Ever wanted to fillet between 3D edges in Revit?  Some of the limitations of 3D modelling in Revit were discussed at RTCAUS, so I thought I would try a little ‘tech demo’ of sorts…

Revit 2012 gives us an opportunity to do some nice things with in-project voids.  Below, you see corners of a Wall, Floor, and Generic Model being filleted and chamfered (chamfer is the word we use in Australia for a ‘diagonal’ or triangular fillet).

Basically, I have created two line-based Generic Model families.  These are called:
Chamfer line based void and solid family D.rfa (the triangular form)

Fillet line based void and solid family D.rfa (the arc fillet form)

I then load these into a project.  When placing these families in 3D, if  you place them when two perpendicular planes are highlighted at the same time, you get some nice control.  If you do this, Revit places the item ‘on’ one plane, and ‘aligned’ to the other plane.

These families can do two things to the edge – cut a void, or add a fillet.  You use the ‘Flip’ Yes / No parameter to get it in the right spot, and the ‘addition’ Yes / No parameter to choose if you want the item to show the ‘fillet’ solid part.

Feel free to download the example and have a play with it.  Sure, there are some limitations to this method, but some of you may find it useful.

Do you have a more elegant solution to this?  Feel free to comment…

Heaps of PDF presentations are available at this page. Here are some direct links:

Revit Architecture Forum (17th May 2011) Event Summary and Presentations 31.8MB

Revit MEP Forum (18th May 2011) Event Summary and Presentations 29.9MB”

Revit Structure Forum (12th May 2011) Event Summary and Presentations 19.6MB

Design Visualisation Forum (11th May 2011) Event Summary and Presentations 5.4MB

AutoCAD Civil 3D Forum (13th May 2011) Event Summary and Presentations 16.1MB

From
Spring User Groups in London:

Microsoft has released a beta version of recovery tool that can help the users to start their infected PC when all other anti-virus solutions fail…

Download Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta version (1.0.856.0):

Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta (32 bit): mssstool32.exe
Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta (64 bit): mssstool64.exe

via

Download Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper for Offline Scan and Start Unbootable PC

I recently observed this issue when a presenter in a Lab class could not select a work plane accurately.  He would hover over the correct plane, but when ‘clicking’ the mouse, a different plane would be selected.  Revit 2012 was being used on a laptop, with an external projector plugged in for the presentation.

I have a feeling that this issue is similar to one I have posted about previously, at this link.  Over at Do U Revit, a comprehensive set of comments may prove useful if you are trying to solve this problem.

Some potential fixes (from the abovementioned comments) may be to:

  • swap monitors from left to right in the Windows display properties
  • make the monitor that is running Revit the primary monitor

Of course, if all else fails:

  • run Revit in a single-display configuration if possible to avoid the issue

I have a few other ideas that I have not really tried for 2012, including:

  • make a new Windows user AFTER connecting the extra monitor or projector, then log in as this user and attempt to use Revit.
  • fully reset the UI and Revit registry data AFTER connecting the extra monitor, and then run Revit (risky).

The other important lesson is this – if you are going to be doing a presentation or tutoring session, TEST your proposed configuration prior to the session.  Five minutes of testing can save a lot of embarrassment!

“whether you create 2D lines or 3D models, you are a drafter. We draw lines to create documents, models, exhibits, and plans for others to use in creating physical forms. Whether we are discussing buildings, bridges, cars, T-shirts, or video-game machines, before it becomes tangible and reproducible, someone draws it. That someone is us.”

The above quote is just part of a insightful little article by Curt Moreno, published in/on Cadalyst.

The following paragraph, in particular, is something all drafters should think about.  Are we losing the ‘art’ of drafting?  Do we forget that drafting is a trade, a craft, a form of expression?  Do we realise that our quality of work can indeed be a point of difference between us and the next ‘CAD guy’?  These principles and thoughts apply no matter software we are using.


“As drafters, our craft should be not only a source of community and pride but also a source of value. By maintaining our connection to our common craft, we can tap into our community and heritage to buoy our morale and professional standing. As a group, we must maintain our value. If we don’t — that is, if we continue to become progressively more specialized in how we describe our work — we’ll be contributing to the devaluation of our profession rather than adding value to it. Such value is realized not only in pay scales but also in the respect allotted to any profession by another.”

From
I Am Drafter! | Cadalyst: (by Curt Moreno)

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Watch this page – pretty soon, the Australian and New Zealand Revit Standards (ANZRS) will be available for download…

The ANZRS document pack is not yet available for download. It will be made available within 2 weeks subsequent to its launch at the 2011 Australasian Revit Technology Conference, 26-28 May at Jupiters Gold Coast. Please come to the launch and/or revisit this page after that time.

From
Download the Pack! | anzrs: