Baluster Panels for complex forms

[dbaldacchino]

I'm trying to model the attached but have been unable to constrain the extrusion base sketch to flex properly (see second image for extrusion sketch). I'm trying this in a baluster panel, so I could use it in a guardrail situation (horizontal, no elevation change) and in a stair (where it slopes). Is this too much for this type of family? Am I perhaps using the wrong approach for the extrusion? I tried reference lines and locked dimensions. Sometimes parts start working and flexing properly, but then they "break" ("base sketch of extrusion is invalid" errors) and I have to start constraining from scratch. Anyone have some suggestions or experience with this? Thanks!

[Steve_Stafford]

Turn on Automatic Sketch Dimensions to see what sense Revit is trying to make from your design. To do so: Visibility/Graphics > Annotation Categories > check Automatic Sketch Dimensions. When properly constrained only the dimensions you really want should be visible. Most likely you'll find a "spaghetti" of dimensions attempting to maintain the fidelity of your sketch.

The problem with the baluster fundamentally is the top and bottom angles reference planes must remain free to align properly with the stair runs and landings. As soon as you attempt to use a constraint that links them together somehow you'll find the baluster no longer maintains a consistent relationship with the host. Revit must use the Top/Bottom angle parameter internally to work out the angle of the stair if sloping.

Using some of your formula prowess maybe you can work out the ratio between the intended baluster height and the distance between the angle Ref Planes as the angle changes??

[blads]

Sorry I'm not of much help but there is two similar panels in RB9 you could look atr to reverse engineer

[dbaldacchino]

Thanks Steve...I'll give it a shot. I think I might use reference lines and sweeps instead of that approach. I'll report back later.

Bill, where are those located? I couldn't find them anywhere.

[Scott D Davis]

Download those railing and stair "Samples" from the Revit Download area on the web.

http://revit.autodesk.com/library/html/index.html

[dbaldacchino]

I do have railing samples that I downloaded from the online library a while back, but they don't contain the examples that Bill is showing in his image.

I went back and looked at the website and looked all the way to the V8.0 library but they're all the same....see image below.

[Steven Campbell]

I do have railing samples that I downloaded from the online library a while back, but they don't contain the examples that Bill is showing in his image.

I went back and looked at the website and looked all the way to the V8.0 library but they're all the same....see image below.

I think the examples Bill had came from the AUS library, it should be downloadable in the
template and libraries page from the Australia.cab. Alot of good examples in there...

Steve

[dbaldacchino]

Oh cool, thanks man...I'm downloading the content and checking it out.

[cadkiller]

I think the examples Bill had came from the AUS library, it should be downloadable in thetemplate and libraries page from the Australia.cab. Alot of good examples in there... Steve

How about providing these samples in imperial. Would be nice if everyone got the same content out of the box or from Autodesk's web site.

[dbaldacchino]

I finally found the railing example file for the Aussie edition...

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why some railing families display a different dialog box than what I'm used to seeing. See attached and note the absence of the "Baluster Placement" button. Also, "Baluster_04" in the project browser under the families cannot be edited. This is the panel used in the railing (which when used on a stair actually doesn't flex; see image). Are these some sort of special system families?