Curved Beam

[mbozzo]

I am attempting to create a curved beam family. I have used the family editor to create a sweep with an arched profile, and all seems to be well in the family editor. However, when I insert the beam from column to column, the beam actually displays below the end points (see attached screenshot). Any ideas what could be causing this? Thanks!

[kmarsh]

Hi Mark,

Have you tried using the native beam tool itself to draw your curved beam? You may not need to create a custom family at all.

If you have tried this and found it to not work well for you, can you share what wasn't working? (we may be able to offer some workarounds or at least take notes on things that could be improved)

lastly, can you post your family? regardless of whether the native beam tool will work for you, it seems like there is some issue in the family. If you are able to post the family (.rfa file) please let us know which version of Revit you are using (and which Update Release you have)

Thanks,
-Ken

[mbozzo]

Hi Mark,

Have you tried using the native beam tool itself to draw your curved beam? You may not need to create a custom family at all.
Thanks,
-Ken

I was not aware you can make a curved beam using the native beam tool. Can you tell me how to do that or point me towards a resource that does?

I was, however, able to figure out that I had the z-justification set to "top", which caused the beam to display that way. If I set it to "bottom", it looks pretty much correct.

[Craig_L]

Ok this has been documented before, I suggest you have a bit of look at some older posts, one was about curved roof beams, or purlins on a curved roof, and it goes thru exactly how to place your curved beam.

You can absolutely use a generic beam family to achieve a curved beam, and its very simple

I will give you a few pointers to get you started but as I dont have Revit open and havent done this in a while you will have to iron out the wrinkles yourself.

Cut a section from your plan view parrallel with where you want to place your beam.
Draw a model line, in the section to the desired radius at the CENTRE of your beam.
Attempt to place a beam in the section view - revit will prompt you with a dialogue box as to where you want to place said beam - select "Parallel to current view" (it may not be worded exactly like this)
Then use the "pick line" tool and make sure your beam is set to place on the CENTRELINE.
Pick the model line drawn to your desired radius.
You can create your radius for the top of beam, then if you do that make sure you place the beam at top chord (and similar if you wish to create based on the radius at the bottom of the beam)

Your beam will place curved, but because its drawn on this model line it will place (in plan) away from where you want it, so go to plan view and align your beam so its in the right position.

you can now use reference planes to cut the ends of your beam at splice points, or column faces and get nice straight faces to work with, I have used this method, its quick and easy, gets great results, uses a standard family, and you can trim it up nicely to use your face based end plates and cleat plates along the top face of the beam flange will snap nicely and align themselves to the curved face

good luck

[mbozzo]

Got it. Thanks for the advice...it does work as you've indicated. I prefer the flexibility of the family, however. The main advantage I see is that by making the radius of the bend a parameter of the family, I can change the radius without moving the endpoints of the beam. When I tried to do that using the an in-place beam, it moved the ends of the beam away from the adjacent framing.

[Craig_L]

You'll find with most things revit, situational usage is going to decide how you model and constrain things.

Some methods will work better depending on what you need, and only experience will tell you which particular method gets you the best results.

There are usually several ways to model something, so always keep in mind your workflow and the purpose of what you are modelling as a guide to which method you choose.