Forums >> Revit Structure >> Technical Support >> Upturned Beams in RST 2010

krunung

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So I'm on my 2nd week of RST 2010 and I've been going through tutorials, forums, YouTube videos, etc. I believe I've got a pretty good grasp of a lot of the workings but I'm struggling with creating a family for Upturned Beams/Moment Frames/Transfer Beams Whatever you'd like to call them). I've been trying to modify the beam family template provided with no luck. The beam continues to snap to the bottom of the deck rather than the top even after I've moved the sweep path, and the profile with respect to the reference level; the height parameter is not working though it did when I used an extrusion rather than a sweep, I've checked the material to make sure that the elements join but nothing seems to be working correctly. Obviously I have very little experience with creating new families but I wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction, maybe give me a few pointers. I've been creating the beam using the sweep command. I used the extrude before and while all the flexing worked great, the beam did not snap from column to column but rather to the default length of 10'. I've attached the file for your viewign pleasure though I'm sure it's lacking. Thanks a million.

 Kris

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Kris Runung

Project Manager/Engineer

McClone Construction Co

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

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emgeeo

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Joined: Wed, Mar 12, 2008
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Unfortunately, I do not have Revit 2010 and cannot view your file.  It would also be helpful to see a sketch of the intention and a screenshot of the problem.

At any rate, it sound like you are attempting to place a steel beam on the top of steel deck.  Or, perhaps you are working with concrete.  Not really sure.  This would be helpful info too.

Here's a few ideas.

1.  Use the out-of-the-box Revit family, and create a new reference level for the bottom of the beam.  Not sure how many beams you have, or if their elevation varies throughout the project.  If you have a consistent elevation you can use- wheter it's top of beam or bottom of beam, create a reference level for that so you can constrain your framing to that level.

If you are using a bottom of beam reference elevation- you can rotate the member 180° through the element properties box.

2.  Use in-place families.  Analytical lines can be added as necessary if you are using them.

Make sense?

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krunung

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Kris Runung

Project Manager/Engineer

McClone Construction Co

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

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emgeeo

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Joined: Wed, Mar 12, 2008
322 Posts

Is this what you are trying to achieve?

See attached image.

Attached Images

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krunung

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Yeah it seems like it. I obviously don't know which parameters you have in that family in order to create or modify that beam. I was hoping to be able to adjust the width, height, and top slope. The main thing that was frustrating me was the fact that everytime I used 3D snap to place the beam (or even in plan view), it always inserted in the -Z direction, as though the placement axis was along the top of the beam, rather than along the bottom of the beam. Not sure if that makes sense. Either way, that seems like it coincides with what was my ultimate goal. How did you manage that?

 Thanks,

Kris

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Kris Runung

Project Manager/Engineer

McClone Construction Co

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

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emgeeo

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I used the out-of-the-box concrete beam family and modified it.  Not sure what problems you are having with the family you created, or the reason you are having these problems.  I'd like to help you with that, but I don't have 2010.

I've attached my family to this e-mail.  Let me know if you don't understand it.  I've also added a control which will allow you to flip the beam to make sure the top of the beam slopes in the correct direction.

Set the z-direction justification to 'bottom'.  See previous screenshot I've posted.

Let me know if you have further troubles.

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krunung

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This is what I found that I had to do when I created the faulty beam. It always located itself below the slab. I found the Z-direction Justification pulldown at that point and that at least got it to the correct side of the slab. Is there anyway to save that setting that you know of so that when I pull this family in, it will automatically have "Bottom" as the justification? Thank you very much btw. Just curious, did you create the beam with an extrusion or a sweep? Or neither?

 Thanks Again

Kris

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Kris Runung

Project Manager/Engineer

McClone Construction Co

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

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emgeeo

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I'm not sure if you are able to default the z-justification.  Using the create similar command is useful for doing this type of thing, but it doesn't overide the z-justification.

I used a sweep- which was what the out-of-box version used.

What you are dealing with is similar to the pan and joist family within Revit.  Ther problem with your family can be seen in the cross-section of the image you've posted in this thread.  You've included the beam extrusion in your slab thickness. 

You had the right idea...

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