Forums >> Community >> Newbies >> Families, how do you do it?

sandh01

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Joined: Mon, Dec 6, 2010
12 Posts

Gidday,

We have just started using Revit Architecture 2011.  I am trying to get my head around the idea of families, but it is proving frustrating.  From what I know, if you want something outside the limited default set of families that come with a licence, you need to either download it (if it's available), buy a parametric family like those from Revit Content, or create/edit a family.  

So, for those working in architectural/engineering firms, what do you do? (would also be helpful if you indicated how small or large the firm is in order to relate).

Thanks!

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nastyclown

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Joined: Mon, Jul 13, 2009
273 Posts

Welcome to the revit world. Im still a student, but i can give you some advices.

Since i work solo (i dont have almost anyone that knows revit, i have some friends that are interested in learning, but they know only basics) i have to make if its possible families that are parametric, OR families that i can easily change and re-cycle for different proyects.

Depending on the type of family i need, you have to make a decision if you need to reasemble existing families or starting from scratch.

Also making reverse engineer with the familys that come with revit can be a helpful resource of "how to do", checking parameters, constrains, rules, etc.

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WWHub

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Joined: Tue, May 16, 2006
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The first place to always start is what is provided with the program or by the program authors - AutoDESK.  Search the AutoDESK site on-line - lots of data there including the "Families Guide".  Not downloading that and reading it would be foolish.  Also learn to use Revit's HELP... It is very thourough and well done.  Learn to use simple one-word searches... and sometimes refine that using similar words.

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pchan

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Joined: Wed, Mar 5, 2008
208 Posts

I learned my way of making families the hard way, going thru the trial and error process.

But I wouldn't suggest that to you to go thru this process, youtube have some good short clips that shows how to make a simple families.I remember Autodesk even have its own "free" youtube channel of Revit.

I wouldn't recommend to use the "family guide" provided by the factory as I tried that to learn on my own before. I found watching a video is a much better way to learn (if you can download the clip and watch it over and over to repeat some of the step, it would even help)

HTH

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sandh01

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Joined: Mon, Dec 6, 2010
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Ok so sounds like creating/modifying families is the way to go? 

I know everyone is different, but on average, how long should one expect to wait until they know how to successfully modify/create families efficiently?

Also, would be interested as to why people use or do not use the Revit Content library (other than it costs extra $)?  

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thetabest

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Joined: Tue, Mar 15, 2011
199 Posts

I might be an exception, but I had my first door family perfected within a week of starting.  Easiest way is to start with a cube.  Cut sheets help too, every dimension on the cutsheet, create a dimension in your family for equivalent.  The more challenging aspects of a family don't come in for a bit, visibility, nested families, etc.  I'm in an electrical design/contract firm (3rd largest in nation), we are making the transition into Revit, already have projects going, and this isn't my first gig, but the content is the tougher aspect of Revit, master it, and you will have mastered Revit.

Families aren't that limited, especially if you compare to its CAD counterpart, in a dynamic block, you cannot create nearly as much as you can with Revit.  Granted however, annotation is still MUCH better than in Revit, and some of the dynamic controls function better than Revit's, but you can achieve more dynamic and flexible results in Families.  As I always told my old boss when we first started out with Revit, "How far down the Rabbit hole do you want me to go?" 

With familes, you could parameterize and model every nut and bolt, but this would kill performance.  If you are looking to learn families, and don't want to learn the old fashioned way of figuring it out for yourself, I'd consider looking for a consultant, someone who will teach you what you need to do.

GL

-----------------------------------

Trent Best

Best Systems

the.tabest@gmail.com

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pchan

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Joined: Wed, Mar 5, 2008
208 Posts

Although there are free content that come with the box of revit, but they are not put together very well (at least in my opinion) and they are nearly not enough to use for your project (that depends on your project type), so again, that depends on your company's need. Many big firm now build up their own library and use it, although it sounds like a lot of upfront work to do, but it will be worth the time in a long run.

If you are new to the whole revit envoironment, I would say to hold on until you get the overview of how revit workflow is before you dive into it.

It took me about a month or two to get some good quality family out; and the more I do it, the better I got. and you will learn more as you try to build some complex parametric families with multiiple nested families inside. but it is worth the time to learn this skill since now i can build almost anything when i need it.

HTH

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itsmyalterego

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Joined: Thu, May 28, 2009
829 Posts

I build the majority of my families now.  It really beats searching for something vaguely similar to what you want, and not knowing if it even exists.  It takes some getting used to, but with a little creativity and understanding the mechanics of revit, you can save yourself a lot of time and get exactly what you want.   Lately I've been experimenting with curtain wall panels.  Making systems that interlock and have a high level of detail but don't break the bank on file size. Unconventional and a little weird to schedule, but it'll work, and look awesome. 

Also -- trees particular to Alaska aren't well represented in any libraries, so Ive been making those myself.   Half the trees available for download seem to be palms...

For chairs, and cars, a copy machine, or RPC people, I still go hunting online.  The families included with revit haven't changed in years.  A good segue into working with families is to edit one of those included with revit, see how it's made, try to improve it, try to figure out why that didn't work, etc. 

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sandh01

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Joined: Mon, Dec 6, 2010
12 Posts

Excellent feedback, thanks guys! 

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Replacing Multiple families in a Project.

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