How to Create Parametric Components in Revit

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Creating parametric components in Autodesk Revit is an essential skill for anyone involved in architecture and construction design. Parametric components, also known as families, are the building blocks of your Revit model. They allow you to access and manipulate information efficiently and consistently throughout your projects. This comprehensive guide will introduce you to the process of creating parametric components in Revit.

Understanding parametric design

Before diving into creating parametric components, it is important to understand what parametric design means. In simple terms, parametric design is a process based on algorithmic thinking that allows the expression of parameters and rules that define the behavior and relationship of specific elements. In Revit, parametric design lets you create models that automatically update when changes occur, maintaining coherence and consistency.

Getting started with Revit families

Revit uses a system of families and types to handle different building components. Different families can represent anything, whether it's a door or a piece of furniture. Each family can have different types, changing dimensions, materials, and other properties but maintaining overall geometric and functional characteristics.

To begin creating a parametric component, you must open the Revit Family Editor. You can access it by selecting "File > New > Family" from the main menu. Here, you can choose from a list of templates that will serve as the basis for your new family. The template you choose will determine the environment in which you will work and the pre-set properties available for your component.

Building a basic family

Once in the Family Editor, you can start by sketching the base geometry of your component. Use the drawing tools to create simple shapes and lines. For example, you might start with a rectangle that will define the outline of a table. To help manage the shape and geometry of your component, you should apply parameters.

Adding parameters

Parameters are variables that govern your model. You can create them to control different aspects of your components, including dimensions, content, visibility, and more. To add a parameter, follow these steps:

1. Click "Create > Family Types" in the ribbon.
2. In the Family Type dialog, click "Add parameter".
3. Enter a name for your parameter. For example, if it's going to control the width of a table, you could call it Width.
4. Select the appropriate parameter type (e.g., length) and group it under the appropriate category (e.g., dimensions).
5. Click "OK" to create the parameters.

You can now use this parameter to drive the geometry of your family by connecting the dimensions in your sketch to the parameter. Select a dimension in your sketch, then in the options bar, click "Labels > Add Parameter" and select your newly created parameter.

Building relationships with obstacles

Constraints are another important part of parametric design. They allow you to set rules and relationships between different elements within your family. For example, you can ensure that the height of a table is always 1/10th of its length, no matter how much its size changes.

To add a constraint, follow these steps:

1. In the family editor, select the two elements you want to restrict.
2. Use the "Align", "Lock", "Equal", or other constraint tools available on the ribbon to determine their relationship.
3. Make sure you lock any restraints you create to avoid accidental breakage while making adjustments.

Creating types for your family

Types are variations within a family. For example, in a door family, types can define the size or materials of different doors. Creating types allows you to easily switch between different sets of properties without changing the basic design of the component.

To create a new type, reopen the Family Types dialog, and do the following:

1. Click "New" in the Family Type dialog.
2. Give your new type a name, such as Large Table.
3. Adjust the parameters for this new type, such as changing the width and length to match the new design requirements.
4. Click "OK" to save your new type.

Test your family

Before you finish, it's important to test your family to make sure everything behaves as expected. You can test the family directly in the Family Editor by trying out different parameter values and making sure the geometry updates correctly.

Also, consider loading your family into a test project to see how it interacts with other elements. Use "Load into Project" from the Family Editor toolbar to transfer your family into a Revit project. Place your family components into the project and adjust them in the project environment to verify that all parameters work.

Advanced concepts

Once you're familiar with the basics, you can start exploring more advanced concepts like nested families, formulas, and conditional statements.

Nested families

Nested families allow you to create complex assemblies by embedding one family within another. For example, you can create a complete dining set by nesting a chair family within a dining table family. Ensure nested family components can share or respond to parameters from the host family, allowing coordinated size adjustments and material applications.

Sources

Formulas in Revit allow you to perform mathematical operations using parameters. You can use formulas to define relationships more dynamically. For example, use the formula Length = Width * 2 to keep one parameter twice as large as another. Remember, operators such as +, -, *, and / must be used carefully to avoid errors.

Conditional statements

You can also include conditional statements for more programmatic logic in the driving parameters. A typical example might include:

if(width >= 1000, "large", "small")

This sets up a situation where the family type changes name depending on its width. Thus it adds another layer of control to your family.

Closing thoughts

Mastering parametric components in Revit opens up immense possibilities in design flexibility and efficiency. Each family you create, whether simple or complex, helps develop reusable and adaptable building blocks to suit project changes. As you become more experienced, you will leverage advanced techniques, streamline workflows and contribute to more consistent and conscious design and documentation practices.

Revit's ability to handle complexities through its parametric engine enables architects and designers to focus more on creativity and problem-solving, while reducing repetitive and error-prone manual work. Constantly exploring the available tools and staying updated with best practices ensures that this power is fully realized in every project you undertake.

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