Multi Segment Beam

[Tom_Bionda]

Hi All Revit Users,

Wondering:

Is there in the world anyone that have portal frame family (I am not asking to get it for free, but simply curious)? I saw couple of years ago Mr. Tomasz Fudala presented usage of Dynamo to create parametric portal frame warehouse. Would that be a good starting point to get idea of how to do something else with portal frame?

Actual question:

Is there a way to create Multi Segment Beam family? 

Please see attachment, Let's say we have one side of portal frame (from eave to apex/ridge point), and in between we have columns that are supporting that rafter. Where columns are supporting rafter, we have haunches which are normally bigger size than mid-span. 

By using frame template family or any other is it possible to have multiple beams sitting on the reference planes and to be able to control their lengths inside family using parameters?.

Reassessing Idea of creating Portal frame family: 

I know some Revit users would say "why you just don't create portal frame and create group out of it?". True, but we all find group not behaving in the best way (breaking, popping bunch of error messages, rafters ending somewhere on the plane far from point of origin :)... etc., sometimes I find myself ending with multiple groups instead of one, just because Revit doesn't handle groups in best possible way.

Yes, ultimately creating group is simplest, fastest and efficient way.

If anyone can help with advice of does Revit support to create multi segment beam family, I would appreciate.

Thank you

[Tom_Kunsman · Accepted solution]

There have been a few pre-eng frame families I have seen and used in the past. You can find those on the internet. I think that is the closest to a "portal frame" family that I know of.

I certainly would not use the Beam template and use a Generic Model template instead. 

Hope this gives you some ideas at least. 

[Tom_Bionda]

Hi Tom,

Thank you for your response, at the end of the day I used Generic model template to do tests, using Reference lines and reference planes combined, and by setting up IF statements inside of family I managed to acquire wanted, did have issues locking ends of reference lines, but ultimately, I achieved wanted behavior (multi segment beam).  

Thank you

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

You can create multi-segment model lines and create structural framing using pick lines and turn on 3D snapping.

[Tom_Bionda]

that's exactly what I used, thanks mate, i have 2 types of families, one is beams as parameters, and one with just model lines, the one with model lines is less constrained. Model line gives like more generic solution, giving user more let's say flexibility.