Problem with several elements in a family beeing locked to one another

[Anonymous]

Hello.

I have made a custom window out of many generic families. I have a problem with 3 of my elements beeing locked to each other (see attached picture). Whever i extend the extrusion of one of them, all three change. 

Thanks in advance.

[planner_matlabi]

Hi

Please Watch ScreenCast

Please use "Accept as Solution" and give kudos as appropriate to further enhance these forums. Thank you!

[Sahay_R]

All right - firstly, your family does not have many generic families - it is made out of extrusions.

Second - there is a sequence to building families. You always start by creating reference planes that will define the geometry. Dimension the reference planes, apply parameters (to allow you to flex the geometry) and constraints (that will prevent geometry from flexing and keep it fixed). Test the reference planes to make sure that the parameters and constraints allow them to flex. Create the geometry, align and lock to reference planes. Test, test, test again.

It is lacking reference planes to lock the geometry to. To get you started, let me give you step one - 

Create the highlighted reference planes (Create>>Reference Plane)

Constrain (Modify>>Align) and lock the geometry to reference planes 

The reference planes should be constrained by dimensioning and locking them (red circled area)

This should get you started. You will also need to repeat this process for the top and bottom of the window. Create a height parameter (the width dimension of the window is a width parameter - refer to that if you are not sure what I am talking about). Type in new values for the width and height parameters to test the family. 

Your current family is a Generic Model family. This type of family will not be able to cut openings in the wall. I would recommend starting afresh in a Window template, following the tips above. If you are confident about attempting something more complex, then you can fix up the current family and nest it into a window template and associate parameters.

I would recommend cleaning up the extrusions - there seemed to be multiple extrusions sitting on top of each other and muddying the waters.

[Anonymous]

I tried to do what you showed in the video. When i isolated the element, it would dissapear as soon as i chose edit extrusion..

I dont have the problem anymore though, since i decided to start from scratch. I realised that i had messed up the drawing because i had different elements snapping to each other, rather than to reference planes. With the amount of extrusions that i had, i lost overview over which elements were locked to reference planes and which were locked to other elements. 

Just a little side question; is it possible to somehow highlight or show which element is locked to what? (reference plane or another element)

Thank you for your time!

[Anonymous]

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@rsahayUZMK9 wrote:

All right - firstly, your family does not have many generic families - it is made out of extrusions.

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Sorry, you are correct, extrusions was the word i was looking for 🙂 

I am aware of reference planes, and i have used quite a few in my model. However, i have also been snapping some extrusions to other extrusions, which is probably how i encountered my problem. 

I started the model from scratch and used only reference planes this time. It was much better that way 🙂 I did however run into a small problem, which im currently trying to resolve. I might have to make a new post though.

Thanks for your time!

[Sahay_R]

Just a little side question; is it possible to somehow highlight or show which element is locked to what? (reference plane or another element)

Three ways (in order of efficacy)- 

1) Click on the object - it will show the padlock by the object it is locked to

2) Click on the Reveal Constraints button at the bottom of the screen

3) Attempt to move / edit an object - you will get the warning about constraints not being satisfied - but that will not show what the object is constrained to.

[Anonymous]

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1) Click on the object - it will show the padlock by the object it is locked to

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The highlighted extrusion is locked to the leftmost of the two reference planes on screen. I cannot seem to see any locks? I tried zooming out, and also in 3D. 

I have however see the lock before, when i have highlighted locked extrusions. How come i dont see it now?

[Sahay_R]

That's because the object in question wasn't locked - when I went to Align it, this is what I got....

[ToanDN]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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1) Click on the object - it will show the padlock by the object it is locked to

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The highlighted extrusion is locked to the leftmost of the two reference planes on screen. I cannot seem to see any locks? I tried zooming out, and also in 3D. 

I have however see the lock before, when i have highlighted locked extrusions. How come i dont see it now?

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It is constrained to the reference plane you pointed out even though you don't see the padlock.

There are bigger questions:

- Why are you using Generic family for a Window?

- Why are you using a non host instead of a wall hosted family?

- Why is the Center/Left/Right reference plane not on the center, but to one side, and on the inside edge of the frame?

- Why do you put in too much details?  Are you model it for a window manufacturer?

[Anonymous]

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@ToanDN wrote:It is constrained to the reference plane you pointed out even though you don't see the padlock.

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Is there a way to see this? Without having to try and extrude the element?

- Why are you using Generic family for a Window?: Because i wanted to draw a detailed window.

- Why are you using a non host instead of a wall hosted family?: Because the window is going to be placed in a wall that is also made up of generic models, not into a wall family. 

- Why is the Center/Left/Right reference plane not on the center, but to one side, and on the inside edge of the frame?: I should probably have done this, yes. Im a beginner at custom revit families 🙂 

- Why do you put in too much details?:  Are you model it for a window manufacturer?: I am attempting to draw an entire house using this level of detail. Its for learning purposes, and also to be able to extract exact quantities of the different house components. I assume revit isnt intended for this purpose, but its what i have to work with. So far its working allright 🙂