Revit "Super Users" AMA - Replay

 

Well... that was fun!

Last night marked the 50th episode of "BIM After Dark Live".  To mark the occasion I was joined by 6 other previous guests and Revit "super users" all with their own Revit super powers.  ;)

We took questions and discussed an array of topics for almost 2 hours!!  

Some of the topics included:

- Phasing, Design Options, and more.

- What feature we wished would be in the next release of Revit

- Linear light fixtures...?

- Interior design (tagging wall materials, etc...).

- PyRevit... Lot's of PyRevit

- What versions of Revit we all started on.

- Shared Coordinates (and coordinate systems)...

... and so so much more...

This was, honestly, just a great time.  Not to mention, the chat was on fire.  Literally, the 7 of us could not even keep up with the discussions, questions, and more...  

Thank you all who joined us live.  For those who didn't, continue reading to view the replay!

I've also listed all of the guests previous appearances on the show and whatever links I could scavenge together mentioned throughout the 2 hour session! 

Architects, Developers, & BIM: Test-fitting with the TestFit Team (Replay)

 

I remember seeing a GIF of TestFit a few years back on Twitter.  It showed a 3D diagram of a simple apartment looking building and a parking lot around the outside.  The site was pulled in one direction and the building grew,  changed shape, and the parking lot reconfigured as it was stretched... 

Mind blown.

Fast-forward to today, TestFit is a platform that blends architecture, building codes, crowd sourced input, real-estate developer knowledge, BIM, and generative design to completely disrupt the early stages of a project development.

On this episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by Clifton and Nat to not only discuss how an application like TestFit interacts with your Revit models, but also about how an understanding of what developers value and an acceptance of co-creation tools will ultimately benefit you as much as them...

The conversation was awesome, the questions were great, and Nat showed us how you can bring a TestFit building into Revit ... yes, those are Revit Walls, Floors, Roofs, etc... Automatically!

Continue reading to view the replay and see it in action....

Adding a Detail Item in a Wall Sweep in Revit?!

 

Here is a great little tip on how to embed detail component items within your profile families in Revit.  For example, if you had a metal coping profile that was a wall sweep and you wanted to see 2x6 blocking when you cut a section (but don' need to model it) then this is a great solution for you!

This tutorial was inspired by a question from Emil, a member of the BIM After Dark Community.  Thanks for the inspiration, Emil!

Continue reading to view the "Community Quick Tip" tutorial...

Easy Gutter End Caps in Revit

 

This is a great little tutorial that I can't take credit for.  Chris Broda, a member of the BIM After Dark Community (learn more about the community below) came up with the solution and let me share it with you all!  This is a simple tip to make fully functioning gutter end caps in Revit (and no, it is NOT modeling in place!).

Continue reading to view the tutorial and links mentioned...

Managing LARGE & COMPLEX Sites in Revit and Twinmotion (Replay w/Links)

 

On last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live I broke down how my team and I manage large, complex, and phased scenes in Revit & Twinmotion 2020 to create construction logistics/phasing plans, aerial views, and more... There are a lot of aspects to this session for Revit: - Model setup of super large scenes (acres upon acres of land). - Use of Container models using the design teams files. - Managing multiple phases, fencing, and more... Then, there are all the lessons learned when using Twinmotion 2020 with these large scenes, such as: - Export/Import Tips for less crashes. - Managing Phases/Sequencing, etc... - More efficient and stable model refreshes on large scenes - Best trees and material settings for aerial views. - Best lighting settings for aerial views...

Follow along as I walked through two different projects with their own unique approaches to creating large site models in Revit and managing how those scenes are built in Twinmotion.

Also, it's worth watching this episode to see how nervous I was while running two instances of Twinmotion 2020, two instances of Revit, and streaming live to YouTube from a 2K monitor... Talk about risky!

Continue reading to view the replay and all of the links mentioned (as well as the Twinmotion light settings I walk through at the end)...

Array Based Families in Revit - What You NEED TO KNOW! (+ Free Guide)

 

Missed the show live?  Be sure to check out the replay below and a link to my Free Desktop Revit Family Cheat sheet...

Yesterday's episode of BIM After Dark Live was inspired by a subscriber's email (Matt).  Matt had a few questions about using an array in Revit to build families and some of the tips and tricks when doing so...

So, I thought it would be fun to build an array based family live!  And walk through some of those little "need to know" tips and tricks along the way.

Topics Covered:

- Creating a nested family and "carrying over" the parameters.

- Creating a line based family.

- Using and applying arrays

- Formulas to drive the array

- How to handle single objects and arrays in the same family...

There were a bunch of great questions and even some comments from Paul Aubin and Nick of Revit Pure!

Continue reading to view the replay, see the links, and download the free desktop family guide...

Residential Revit - Under Construction (Replay + Links)

 

In this episode of BIM After Dark Live I gave an update on my ongoing home addition project ("Split Level Redux") and talk about some of the ways Revit has helped during the construction phase. 

So often in residential construction, as the architect, we spend countless hours working with a client to design their dream home (or addition).  However, there isn't always a connection between that effort and the efforts in the field.  

I have been using my own personal project as an opportunity to explore how Revit (and "BIM" in general) can add value to residential contractors, too.

In this episode we explored:

- General construction updates on the project (with some cool footage).

- How I am using Revit to track progress.

- How Revit is helping me place material orders.

- Real-time diagramming and problem solving using the model..

- And of course, some of the head-aches along the way....

Continue reading to view the replay and all of the links mentioned (there were quite a few links mentioned!)... 

Revit and Drones - Mapping, Point Clouds, and More...

If you missed last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live, do yourself a favor and check out the replay below...  If you're an overall technology junky/geek like me, you

Drones and Revit are two technologies I have been trying to figure out how to connect for a couple of years now.  Recently, a colleague of mine introduced me to a technology that makes it all possible.

In this episode I walked through how I was able to take a $600 (Black Friday sale drone) and map out an existing building, export it to a point cloud, and bring it into Revit...

Oh, and so so much more...

Like this really cool looking image...

Continue reading to see what I am all jazzed up about and to see the links (software and hardware) mentioned...

DynaMaps and Revit - Adding Context to Your Models (w/Mostafa & Paul Aubin)

 

On last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live we welcomed Mostafa El Ayoubi.  Mostafa is an architect and civil engineer.  He is the creator of Dynamo packages like DynaMaps and Data-Shapes.

This episode introduced the genesis of the DynamMaps package and it’s foundations as well as some workflows showing how to get site geometry inside Dynamo and push it to Revit will then be live demoed.

Also, this was another "crossover" with Paul Aubin and the ChiNamo users group!

Topics Included:

- Introduction to DynaMaps

- Installing the Package

- Step by Step demonstration of how to bring in buildings, topography, roads, and trees from open source data to your Revit models.

Continue reading to view the replay and learn how to install and use DynaMaps today!

Parametric Dining Room Light Fixture Family in Revit - Start to Finish

 

I built a parametric family in Revit on yesterday's episode of BIM After Dark Live.

But, not just any old Revit family.  A dining room light fixture. 

Why a light fixture family?  

Well, I've noticed over the years that light fixtures are probably some of the most wanted families.  Probably because there are literally millions of fixture with all sorts of little details within them.

Another reason I wanted to walk you through the creation of this fixture live is that is contains a whole bunch of great family creation tips and tricks along the way.  

There were some great questions and I shared a lot of "process" references (like sketches, and diagrams) that are worth checking out...

Topics Covered:
- Laying out a Parametric Object
- Using Nested Families (when, why, and how).
- Using multiple light sources in one family.
- Carrying parameters (like materials) through nested Families
- When to use sweeps over extrusions
- Tips for making "rods"...

And so much more.  

If you missed it, be sure to continue reading to see the replay and view all of the reference materials...

Behind the Scenes "BAD" Office Hour (Topics: Revit Curtain Walls & Placeholder Links)

 

Over the last few days I have received some emails asking about what an "Office Hour" within the BIM After Dark Community actually is...

Instead of simply responding to a bunch of emails, I thought I would make a video!

In this video I take you behind the scenes of an actual "BIM After Dark Community" office hour. I hold these private office hours about every other week for members of the community.

The topic of this sample office hour is Revit Curtain Wall Systems (a couple specific questions from member, Jerry) and placeholder links in Revit (a great tip and discussion for anyone dealing with links!).

So, this video can serve as an example of an Office Hour, but also give you some valuable tips and tricks... Win win!

Click here (or the image above) to view the office hour sample...

Want to see more Office Hour examples...?  

Check out this episode of BIM After Dark Live (Top 5 Ways to Use Design Options in Revit) where I hosted a Community Office Hour WITH a YouTube lice audience... 

How to Split a Wall Sweep in Revit (Community Quick Tip)

Happy final Monday of 2020!!  Thank goodness... Am I right?

Today's video is the first of a mini-series I am calling "Community Quick Tips".  Essentially, these are video versions of longer question and answer conversations had over on the BIM After Dark Community.

In this video I answer Emil's question within the community about splitting wall sweeps.  I show two different approaches to splitting a wall sweep (hint, you can't just use the split tool).  

Click here or the image above to view the video tutorial...

Learning Revit, together.

Also, don't forget, you can save 30% off your membership if you join before the end of the year.  Click here to lean more or join now...

AMA Replay (Plus, a 30% Off Discount!)

 

To wrap up 2020 with a bang, I thought it would be fun to host another "Ask Me Anything (AMA)" style episode of BIM After Dark Live.  The last time I did an AMA style episode was almost 20 episodes ago.  

That day, I hosted a double header and couldn't even keep up with all the questions I got!  (Check out the replays here.)

Yesterday, there were so many questions is was hard to keep up!  Thank you all for joining, asking questions, and making this live show thing... well, a thing!

Topics the we Covered:

- Building a wall under a ramp (and other ramp options).

- Creating Door Window and Curtain Wall Elevations (touched on it).

- Revit Backup File Management

- Creating a Concrete Mass in Revit

- Using the overhead line trick ... sort of ...

- 3D Details and When to Model versus draft (hint, MODEL MODEL!).

- My middle name...

Continue reading to view the episode...

Sloped Shower Floor / Drain in Revit (Quick Tip Edition)

In our next "Quick Tip" video I demonstrate a few different approaches to making your floors slope to a drain in Revit.  This could be used for showers or any sloped floor, really...  Enjoy!

Corrugated Metal Walls in Revit ("Butler" Buildings) - Quick Tip Edition

In this short tip I demonstrate one possible solution to modeling corrugated metal walls (like "Butler Buildings") in Revit...  This is just one way to approach it... There are many!

Enjoy... 

Curtain Wall Corners in Revit (Quick Tip Edition)

 

In this short video I walk through some options for modeling curtain wall corner in Revit. We talk about butt-glazing corners, standard corners, and more... Enjoy!

Tutorial - Concrete Reveals in Revit

 

In this short video I answer a great question from a follow about creating concrete walls with reveals in Revit (an controlling the visibility and look of those reveals).

Continue reading to view the tutorial....

Cold-Formed Steel (Metal) Framing in Revit

 

In today's quick tip Revit tutorial (extracted directly from an episode of BIM After Dark Live) I run through the process of modeling cold-formed steel (or "metal") studs in Revit. 

Simple, straight-forward, and to the point....

Continue reading to view the tutorial...

Rainscreen in Revit

 

In this short video (extracted from a longer episode of BIM After Dark Live) I demonstrate different ways to utilize the curtain wall tool to your advantage.  I talk about creating rain screens, wood slat walls, and more...

When you begin to think about the curtain wall tool as simply a grid system used for hosting solids and voids it opens up a whole new world!

Continue reading to watch the video...

Advanced Revit Railings (w/Revit Pure) + Big News!

 

On last night's episode of BIM After Dark Live I was joined by Nick from Revit Pure and we got REALLY deep into railings... 

Maybe, too deep?  

No way!

Nick was forced to learn every little property within the railing tool when he was tasked with modeling an old ancestral stair (seen in the image above being slid down by The Revit Kid, haha).  Nick used this opportunity to document what he was learning and share it with us all!!

Topics Covered:

- Difference between top rail, mid rail, and hand rail...

- Stacking Balusters

- Building Custom Terminations

- Dealing with extensions.

- Mitering and Fileting rails....

... and so much more ...