Modeling Shipping Containers

[courtlandtgross]

My firm is moving onto an empty lot we own, and we are going to be setting up a new studio in a series of shipping containers. I'm trying to find the best method for creating these containers in revit. I tried first modeling them as a family, but encountered immediate limitations when trying to install windows and doors. My next attempt involved curtain wall panels, but it is far too frustrating having to work within a fixed module. So I tried arraying the corrogations within the cwl panel, but it is a real memory hog. Have any of you tried working with shipping containers? if so how have you set up you revit model?

ps. I wish you could set up a profile to subract/boolean the corrogations vertically from a conventional wall type. Anyone know how to do that?

[eric.piotrowicz]

Not to long ago I did a job that had corregated metal panel. I simply used a wall type with a surface pattern to represent the corregations. Actually modeling it is overkill. When it came time for renderings you can do quite a bit with bump maps applied to your texture to create the look of depth. Also just for fun I made a wall type with a corregated profile applied to it and set it in the project as a Design Option but when its turned on things get very clunky.

[truevis]

You can make a wall-based generic model with a cut extrusion in it. Placed on a wall in a project, it will cut the wall. I'd probably use a parametric array for the cuts in your case.

[courtlandtgross]

truevis,
your solution is pretty good. It works well, and is more resistant to breaking than the curtain wall solution. The only downside is that it is kind of a pain to array the module over and over again, but i guess I can set up a template wall outside of the project boundaries and then easily copy and paste it into place. thanks for the advice.

[truevis]

truevis,
your solution is pretty good. It works well, and is more resistant to breaking than the curtain wall solution. The only downside is that it is kind of a pain to array the module over and over again...
You can make parametric arrays inside Families. Generally: Array Qty = Array Length / Unit Distance (must be >= 2).

[STHRevit]

You could also try using wall sweeps, in a vertical situation

[RobG]

I've used the shipping container family from revitcity (i personally try to avoid a lot of stuff there just based on experience) but they do have a good shipping container family there that might be of use!

i'll try to find the link to it..

[kimn77849275]

Hello,

I am new to using Revit, and am working on a portable shipping container classroom. Found a family, but unable to insert door or windows. Please help!

Thanks!
Kim