Modelling Metal Panel

[amandas]

I am just curious how people are going about modelling a metal panel wall system.

I was thinking that modeling the metal panel as a curtain wall component. Then drawing the metal stud wall behind the panel would be the best way.

What do people think?

Is there an easier way than what I am doing?

[Andre Carvalho]

Is it really necessary to model the whole metal panel wall system in 3D?
Sometimes you can use just a surface patterns to show what you want and then detail the system later.

You have to be careful to not overmodel your building...

Andre Carvalho

[Dimitri Harvalias]

If you are referring to a window wall infill panel then I'd suggest creating the metal panel portion as a wall style and using that as your curtain panel or creating a custom curtain panel for the metal infill or by-pass panels in the system.
As Andre suggested, be sure to keep it in perspective. Don't get seduced by Revit's abilities ad start to model things down to the nuts and bolts.

[mrice.47661]

I'd agree with the previous replys. We just did a project with a lot of metal panel walls, and we had just one exterior wall style the accounted for the panel & backup channel width, the sheathing, studs, interior finish etc. Then, in the elevations, we added model lines drawn in the plane of the wall/soffit. Just make sure to create a new line style for the metal panel joints - so that you can shut off their visibility on other views if necessary.

Its a little time consuming to do it this way, as you have to remember to change your work plane every time you switch faces where you are drawing panels joints ... but it was effective.

The one situation I couldn't figure out however - is when you have a curved wall surface, you can't select the curved face as a workplane - so we ended up faking the joints in with detail linework in those particular elevations.

I suppose creating a model-based surface pattern might be a way to go - but if you're trying to align panel joints with a lot of different building elements, it could be very time consuming as well.

Good luck!