Curved raftes in vertical plane

[JH75]

I have a curved roof which has a slight ellipse curve. Are there any way you can attach rafters to a roof or do I have to create a new beam family where I can change the curve of the rafters in vertical plane?

Thanks,
J

[JH75]

I found this thread but this means I have to create a ref plane for every rafter?
http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=124246#post1099679
J

[Craig_L]

You can create a curved rafter...
Go to a section and draw a model line using the pick line tool to pick the curved face.
Now create a beam and use the pick line tool again to place your beam and pick your model line. Revit will complain and tell you to pick a view perpendicular or plan view. It's been ages since I did this sorry, so I'm a bit sketchy on the method right now.

You can use the model line as a pick line for the beam. You will need to relocate the beam once placed (in plan)

I did a post a while back on purlins on the curved roof. I will attempt to find that for you

http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=102385&highlight=curved+roof

[JH75]

Thanks,

I will give that a go - I wish though you actually could host a framing family to a roof

Thanks,
J

[BecFra]

If it asks you to set it to a vertical plane, draw a "dummy" grid line, create an elevation view that is attached to the grid and then draw the beam in there. then delete the grid line. If all the curved beams are the same curve, you can group just the one beam and copy them where you need them. that way when you change one beam all the others change too.

[Craig_L]

True, the grouping is what I did, just build one fully detailed rafter (I included all plates, bolts, and haunches in my group) and then copied that about. Takes a bit of stuffing around though, and make sure you copy any reference planes that you put in for cutting geometry into your group. Some times you have to take an item out that isnt working, then copy around your groups, then add that item in so it updates to all of your groups. I found this a bit fiddly, but at least I didnt have to model it multiple times so all up I think it saved a bit of time.

[dmahan]

a round about way would use a flat truss, this would allow you to attach to roof.
This would take shape of roof, Then delete the truss webs and bottom chord.

[Craig_L]

Except this will schedule as a truss schedule and not structural framing...making your life harder further down the track that way

[dmahan]

In Revit 2011 you can use the remove truss family function, then delete webs and bottom chords, the old top chord will schedule as a beam. I guess what we all would like to see in the new release is way to host beams and beam systems to a complex roof shape or to face of mass. It apears that the workflow for Revit is to start with mass, then add roof to face of mass, then start adding framing members, you can extend up and attach tops of column to this complex roof shape and attach trusses to roof shape.