parameter in the host. This will allow the parameter from the host to drive the associated parameters in the nested family

6) Lock one end of the HSS to a reference plane - this will keep it in position

5) Flex to test

To make sure that the parameters that you have created are instance base - edit each parameter, check Instance. The proof - the parameter will carry (Default) next to its same.

[Anonymous]

Hi Rina,

thanks for the reply!

The HSS member family doesn't have length within the properties. It's listed as Length (default) in the family types when I open the family itself like below,

but not on the properties tab when it's nested inside the host family like below.

I think I'm probably missing something, but don't know what.

Thanks!

[ToanDN]

Constrain them using reference planes, not associating parameters.

[Sahay_R]

@ToanDN - the ends of the HSS don't lock to both reference planes - just jumps from one to the other. 

HSS - are line based families, which means you  need to click at each end to place them. As a matter of fact, all Structural Framing families are line based. That is why their Length cannot be associated to a host family.

Try nesting some other family, or creating extrusions that can be locked to the reference planes.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

Have you tried what I suggested?  See screen cast, it should work with any OOTB structural member family.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/79cadb66-eb23-4756-963b-7c4e75f3948b

[Sahay_R]

Aahh! You nested the HSS into a generic model family, instead of a structural one. Nice!

[Anonymous]

I've been trying to do this too and it wasn't working and now I know why!

My details was set to Coarse, so I only saw a line so aligning to the reference lines wasn't working (since it wasn't really the face of it that I was aligning with.

I changed my setting to Medium and did it and now it works! 

Realized it only after I saw your screen. (My host family was already a Generic Model, not structural.)

Thanks!! 🙂

[Anonymous]

This works for nested structural elements aligned to a level (if it's horizontal) - not nested structural elements on an angle. I have been trying to find an easy way to nest structural framing members within generic model families for quite some time. There is no way to do it. If you want to make a parametric frame in a family the angled bracing needs to be a sweep or an extrusion. If it's a sweep, the ends of the member have to match the reference line and you need to use voids to trim the ends to a cope. If it's an extrusion you either have to calculate the length or trim the ends with a formula - and creating an extrusion using the "viewer" is a little sketchy. And there are no coping options available within families. If Autodesk could merge the good things about regular families with adaptive families that would be a step in the right direction.

Does anyone have a solution that works with angles?