Custom Parametric Truss

[Anonymous]

I am creating a custom Truss family using the Structural Framing - Complex & Trusses (because I need more than one type of diagonal framing member, which the OOTB Truss families don't allow). I am trying to make each Truss Panel have a variable width, which requires the diagonal member to rotate in the plane.

I have a reference Plane for the Top Chord and Bottom Chord locations, and I have reference lines for the web member locations. Everything works fine when I only have reference lines - the vertical reference lines are held in place by the panel width parameters (SS and E1), and the diagonals automatically snap to the correct angles as I change either the "Height" or "SS" or "E1" Parameters.

However, I then try to create a parametric framing member using Create>Component, align it to the diagonal reference line, and lock the alignment. Then when I change either the Height or the SS or E1 dimensions, it will say that "Constraints are not Satisfies" and require that I remove the alignment lock. After I remove the alignment lock the framing member is at it's original angle instead of where it should be.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[SeanSpence]

 Firstly,

truss-family-enhancements-more-web-member-types

truss-family-enhancements-truss-types

truss-family-enhancements-truss-depth

truss-family-enhancements-truss-gusset-web-connections

truss-family-enhancements-truss-top-and-bottom-connection

truss-family-enhancements-z-offset-value

truss-family-enhancements-automatic-member-coping

So you can vote that autodesk fix the route cause of our problems. I was developing members like you but using complex beam families also has the draw back that you cant explode it. That makes it a deal breaker for export to detailing software like SDS-2. We here at SSOE have given up using the exact size for LOD 300 models. Instead when we model we use the largest diagonal member and the largest vertical member for all to avoid collisions.

But, to your issue.

When you assign your framing, try isolating the Reference lines you want to constrain to. Temporarily turning off the reference lines from the adjacent diagonal and vertical members means you can pick the exact constraint you need instead of the end of the line next to it. The reference lines are moving together so it shouldn't make a difference, but for some reason it does. That has worked for me on other families. Perhaps it will work here.

See if that works.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I saw that in my search for the solution. I upvoted all of them. They are much needed! 

I tried your method, unfortunately it is not working for me. I just don't get why the reference lines work perfectly but the actual framing member can't align to one and stay aligned! So frustating.