Andekan - Revit Components done Right.

Following up on my previous Revit Components Rant I would like to mention a company that stands for what I meant.  Andekan creates Revit components for Architects, Engineers, etc...  The pricing is not out of control for what you get.

Andekan states right in their website:

"Our focus is on building geometrically precise and information rich families that maximize Revit’s parametric content engine. Our content stands out among other providers for its high level of detail, light file size, and fast performance within Revit."

That is basically what I was talking about in my post!  I first heard about this company because they have a completely parametric human model for Revit (which I have yet to receive for free like I was supposed to!).

They have some free samples to download... so check them out.

The idea that I want you to keep in mind is that they are a company that generates revenue by modeling a parametric component tailored to the architect or engineers needs.  This is what you need to be doing.  Not downloading a fan that was built in Revit 7.1 because it was free.  Take your time and create usable, precise, and accurate components... it will only benefit you in the long run. 

• Here is a link to Andekans Website.
  
• Here is a link to Andy... who I am still waiting for along with the rest of us Revit bloggers.

Contact Greg at Revit3D.com for more information as well... be sure to mention you heard it here first!

Revit Components.

More and more people are using Revit.  Great.  The goal of this site is to introduce people to Revit and hope that they will use it.  One of the problems I am seeing with this new rise of Revit users is the use of Free Revit Components.

Ah yes, free.  Everything in life is better when it's free. Right?  Not in this case.

We are all guilty of grabbing a component or two from RevitCity.com or other free component sharing sites.  The question is; How useful was that component?  It is very likely that the component you grabbed was not parametric, not exactly what you wanted, and looked like crap in one of the views (plan, section, or elevation).

I talked with some students in a design studio class at my school and they give me a look at their Revit models.  Of course, there were a few components that popped out like a sour thumb.  Freebies!  I asked them why they used the components.  They answered, "because I don't know how to make it" or "it takes to much time to figure out".  

Firstly, you're in an architecture program.  Take the time to make the components!  It will only make you better at Revit and understand the program much better.  It will also allow you to add the amount of information you need to that component.  It will allow you to create parameters that will be necessary to quickly adjust the size, material, light output, and etc... later on in the project.

Lastly, if you are going to actually extract information from your Revit model, such as energy analysis, then those components could play a crucial role.  For example, if you have a computer classroom in Revit there are over 30 computer, a projector, and lets add two 42" flat screen T.V.'s.  Anyone who has been around these three objects, especially the flat screen T.V., knows that they emit a ton of heat!  Don't you think this should be calculated when thinking about the heat loss or amount of heat needed for a space?  

Ultimately, I want my fellow students to not let the people who say "Revit is just a program full of built in components and restricts design freedom" be correct.  Let's not go the way of BIMpanzee's and CAD Monkeys.  Let us think deeper and farther out of the box.  Revit is not a drafting program.  Let's not use it as one.  

I hope this comes into your mind next time you are on RevitCity.com searching for a Mac that you can add to a desk that was already imported from a Revit model that was built in Revit 8.1.  

Revit Component Blog and Site.

Stumbled upon a cool blog.  It appears as though he gives away Revit Components as well as sell Revit Components.  

Free Revit Components

Buy Revit Components

I downloaded a free component (The Chair you se above)  just to give it a look over.  Very usable and semi-parametric.  Definitely a site to keep an eye on.