Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®. What? It Can Do That?

Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®.

What? It Can Do That?

Ron Palma – Ideate Inc

SE2745

Do you have a need to create shop or assembly drawings of building materials within Revit Architecture or Revit Structure? Have you been drawing 2D shop drawings in drafting views without the benefit of live views in the building model? OR have you created "live" views of your model and then resorted to visibility graphic manipulation to isolate what it is you are trying to document? If so, this class is for you. The class focuses on helping you create shop drawings of your designs using the new Parts, Assemblies, and Assembly drawing tools in Revit Architecture and Revit Structure 2012.

Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to:



Describe existing and new documentation tools for documenting 3D views for creating shop/assembly drawings.



Use the new Create Parts tool to create parts from complex layers elements such as walls, floors, roofs, and ceilings.



Use the new Create Assembly tool to generate assemblies of elements for construction modeling.



Use the Create Views tool to create documentation views and schedules of your assemblies.

About the Speaker Ron has over 23 years of experience int he archtiectural industry as a drafter, designer, lead project designer, and most recently as a CAD Manager implementing building information modeling for a residential design firm. He is an Autodesk certified instructor, trainer, and support technican for the Autodesk reseller Ideate Inc.; has been an educator at two community colleges; and is a U.S. Army certified instructor. In addition, Ron was a senior instructor for the Instructor Trainers Course at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and writes professional technical training manuals for Goodheart Willcox. He is a regular contributor to the Ideate Solutions Blog and can be found on Twitter. ron.palma@ideateinc.com @RonPalmaAEC

Ideate is an Autodesk VAR based in San Francisco, with additional offices in San Jose, Sacramento, Portland, and Seattle.

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

The original release of Revit was developed to be a significant component in the Building Information Modeling (BIM) paradigm. This release focused on tools for the architect to develop better models by employing intelligent 3D elements that represented real world building components such as walls, doors, and windows. As Revit progressed in maturity, new products based upon the Revit programming were developed for structural engineers and MEP engineers, creating the Revit Structure and Revit MEP products. This effectively created three programs for three main players in the BIM world.

As the demand for the use of Revit in BIM projects has increased, other players in the BIM world have tried taking advantage of the tools Revit has to offer in able to create drawings required for their part of the process. Construction modeling is one such arena. One area of construction modeling is the use of shop and assembly drawings. With the 2012 releases of Revit Architecture and Revit Structure, new tools that enable the creation of parts, and assembly or shop drawings is now available.

Something Old, Something New In previous versions of Revit, the documentation of assembly and shop drawings could be accomplished. Often this included the creation of views, callouts, drafting views, and legends, some of which may be either live views of the model with visibility graphic standards applied or drafted shop drawings that included dumb 2D detailing elements. In either situation, standard annotations such as text, dimensions, tags, and schedules helped tell the story on how to assemble the model.

This methodology often requires manipulation of display settings, section boxes, and crop regions to get the views to appear correctly. Additionally, being able to organize the different views schedules and sheets was left up to creative means.

2

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

In Revit Architecture and Structure 2012 two new tools have been included to assist in the manipulation of layered elements such as walls and floors; and with the creation and documentation of assembly and shop drawings. These are the Parts and Assemblies tools.

The Parts tool can be used to divide a layered model element into individual parts that can be individually tagged, filtered, and documented. Additionally, parts may be subdivided into smaller parts and pieces to represent different materials, patterns, or be used to create construction presentation views. Parts are dependent upon the original layer they are created from, and will update automatically if the original element is modified.

The Assemblies tool is used to create an assembly or group of elements that may be manipulated as a single entity. These single elements are used to generate assembly views and schedules where they can be added to a sheet. The Assembly, views, schedules, and sheet are all listed in the Project Browser as a separate element from the rest of the building model. Individual instances of assembly elements can also be placed in the model as needed. Changes made to the elements within an Assembly are tracked and updated automatically displaying the current version of the Assembly.

Working with Parts Part elements in Revit Architecture and Structure 2012, have been designed aid the construction modeler by dividing layered elements such as walls, floors, roofs, ceilings and structural slabs into individual parts that can be scheduled, tagged, filtered, and exported. Stacked walls, curtain walls, and floors or roofs modified with the shape editing tools are excluded from being divided into individual parts.

When one of these elements is divided with the Parts tool, an individual part is created for each building layer within the complex layered element. The Parts are dependent upon the elements they are generated from and will update if the original element is modified. These edits can include adjusting the layer's thickness, changing the layer's material, adding openings, and adding or removing a layer.

If the original element from which a part was created from is deleted, all of the parts dependent upon the layers of the deleted element will also be deleted. Additionally, deleting a single part will also delete all of the other parts dependent upon the original elements layers. When a layered element with associated parts is copied, the copied element will also create parts associated with the new copy.

Creating Parts To create parts from a layered element: 1. Select the layered elements(s) 2. Click the Modify tab>>Create panel>>Create Parts tool.

3

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

This will take the layered geometry and split it up into individual parts. By default, once parts are created, the original elements are turned off, leaving the newly created parts to be displayed. This functionality is controlled by the View's properties, where the parts were created.

Controlling Part Visibility and Appearance The view in which parts are generated controls whether or not parts are displayed. Within a View's properties, is a parameter called Parts Visibility. This parameter includes three different settings: 1. Show Parts: Will display parts generated within the model. The original element(s) from which the parts are derived is not displayed in the view. Parts can be selected and modified in this view.

2. Show Original: Parts within the model are not displayed, but elements from which parts are created are visible. Elements can be selected and modified. Any changes made to an element with parts causes the parts to be updated.

3. Show Both: Both parts and the original elements are visible and selectable.

4

Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®. What? It Can Do That?

Initially the Parts Visibility parameter in a graphic view such as a floor plan or a 3D view, is set to Show Original. Once parts are created in that view, the parameter is changed automatically to Show Parts.

The display of parts, like other elements, is initially controlled through the Object Style tool. Parts have projection and cut line weights, can be assigned a line color, line pattern and a default material. Additionally, Visibility Graphics, and Overriding Graphics in View by element can be used to further control the display of part elements.

Note: If you need to hide or change the display of a single part(s), select the part, right‐click and choose Override Graphics in View>>By Element.... In the View Specific Element Graphics dialog box, make any desired graphic changes to the selected part or uncheck the Visible checkbox to turn the part off.

Note: When generating parts from floors in a plan view, the parts may not display when the Parts Visibility parameter is set to Show Parts. This is due to the parts being below the Bottom of the View Range. Floor elements are unique in that they will display in floor plan view when the floor is below the Bottom of the view range. To resolve this access the floor plan view's View Range, and adjust the View Depth Level value so that it is set below the parts.

5

Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®. What? It Can Do That?

Part Properties The Parts Visibility parameter is a parameter assigned to a View element. Part elements too, have their own instance parameters. The following list describes the parameters available for a single instance of a part: Name

Description

Volume

Displays the volume of the layer from which the part is derived ‐ Read only.

Area

Reports the surface area of the part ‐ Read only.

Length

Read only value of the length of the wall layer from which the part is derived.

Width

Displays a read only value of the width of the wall layer the part is derived from.

Height

Shows the read‐only value of the wall layer from which the part was created.

Thickness

Reports the thickness of the floor, roof, or ceiling layer from which the part was generated ‐ Read only.

Comments

Displays the comment entered for the part.

Mark

Value that can be assigned to the part and can be used within tags and schedules.

Show Shape Handles

Placing a checkmark in this parameter will display shape handles around the part that can be used to edit the part geometry.

Original Category

Shows the element category of the element from which the part was generated ‐ Read only.

Original Family

Displays the name of the family from which the part was created ‐ Read only.

Original Type Reports the type name of the element the part was generated from ‐ Read only.

Material By Original

Controls whether the material assigned to the part is determined by the material of the element it was derived from or a material assigned to the part. Removing the checkmark in this parameter makes the Material parameter available.

Material

When available, allows the assignment of a material to the part.

Construction

Lists the function assigned to the elements layer from which the part was generated ‐ Read only.

Phase Created

Indicates the phase the part was created in. May be changed if the Phase Created

By Original parameter is unchecked.

6

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

Phase Demolished

Identifies the phase the part was demolished in. May be changed if the Phase Demolished By Original parameter is unchecked.

Phase Created By Original

When checked, displays the phase the part was created in the Phase Created parameter. Uncheck to assign a phase to the Part.

Phase Demolished

By Original

By default, this value is checked which indicates the phase the part was demolished in. Uncheck the parameter to control the phase of the part in the Phase Demolished parameter.

Dividing Parts There may be times when a large part may need to be subdivided into smaller pieces. For example, a large concrete floor slab may need to be subdivided into smaller parts to represent different concrete pours, or subdivided to represent sheets of gyp along the length of a wall. Once parts have been created the parts may be divided into smaller subparts. These subparts can have their own properties changed independent of the original part. They may also be scheduled and tagged for documentation.

Use the following procedure to subdivide parts: 1. Select the part to be subdivided.

2. Click the Modify tab>>Part panel>>Divide Parts Tool.

3. Subdivide the part with one of two options: a. Sketching: Click a shape in the Draw panel to draw sketch lines subdividing the part. b. Reference: Click the Intersecting References tool found in the References panel to subdivide the part using references such as levels, grids, or reference planes, that are crossing through the part to be divided.

4. Click the Finish tool to subdivide the part.

Editing Part Geometry In addition to dividing parts, a part may be modified by editing its shape handles. The Show Shape Handles parameter can be turned on to display shape handles around the edges of a part. Use these shape handle "grips" to drag the edge of the part to a new location.

Once a part has been modified with shape handles, it can be reset by selecting the part, then clicking the Reset Shape tool found in the Modify tab>>Part panel.

7

Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®. What? It Can Do That?

Subdivided parts may be deleted. When deleting subdivided parts, any associated subdivided parts will also be deleted. Once subdivided parts are deleted, the originating part is returned and displayed in the view.

Note: As noted above, subdivided parts may be deleted, however, when this is done, any other subdivided parts sharing an edge will also be deleted. If the end result is to "remove" a subdivided part try using phasing. Subdivided parts initially take on the phase created and demolished values from the originating layered element. Sub divided parts, can be assigned their own unique Phase Created and Phase Demolished parameters. Assign these values as desired then use the appropriate Phase Filter in the view to control the display of your subdivided parts.

Scheduling Parts As with other elements within Revit, Parts can be scheduled. Two types of schedules can be created: Schedule/Quantities (Parts), and Material Takeoff (Part Material). Use the following procedures to create schedules for Part elements: Schedule/Quantities: 1. Click the View tab>>Create panel>>Schedules tool>>Schedule/Quantities.

2. In the New Schedule dialog box select the Parts category, then [OK].

3. On the Fields tab select desired fields to be reported such as the Original Category, Original Type, Material, and Area.

4. In the Sorting/Grouping tab, set the Sort by to Material; check on the Header and Footer then select Totals only.

5. On the Formatting tab select the Volume and Area fields and set to Calculate totals.

Note: Additional parameters can be created as desired. For example, if you are trying to report on the number of gyp board sheets along a wall, first subdivide the gyp board part into 4'x8' sizes.

Create the following parameters: 1. PartMark: Type of parameter: Text. Instance parameter.

2. PartLength: (Calculated Value): Type: Length. Formula: Area/4'‐0".

3. PartWidth: (Calculated Value): Type: Length. Formula: Area/PartLength.

The PartMark field could be a shared parameter that would then be used in the schedule and within a part tag family so that subdivided parts could be tagged and display the value.

Material Takeoff: 1. Click the View tab>>Create panel>>Schedules tool>>Material Takoff.

2. In the New Material Takeoff dialog box select the Parts category, then [OK].

3. In the Fields tab select desired fields to be reported such as the Original Category, Original Type, Material: Name, Material: Volume and Material: Area.

8

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

4. On the Sorting/Grouping tab, set the Sort by to Material: Name; check the Header and Footer checkboxes, then select Totals only.

5. In the Formatting tab select the Material; Volume and Material: Area fields and set to Calculate totals.

Note: As with the Schedule/Quantities, additional parameters can be created as desired. Similar to above you could use the PartMark parameter as a shared parameter that can be applied to the Material Takeoff.

The significant difference between the two schedules is that the Schedule/Quantities schedule only includes parameters assigned to part elements. The Material Takeoff schedule includes part parameters as well as material parameters.

9

Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®. What? It Can Do That?

Working with Assemblies Assemblies within Revit Architecture and Structure, include multiple elements combined together into a single assembly which can be scheduled, tagged and filtered unlike Groups. Later assemblies can be used to generate views that support the creation of shop/construction drawings.

Assemblies support the construction modeler by identifying, classifying, quantifying, and documenting Revit element combinations within the model. Most combinations of model elements can be combined to create an assembly.

Assemblies can be created from many model elements such as walls, floors, roofs, family instances (doors ,windows, casework), and parts. The following elements, however, cannot be included in an assembly:        

Assemblies and elements belonging to another assembly element.

Complex structures such as trusses, beam systems, curtain systems, curtain walls, and stacked walls.

Elements in different design options Groups Masses MEP elements Model Lines Rooms

Additionally non model elements such as the following cannot be added to an assembly:     

Annotations Imports Images Links or elements in a link Structural loads, load cases, and internal loads

Creating Assemblies To create an assembly: 1. Select elements to be combined to form a single assembly.

2. Click the Modify tab>>Create panel>>Create Assembly tool.

3. In the New Assembly dialog box, edit the Type Name as desired. This name is auto generated by default. If the assembly includes elements from different Revit categories, a different Naming Category can be selected from the list which corresponds with the type of elements being included in the assembly.

4. Click [OK] to create the assembly.

10

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

Assembly Types Once created, an assembly is listed as a type in the Project Browser under its own category called Assemblies. New instances can be added to the model by dragging the assembly type from the Project Browser or by using the Create Similar tool. When dragging an assembly type from the Project Browser or using the Create Similar tool to add a new assembly instance, the new instance will take on the name of the type it was derived from.

When new unique assemblies are created, an assembly type is added to the Project Browser. A new assembly type will also be created, if an instance of an assembly is edited making it unique from other instances.

Assembly Parameters Assemblies like many Revit elements includes both Type and Instance properties. Type properties for assemblies include the following: Name

Description

Keynote

Assign a keynote to the assembly type.

Model

Provides the name of the model type for the assembly.

Manufacturer Reports the name of the assembly manufacturer.

Type Comments

Shows comments about the assembly type.

URL

Assigns a link to an assemblies manufacturer website.

Description

Displays a description for the assembly type.

Assembly description

Shows the description for the assembly based upon the assembly code selected.

Assembly Code

Reports the Uniformat assembly code assigned to the assembly type.

Type mark

Provides a unique value for each assembly type.

Cost

Display the cost of the assembly.

In addition to the type properties, an assembly element includes instance properties. The following is a list of instance parameters available for an assembly element:

11

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

Name

Description

Naming Category

Displays the type name of the assembly.

Comments

Shows comments about the assembly instance.

Mark

Identifies the assembly instance mark or number.

Phase Created

Indicated the phase the assembly instance was created in.

Phase Demolished

Reports the phase the assembly instance was demolished in.

Editing Assemblies Once an assembly element has been created, additional elements can be added to the assembly, removed from the assembly; even the elements within the assembly can be edited which modifies the Assembly element. In order to add or remove elements to or from an assembly element review the following steps: 1. Select an assembly to be modified.

2. Click the Modify | Assemblies tab>>Assembly panel>>Add/Remove tool.

A floating Add/Remove toolbar is displayed with the Add tool and the Remove tool.

3. Click either the Add or Remove buttons to add or remove elements to or from the assembly.

4. Click the Finish button in the Add/Remove toolbar to finish editing the assembly.

If there are elements within the assembly that need to be modified, use the following procedures to edit these individual elements: 1. Move the cursor over the edge of the element within the assembly to be modified.

2. Click the [Tab] key until the element to be edited is highlighted.

3. Pick the highlighted element with the mouse pick button and begin editing the element.

Breaking Assemblies An assembly can be broken down to its original individual model elements used to create the assembly. Once disassembled, the original model elements remain. If the assembly that is being broken is the last one of its type, that type and any associated assembly views are deleted from the project. Use the following procedure to disassemble an assembly: 1. Select the assembly to be disassembled.

2. Click the Modify | Assemblies tab>>Assembly panel>>Disassemble tool The assembly element is deleted and the original elements remain.

12

Shop Drawings in Autodesk® Revit®. What? It Can Do That?

Deleting Assemblies Assembly instances and types can be deleted from the Revit model. When an assembly instance is deleted, all of the elements within the assembly instance are also deleted. If the last instance of an assembly type is deleted, the assembly type will also be deleted from the Project Browser.

If the assembly type is deleted from the Project Browser, all instances of that type within the model will be deleted as well as any associated model elements, views and sheets. Use the following procedures to delete assembly instances and types: Delete an assembly instance: 1. Select the assembly instance to be deleted.

2. Press the [Del] key; click the Modify | Assemblies tab>>Modify panel>> Delete tool, or right‐ click and choose Delete.

Delete an assembly type: 1. In the Project Browser, under the Assemblies category right‐click over the assembly type name and click Delete.

Using the Create Views tool Once an assembly type has been generated, views and sheets associated with the assembly can be created to document and construct shop/construction drawings. These views and sheets are dependent upon the assembly. If the assembly is disassembled or deleted, all associated views and sheets will also be deleted.

When assembly views are created, they are associated with the assembly type in the Project Browser and are listed under the assembly type. Assembly views can be documented to include annotations such as tags, notes, keynotes, symbols, and callouts. The only model geometry included in an assembly's views is the original elements that make up the assembly instance.

Use the following procedure to generate views for an assembly: 1. Pick an assembly instance in the project view.

2. Click the Modify | Assemblies tab>>Assembly panel>>Create Views tool.

3. In the Create Assembly Views dialog box, select the types of views desired, specify a scale for the views, and a sheet size.

4. Click [OK] to add the views under the assembly type in the Project Browser.

Alternately the following procedure may be used to generate assembly views: 1. In the Project Browser, select an assembly type, right‐click and pick Create Assembly Views from the shortcut menu.

2. In the Create Assembly Views dialog box, select the types of views desired, specify a scale for the views, and a sheet size.

13

Shop Drawings in Autodesk速 Revit速. What? It Can Do That?

3. Click [OK] to add the views under the assembly type in the Project Browser By default, when views are created, a 3D ortho, a plan detail, two section details, parts list schedule, material takeoff schedule, and a sheet can be created. If additional views are desired, duplicate existing assembly views, and use the Callout tool to generate new views. If an additional sheet is required, pick the Create Views tool from the ribbon panel and choose the Sheet option. The new sheet will become the next sequentially number sheet.

Document the assembly views the same way model views are documented. Use dimensions, tags, keynotes, and text. Customize the schedules incorporating new parameters, shared parameters, and formulas.

Once the assembly views are documented, a shop drawing can be assembled. Simply drag the assembly views to the assembly sheet as you would standard model views to a project sheet. Only assembly views can be added to an assembly sheet. other model views from the project cannot be included in the assembly sheet, not can assembly views be added to a project sheet.

14