how do I? sloped coping on a parapet wall

[robert.manna]

So one of our projects has parpet walls that are edited in profile such that the wall slopes like a gabled roof, but there is no actual roof. They need a pre-cast concrete coping to run on the top/edge of the wall. Where the walls are flat, wall sweeps work great.

Any thoughts on how to do this on the sloped sections?

I did a search on the forums, found a couple of previous posts, not really satisfied with the answers. Any brilliant ideas?

See attached image with notes.


Thank you,
Robert

[michael.deorsey]

I would use a in place family sweep. Though IF you could create a imported family that would use the same sweep profile that you have in the model, then changes would be easier to manage. At the least I would use a parameterized imported family, that way you could adjust the angle and length of the sweep and re-use the family more. But you would have to change the profile in two places if it were to change.

good luck.
Mike

[patricks]

You can get what you need quite easily with an in-place sweep. Just start an in-place family, choose solid sweep, then use the pull-down box to pick the same profile as the one you're using for the coping. Then in a 3D view, use the Pick Path tool to pick the edges of your wall, and adjust the positioning of the sweep profile if needed (in the X or Y direction, or flipped). I've done this on several projects with metal copings that I needed to run up at an angle like that, on a wall with an edited profile.

[robert.manna]

Yeah, I was afraid of that... not a big fan of inplace families, but given the limitations on easily manipulating the sweap profile of a true family, and in-place family is probably the best bet. I think I could do something with a two pick family, but it would be more work (but very cool...)


-R

[robert.manna]

So far to get it to work right with an inplace family I have to sketch the path lines on the plane of the wall, and can't do a pick. If I do a pick, because of the wall join conditions the sweep retracts back the thickness of the perpendicular wall that joins the peaked wall. I tried modifying the join condition, splitting walls and all sorts of stuff, but it was waayyyy too many headaches.

-R

[whittendesigns]

This might help. Sometimes when I'm in dire need of putting something like that in, I attach fascia sweeps to lines. So, if you draw a model line that follows your path you want, make a fascia sweep on this line. You will probably have to make a new fascia in order to do this though.

It really is the same thing as a solid model sweep though. Although fascia sweeps really can't be voided which limits their usefullness.

[robert.manna]

In case anyone cares. I did build a two-pick family. If I were to change it I could rotate the entire sweap & height defining reference planes 90 deg, so that it is in plan. That way in an elevation view in a project, you can pick the face of a wall, and draw the "line" in elevation. The height parameter is instance based so that there is handle to manipulate the elevation, or you can set it exactly in the properties box. Thanks to David Baldacchino for inspiration with his very unique two pick families.

-R

[dbaldacchino]

Nice :) Did I ever say that line based families are my favorite? They truly are very flexible and I do agree with Robert: if you can build a stand-alone family instead of in-place, then do. You can re-use them easily in your next project. I like the approach you took. I might have gone for just a straight sweep but this is more efficient for that type of application.

[twiceroadsfool]

I like line based families for similar items... I have one for 5x5" dentil moldings that works very well, but i find them (or at least that one) to be cumbersome. The slower computers in the office dont like them much.

IMHO, they can also be difficult when using them in large groups of users, because everyone on the project has to know which line based families use what for a work plane (wall face? Top of wall? etc...)

For what you had to accomplish, id have used an outside family. Its not convenient when you change the pitch of the wall and have to adjust the family, but (just my opinion) were talking about about a minute of time to hit edit family and change one Sweeps Sketch. then reload.

Granted, the line based may update automatically, so i guess its just a personal preference...

[robert.manna]

I said I built the family, I didn't say the project team was using it..... :)

I showed the project tema how to an in-place family, which in some ways is easier, some ways not. For now it will do. They're still not sure of the final design, as they were original thinking that they would be able to return the pre-cast onto the flanking walls (thankfully Revit quickly exposed that mis-guided notion!). It may be that they have some co-planar horizontal flanks, in which case the family I build can be modified to included that, so the the sweep is nicely continuous, and in that case, I think the two-pick family will work better. Yeah, you have to manually mointor the height to make sure it matches the wall peak. Given the size of this project and our machine specs I don't expect any problems from the two-pick families in this case.

Thanks,
-R

[twiceroadsfool]

Im with you, and i absolutely love the two pick familes. Were doing a mall right now that has Dentils all over these covered walkways, which vary in length. The two pick was certainly a more viable option than drafting them, especially since the client likes seeing all these perspectives and such.

But, i failed to account for us being a 6 person team, and while *I* understand what i did, the hardest thing (im learning) in Revit, isnt being able to understand what i did, its being able to communicate that to everyone else so THEY can use it.

But we're doing great with it... Was just something to watch out for... :)

[Max Lloyd]

Hi Robert,

I have done it the way you suggested before, but would also offer a totally differerent solution.

Build a roof that is the width of your wall, and create the roof with whatever angles you wish. Then simply apply a fascia to that roof that has the same profile as your coping stone.

That way you can adjust the angles very easily as the wall under will simply be attached to the roof, and using the fascia command, can get the profile to sweep in more than one plane very easily. See the attached file.....

Happy christmas.

Max.

(EDIT: actually, this is probably a pretty complicated solution for this problem.....having read the other posts i suspect they are easier. At least there is more than one way to skin a cat!)

[dbaldacchino]

Ahh nice solution......extruded roof with an edited planprofile! I couldn't figure how you did a roof with an unclosed sketch, until I realised that it wasn't a roof by footprint and saw the Edit Plan Profile :)