structural members

[dzatto]

2 quick questions:

1. Is there a way to create you own sub categories? If so, how. I need this because some beams need to show in my floor plan, but some are under walls and it looks sloppy, so I turn those off in Cad. I need to do the same in Revit.

2. How do I add a structural shape to the structural library? I need an angle thats 1x1x3/16. It's not in the angle library. How can I add it?

[cliff collins]

1. Go to Object Styles>Structural Framing>Modify Subcategories.

see attached.

2. Open the Steel Structural Angle Family, go to Types, and add the 1x1x3/16,
adjust sizes--and you have it. Load into project.

see attached.

cheers

[dzatto]

1. Go to Object Styles>Structural Framing>Modify Subcategories.

see attached.

2. Open the Steel Structural Angle Family, go to Types, and add the 1x1x3/16,
adjust sizes--and you have it. Load into project.

see attached.

cheers
I had even money that you'd be the first to answer. :lol:

I looked everywhere but there. I need to remember the object styles dialogue.

[dzatto]

Okay, here's another one for ya.

Say I have a piece of angle iron that's 3x3x3/16 running north and south. That needs to mitre with another piece at a 30 degree angle. Mirror that and mitre the two angled pieces at the point.

I know I could use cut planes, but here's the deal. The "mitred" edges need to be a radius. So it basically looks like one piece of angle is bent to form the triangular part. How would I do that??

It's hard to explain so I attached a pic. The vertical points mitre, but the other end (horizontal part) of the angle iron is a radius.

[dzatto]

Okay, I created the sub category. But how do I apply that category to an existing beam? It's not in the properties dialogue.

[cliff collins]

In this special case I'd vote for a custom family / extrusions
to form the angle perimeter for the "pit" in your garage.

The radiused part COULD be modeled separately and then used
with the OTB angle shapes, but the joins would probably not work
as expected.

cheers

[dzatto]

In this special case I'd vote for a custom family / extrusions
to form the angle perimeter for the "pit" in your garage.

The radiused part COULD be modeled separately and then used
with the OTB angle shapes, but the joins would probably not work
as expected.

cheers
AAhhh, okay. That makes sense. Save it as a fam for later use. I'll try it. :beer:

[cliff collins]

Place a new beam with the new subcategory. Then try using match properties
to apply the new subcategory to the "existing one".

Just a thought.......

cheers

[dzatto]

I think I need to add a structural type, not a sub category? I can't even pick a sub category when placing a new beam.

[dzatto]

another question. Is there a way to load the exact profile that was used to create the angle family? That way all my angles match whether I'm using a custom family or using an OOTB structural member.

[cliff collins]

Not real sure about this. I think the profile used to create the structural shapes are system level and not exposed in the UI. They use very specific geometry from the Steel Shapes Manual. Maybe the API could expose it? The families have parameters and dimensions set up for most if not all of the values which show up in the Steel Manual.

I guess you could go to a section view of a shape and "trace" the profile and save it as a new profile for creating new shapes? Or use a 2D Detail component of a steel shape to trace the profile?

Not sure I fully understand the question.....

cheers

[dzatto]

In this special case I'd vote for a custom family / extrusions
to form the angle perimeter for the "pit" in your garage.

The radiused part COULD be modeled separately and then used
with the OTB angle shapes, but the joins would probably not work
as expected.

cheers
Worked perfectly. I need to start remembering all this stuff. lol

[wmullett]

To use sub-categories, the model element (or symbollic linework) must be created in that sub-category. Open the family, add the sub-category, then edit the model and symbollic linework changing them to the new sub-category.

[dzatto]

To use sub-categories, the model element (or symbollic linework) must be created in that sub-category. Open the family, add the sub-category, then edit the model and symbollic linework changing them to the new sub-category.
I got it to work with generic families I created. But how do you add a sub category with OOTB famileis, such as structural members?

[twiceroadsfool]

Dont confuse Subcategories with Structural Usage parameters, which are hard coded.... But also have subcategories that correspond.

For what youre trying to do, you CAN use Subcategories, but it wont be as graceful as the Structural Usage parameter that also turns off by subcategory.

Youll have to go IN the OOTB family, and make the extrusion part of the subcat. (Which means for different usages, youll need different families). That makes it not as nice as the Structural Usage parameters. (Also, notice that if you go to do this with the OOTB families or a save-as'd version of the OOTB, they have two extrusions.... One for medium and one for fine, so beware of that).

You CAN do it this way, it just wont work as gracefully as the instance parameter for the Usage.

Seems to me that what youre doing would be much better served using a Filter. Put some information in the components based on what theyre for, and use a Filter to show and not show some.

[cliff collins]

Yep--what Aaron said!

cheers

[dzatto]

Dont confuse Subcategories with Structural Usage parameters, which are hard coded.... But also have subcategories that correspond.

For what youre trying to do, you CAN use Subcategories, but it wont be as graceful as the Structural Usage parameter that also turns off by subcategory.

Youll have to go IN the OOTB family, and make the extrusion part of the subcat. (Which means for different usages, youll need different families). That makes it not as nice as the Structural Usage parameters. (Also, notice that if you go to do this with the OOTB families or a save-as'd version of the OOTB, they have two extrusions.... One for medium and one for fine, so beware of that).

You CAN do it this way, it just wont work as gracefully as the instance parameter for the Usage.

Seems to me that what youre doing would be much better served using a Filter. Put some information in the components based on what theyre for, and use a Filter to show and not show some.
ermmm.....how? lol

I'm searching for how to use filters and how to add info now. But if you're just sitting around not doing anything.......................lol

[twiceroadsfool]

http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=119957&highlight=Filters

Tutorial how is in there. Typed today. Just did a quickie search for Filters. :)

[dzatto]

Yep, found a quick tutorial and already created and applied the filter. Works awesome!
It sounded way harder than it is.

I'll check out the tutorial you posted though. I may get some extra info out of it. :beer: