Void family on wall - won't associate/show any more

[KatFish01]

I've set up a circular void family to create custom perforated screen on a wall face. It's been working quite well (albeit a bit slow due to the number of them) and I could copy and paste the voids and and adjust the sizes quite easily. Now when I select one or multiple and change the properties to a smaller/larger void, or copy, or even insert a new one, it does insert/copy/change but will no longer associate the affected void to the wall, ie you can't see it, but when you hover over it it highlights like it is there. I've tried deleting some and then restarting, but no luck. I've tried using a computer with more memory and the same thing happened. I've tried selecting new host, editing work plane, picking new work plane, joining, cutting, etc and none will associate the void family with the wall any more so it won't cut the void out. It worked before, so I can't understand why it no longer works... Any thoughts? Typically, I was almost finished... The same thing is now happening with the reveals on the wall.

[ToanDN]

Can you upload the void family and run a quick schedule to count how many instances in the project?

[KatFish01]

30 diameter - 1840

20 diameter - 1847

10 diameter - 815

total - 4502 (and we want a few more yet...)

all on one wall.

[ToanDN]

I am trying to create about 4000 instances on one wall and it definitely is taking a toll on my laptop, about 5 minutes to finish the array.  But the voids finally are there though.

If I were you, I would break it down to smaller chunks.  I would create perforated panels as different face based families with your void nested in.  Break it down like that would reduce the computing needed on a single geometry (wall).  Load these perforated panels on your wall and you would be set.  Revision to design would also be easier and could be done more quickly.  If you have repeated designs / modules it would be even more beneficial with this workflow.  

[BIM.Consultant]

You can create model in place component, use same extrusion sketch to draw all your circles. Set face of the wall to be your workplane > Draw > Finish sketch > Make sure it is set to void > then cut geometry.
You can give your extrusion whatever thickness you desire.

Dont risk you hard work, first try this on a detached copy where you will delete old 4502 voids.

[Alfredo_Medina]

Have you tried changing the family to be just a model-line circle instead of a void? It wouldn't make a difference on the documentation of the elevation, but it will greatly improve the performance. More than 4000 voids on the same element is a lot of internal operations to perform.

[KatFish01]

This is what I've started doing...

Thanks.

[ToanDN]

Indeed. The depth of the void is minuscule (3mm) to tell the different between a model line circle and an indentation.

[KatFish01]

When you have multiple different sizes and you just copy them through on your grid, then you can select chunks of them and change families so they automatically change size and stay in the same place and it's relatively quick (until you get too many!). Drawing a group of circles either as a void extrusion or as a set of model lines means that changing the diameters individually is slow. Now trying making separate generic families for each panel (saved outside of the project - not model in place).

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

I didn't say draw circles on the wall. Still a face based family but instead of a void, draw a model line circle with diameter associated with the dimension parameter.

[Alfredo_Medina]

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@KatFish01 wrote:

... Drawing a group of circles either as a void extrusion or as a set of model lines means that changing the diameters individually is slow. ...

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It doesn't have to be slow. You can do this quickly with a pattern-based family, with one circle, repeated on a divided surface, and with different sizes, with the help of the Randomizer tool. 

[KatFish01]

Great thanks. Just trying this out. Got as far as applying the pattern to the surface which was way easier, but can't find the randomiser tool to create the different sized circles.

[Alfredo_Medina]

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@KatFish01 wrote:

..., but can't find the randomiser tool to create the different sized circles.

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The Randomizer tool is an add-in; you can find it in Autodesk App Store (free) at:

https://apps.autodesk.com/RVT/en/Detail/HelpDoc?appId=6191999389973068913&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

I made a couple of examples about the usage of the Randomizer, recently, here:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autodeskhelp/revit-families-on-theme-parks-expert-elite-highlight-alfr...