Nonradial grids.

[robert.sanders]

Hi,

I'm currently working on a project with a long established grid system. The horizontal grids are setup in such a way that they look radial however the curvature is actually a polyline of straight lines spanning from vertical gridline to vertical gridline ie they're faceted.

I'm tasked with modelling a new part of the building and need to be able to replicate this grid in the model. Unfortunately when i pick the grid lines it selects each individual line that makes up the polyline. Is there anyway around this? Obviously accuracy can't be compromised so using a spline isn't an option. Perhaps theres a way to give multiple grid lines the same grid reference?

Anyhelp would be greatly appreciated,

Kind Regards,

Rob

[tomnewsom]

Revit Grids are single lines or single arcs, and each line/arc has a unique reference. And that is that.

[robert.sanders]

I thought that was the case... not really great as it's a showcase job for a part of the the company that are Revit sceptic.

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Rob,
I would just provide northing and easting spot dimensions at the intersections all tied to a common layout point .
Even though I have major issues with any grid system laid out this way you could always just use a DWG as an underlay for the grids if keeping the established grid is essential.

[dhurtubise]

Here's a family that can make you work around.
Let me know if you need more help deconstructing it.

[Dimitri Harvalias]

David, David, David... we'll never teach these folks to stop doing these unorthodox things if you keep dragging this family out ;)
Bendy, twisty, achy breaky gridlines. tsk!

(still a very clever solution... in a non-standard, totally unacceptable practice kind of way :beer:)

[dhurtubise]

David, David, David... we'll never teach these folks to stop doing these unorthodox things if you keep dragging this family out ;)

Some funky design requires some "creative" use of Revit :)

[tomnewsom]

On a more basic note, what real use is a polyline gridline anyway? Grids are for setting out. You can't say to your man on site

"The wall is offest 500mm from gridline H"
Which part?
"4th segment from the left. The one at 22.5 degrees"

Just seems like something gridlines weren't intended to do.
Could we see a floor plan?

[dhurtubise]

Imagine that your building follows a J shape. Why would you have straight AND curved axis?

[david_peterson]

Imagine that your building follows a J shape. Why would you have straight AND curved axis?
Because that's how the geometry defines it. If you're layout is based on an arc, base the grid on an arc. This is the only way to truly define the column locations. I've added a northing/easting schedule for the columns based off a central workpoint, which tied 5 arcs with 5 different center points to create a teardrop shape. The columns also needed to be perpendicular to the central workpoint. Without knowing the arcs and angles, you'd would be able to truly define it.
Those types of gridlines you speak of that have multiple defining points worked in the past when things were laid out, point to point. Now days, most buildings are laid out based off one central point and GPS via a Total Station. Using the pure geometry of the building will result in a more accurate layout in the field

[robert.sanders]

David's completely right.. these gridlines are pointless and useless and just generally stupid... unfortunately that's how the project was setup and given the scale of it I need to carry on with what was started, no matter how naff.

Thanks for all your help though guys, much appreciated.

dhurtubise, i'll have a look at that family now. Cheers dude.

[robert.sanders]

Family works a treat :) nice one.

Edit: actually i do have one question RE: Grid family. How do i stop the text from moving outside of the grid bubble when i rotate the grid line?. For some reason this isn't an issue in the model file you linked.