Stevens Ind. Cabinet beta Revit files

[leok]

I included a link to 3 sets of 4 cabinets designed slightly different.

http://uploads.stevensind.com/?file=393251919

1 has all the "fixed" sizes. I don't like this as the file size and speed are slow, and it's a lot to choose from. When you multiply the available widths by the heights by the depths we have hundreds of sizes on 1 model. The 2nd set has just 1 size, but allows adjustment to the Stevens "maximum and minimum limits" which I like better. The 3rd set forces you to pick a height and depth that are catalog available "size by instance". They are stretchable.

We are planning to put a front end search program on this to allow the user to quickly find the model they want, pick okay and it will then open in the revit drawing. It would be a fast electronic catalog running in a side window alone or could lauch within Revit. We use this now in our quoting and drawing software here and are trying to adjust it for Revit right now. It has the added benefit of showing a quick 3D pic with available sizes and any special notes that can be modified by the user. It is searchable by model or with intuitive picks...2 door, 2 drawer, tall cabinet for example brings up a couple to pick from. We could add size picks and a list price someday if requested by the architectural community, but it will probably start out with one size that can be copied and adjusted in Rivet. I will provide a link to the beta search file as soon as possible, maybe Monday or so.

I still like the simplest rivet model allowing the user to copy and adjust the size. The electronic catalog search will tell possible sizes. We also have 3000 models and a 1/4 million sizes so keeping it simple allows us to finish, and makes for a fast, user friendly, small file.

As always feedback is very much appreciated...and needed at this stage.

thank you,
Leo Kitten
Stevens Ind
Engr Mgr

[twiceroadsfool]

I included a link to 3 sets of 4 cabinets designed slightly different.

http://uploads.stevensind.com/?file=393251919

1 has all the "fixed" sizes. I don't like this as the file size and speed are slow, and it's a lot to choose from. When you multiply the available widths by the heights by the depths we have hundreds of sizes on 1 model.



Then consider using a type catalog to make the sizes more efficient to manage. The moment i see a manufacturer whos actually doing SAVE AS for variations in size, i send a memo out to our office staff that theyre Modeled Content is OFF LIMITS. Secondly, the options in Revit should be dictated by HOW you sell your content.

IS IT all fixed sizes? Or are they custom ordered? If theyre fixed sizes, make a revit family, and have Family Types for the actual sizes you offer. If its all custom built to order, then give them instance parameters that are stretchable.

Revit shouldnt be driving your practice, your practice should be driving Revit.




The 2nd set has just 1 size, but allows adjustment to the Stevens "maximum and minimum limits" which I like better. The 3rd set forces you to pick a height and depth that are catalog available "size by instance". They are stretchable.

Again, only a good thing if thats how the cabinets are ordered. Stretchable cabinets that suddenly double in cost over fixed sizes, should be a seperate family. I have "Fized size to order" families for Casework, where they have family types, AND i have stretchable ones called Custom, that are flexible.



We are planning to put a front end search program on this to allow the user to quickly find the model they want, pick okay and it will then open in the revit drawing. It would be a fast electronic catalog running in a side window alone or could lauch within Revit. We use this now in our quoting and drawing software here and are trying to adjust it for Revit right now. It has the added benefit of showing a quick 3D pic with available sizes and any special notes that can be modified by the user. It is searchable by model or with intuitive picks...2 door, 2 drawer, tall cabinet for example brings up a couple to pick from. We could add size picks and a list price someday if requested by the architectural community, but it will probably start out with one size that can be copied and adjusted in Rivet. I will provide a link to the beta search file as soon as possible, maybe Monday or so.

I still like the simplest rivet model allowing the user to copy and adjust the size. The electronic catalog search will tell possible sizes. We also have 3000 models and a 1/4 million sizes so keeping it simple allows us to finish, and makes for a fast, user friendly, small file.


This is just my PERSONAL opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. But. If youre saying youll send out one parametric family, and then the end users have to go through the catalog, find the approved sizes from Stephens, and then make their OWN family types, then theyre better off just using OOTB content, since more than likely your approved sizes are industry standard, and then they have family types already built.

If thats how the product ships, theres no way id endorse it for users. Im already certain as to the Level of detail, and the Content settings (Lineweights/styles/linetypes, etc) of the ones ive got built. If they have to dig through a catalog and make a family type size, they might as well use mine.

Also, one of the families has a Nested Family Door Panel, but the others dont. Are they to be nested doors? If they are, make them shared and nested, with a Label, so we can swap them out for other stephens doors. If thats not an option, im not sure why theyre nested families at all. Same with handles. Are they options? Nest and share.

Also, the inner shelf is modeled, but the opening on the front isnt. If the shelf is modeled, im assuming its for sections. If thats the case, why not cut out the opening behind the door?

[Scott D Davis]

Definately use Type Catalogs. You can see examples of Type Catalogs in any of the steel shapes that come with Revit.

Also, be sure to follow the Revit Content Style Guide, found here;

http://revit.autodesk.com/Library/RMCSG/Revit_Model_Content_Style_Guide_v2_1.zip

Then get your stuff published to Seek (check seek.autodesk.com). If it conforms to the Style guide posted above, it will now be identified as such in Seek, allowing end users to know that it meets the standard,

[mccurdyks]

Is there an alternate link somewhere? The one above doesn't seem to be working (I know this post is a few months old).

We've been using Stevens casework as BOD since Revit 7, and have developed a pretty extensive library. Inevitably, variations come up between projects that are saved to project specific folders (often without my knowing), that aren't incorporated back into the company library. As I try to reign things in, I'm trying to decide if I plow ahead consolidating our own Stevens content, or if I can sidestep this, hang my hat on the manufacturer content that will be coming, and just rework my casework schedule as needed.

Seeing where this project is at would greatly help me make a decision on which way to go!

Thanks in advance.

Kevin