Void Polar array is not parametric as in height ?

[firas007noori]

Greeting,

I am trying to make a parametric column that has a vertical groves in it, I made the circular extrusion of the column as a cylindrical shape by the use of extrude command and locked the upper and the lower edge of the column to two newly create reference planes? flex it, it work perfectly, then I added a new extruded cylinder but this time as a void, and I made a polar array of the void around the center of the solid in order to make parametric groves, and when I lock the upper edge and the lower of the void, it works but it then cause errors if I try to flex and change the lower and upper edges of the voids??!!

I tried to go around this issue by not depending on reference levels and use the "Extrusion Start and end value" and add a parameter to control them, it was so successful till I changed the upper and the lower levels!! it always compare the controlling parameter to the previous levels, and I tried my best to use any method to use a reporting parameter to collect the real value of the levels and return it to be used as a height! and I failed again.

Any help will be really appreciated,

Best Regards,

Firas S. Noori

[ToanDN]

Can you share the family?

[firas007noori]

Thank you , I will send a before array file that you can see the void working perfectly in front elevation and you can change its start and end, and then another file after I polar array it and never work if you tried in elevation

[Anonymous]

Try this family.  I just created a different reference plane to control the top and bottom of the void extrusion.

[firas007noori]

I thank you dear,

I opened your file, it seems that you did not make the array associative and that it is not parametric anymore, can you keep the "Associative and Group" option on when do this array, and can you please tell me how you fixed this issue,

Many Thanks in advance

[ToanDN]

Try this.

[firas007noori]

I tried to create the same solution, and it did not work!!, and in your file it works perfectly!!? anything special you do might make it work?

I really appreciate your help, thank you

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

I created the void as a face based family with parameters associated with
the host column family parameters to control the dimensions.

[Anonymous]

Here it is revised with flutes in a group controlled by the column radius.

[firas007noori]

I thank you, I managed to understand and apply what you show me, It is now (the voids) are moving as per guided by the reference plane!! Finally!! but I am wondering when I use your void family it is auto-cutting, while when I created one it is not allow me to cut?! any idea?

[ToanDN]

You have to use Cut Geometry to cut the Void with the Solid extrusion in the Void family even though they don't intersect.  That is to command the void to cut its host so that when loaded to the column family, it will cut the column.

[firas007noori]

I did check the option in the properties panel, and yet it is not cutting, is the method of insertion was wrong, I inserted referring to the working plane?

[ToanDN]

What option on the Properties panel?  You don't have to check "Cut with Void when loaded" box if that is what you mean.  But you have to open the Modify Ribbon and use Cut Geometry tool.

When loading to your column family, you have to pick a face of the column, not a workplane, to host the void.  You can pick the top or the bottom of the column, depend on how you build your void family.  That's why I built the void below the solid, so the top of the solid present the top of the column.  The way you have, when you host the void by either the top or the bottom face, the void will fall out of the column, either above or below it.

[firas007noori]

Greeting,

Thank you for being such a helpful person with me,

I tried all that you said and still not working,

I had an attached of the file that has all the nested family with in

I really appreciate your help

[firas007noori]

I managed to do the void family cut, I understand now what did you meant by the cut, I should stretched the void to overlap with the face geometry then press the cut, and now it is working, I chose the upper and I also test to add the nested void on the lower face of the column, I added the levels and they work perfectly, Thank you, I am now found myself when I polar array only 180, it did not allow me to do 360, I am still searching this and comparing it to your file, it has a correct 360 rotation, if you are free, please update me if you a solution for it, 

Anyway, I really thankful for such a help you provided for me and I am looking forward to hear from you all the time,

Thank you

Firas S. Noori

Instructor at Ajman University - UAE

[Alfredo_Medina]

I have a comment: it is easier to work with solids that with voids, especially if you are doing arrays. A solid is a simple operation. A void means that Revit has to do two operations, one the solid and the void to get a result. Also, arrays work better with nested elements, but a nested void won't cut. So, for different reasons, I would do this column with solids only, no voids.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

@firas007noori

Highlight your radial array and check remove last instance from the option bar below the ribbon. Then you change to 360 degree without the error.  I am on mobile now so my terminology maybe off hope you figure it out.

[firas007noori]

Dear ToanDN, I am really thankful, you saved the day!! I can not thank you enough as I learned a very complicated issue that lots of forum say just to leave it!!, I thank you again and I really appreciate if we can be friends, I just eager to return this favour that you did to me, you are most welcome to add me in Facebook and I wish you all the best

Best Regards and all respects to you

[firas007noori]

Thank you and I appreciate your help

[ToanDN]

@firas007noori

Glad it worked out finally.  Remember only face based void families can cut when nested in other families.  Have a nice weekend!