Archives for May,2018

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How to Create a Polynesian/Gambrel Roof Truss

Author: AxoscapeOn: May 23Categories: ,

How to Create a Polynesian/Gambrel Roof Truss

BIM, Revit

When creating this type of family you can make both a Polynesian and a Gambrel roof truss with this one model. It can be tricky to create this family, but in the end, it could save you time once this family is finished.
⦁ Open up Revit and create a new Structural Framing – Complex and Trusses
⦁ Open up the front elevation and hide the level in visual graphic (VG).
⦁ Create three vertical Reference plans on each side of the center axis.

⦁ Create two diagonal reference lines to create the slope of the top chord of the truss.
⦁ Add a dimension parameter for the bottom chord span and lock the parameter then equal space between the overhangs with a dimension.
⦁ Add a dimension parameter for the middle span and lock it, then test to see if reference planes change.
⦁ Add an angle dimension parameter to each slope and lock it.
⦁ Add a reference plan for the top of the bottom chord and add a dimension parameter for the height of the bottom chord.
⦁ Add a reference plane at the top of the truss and add a dimension parameter for the truss height.
⦁ Test to make sure things are working correctly.

⦁ Using the extrusion tool create the bottom chord span by using the pick lines and trimming to get the shape, also lock the lines to the reference planes.
⦁ Do the same thing to create the top chords for each side, also add a dimension to control the height of the top chord and make sure you lock it to the reference line.
⦁ Extrude the webs on each side by using the two vertical reference planes on each side, also add a dimension parameter for the web thickness.⦁ Use the extrude tool make middle web member the same way.⦁ Test to make sure things are working correctly.
⦁ Add reference lines for the webs to each side and lock it to the top and bottom chords. Then test for function.⦁ Use the extrusion tool to create the web of the truss in two separate pieces. Center the web around the reference line and dimension the width of the web. ⦁ Test to make sure everything works accordingly.
⦁ Open up the left elevation and create a reference plane for the thickness of the truss and align extrusions to the reference plane. Then test to make sure everything works like its suppose to.

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Perspective Camera Match with Enscape

Author: Tony TrinhOn: May 16Categories: , 2 Comments

Perspective Camera Match with Enscape

Enscape, Revit

In this article, we’ll be going over how to camera match the perspective of an image using Enscape. This workflow should allow you to much more reliably camera match an Enscape building to an existing photo.

I want to note that I will not be diving too deep into Photoshop techniques in this article. The focus will be on how to match the perspective to Enscape’s camera and how to export images required for a superimposing workflow.

Before loading Enscape, I recommend creating a separate 3D view in Revit, hiding all elements and items that are not building related. The goal here to have the building completely isolated.

Here are the settings I used in order to completely remove any non-essential Enscape items from the scene.

Also, it is extremely helpful for the purposes of perspective camera matching that outlines be at 100%. This will provide a clear outline of your building.

In order to begin camera matching.  We’ll be taking advantage of Enscape’s User Interface Overlay feature in the Customization tab in the settings. But before we can use any image as an overlay, the image will have to be modified in order for it to be semi-transparent.

Load the background image into photoshop.

Unlock the layer by simply clicking on the lock icon in the background layer.

Once the layer has been unlocked, adjust the opacity slider to around 30%.

Your image should look like mine above. Where there is a checkerboard pattern brought through the image. The checkerboard won’t be apart of the image, it only serves as a visual representation of how transparent an image is.

Now all that’s left is to save the file…

IMPORTANT

The file must be saved as a PNG for this to work. Do not save this as a jpg or the transparency data will be lost.

Now back in Enscape, return to the customization tab under “Enscape Settings” and click on the checkbox next to the “User Interface Overlay”. Now click on the folder icon and select the background PNG image we just created earlier.

The Enscape viewport should look similar to the animated GIF above.  Where a fixed non-moving transparent image is overlayed the 3D Enscape scene.  Start navigating around the building until the building angle’s line up with the photograph. Once finished go back to “Enscape settings” and uncheck the “User Interface Overlay”.

Once the perspective matches the photo. I strongly recommend saving your camera’s view by creating a view to save your Enscape camera settings. 

It is equally important to lock that 3d View  So there are no accidental camera adjustments in Revit.

This should act as a save point that you can return to in case of any camera movements.

The next step is to edit your settings for an optimal image.  If there are accidental camera movements you can return to your previously saved perspective by selecting it in the Enscape Active Document rolldown menu.

 

All that is left to do is to export the building image from Enscape into Photoshop.

Exporting the images is a 2 step process. In the Capture tab of the Enscape Settings. Click on the Export Material-ID and Depth checkbox so Enscape produces an image that can be used as an alpha channel. It is important to push the Depth Range all the way to the right in order for this to work correctly. I like using the Targa file format when dealing with images that are about to be processed. PNG could be used as well but old graphic design habits die hard.

Exporting should produce two images. One is of the building & the alpha channel map.

At the end of this workflow, you should have 2 Enscape images that fit the perspective of another photo that are ready for superimposing.

 

 

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Navisworks Works

Author: Ignacio RodriguezOn: May 04Categories:

Navisworks Works

BIM

Typically when people hear the word Navisworks they automatically think of clash detection… Is that all that Navisworks is really capable of? The answer is No.

There are a variety of things possible through Navisworks. For instance, creating a simulation. It is one of the most beneficial ways to get organized out in the field, and cut down on dead time.

Simulation

This process consists of a schedule with start dates, end dates, and phasing. With the simulation capabilities, it is possible to simulate the order and process of how things will occur out on site. Here’s a glimpse of what the schedule looks like.

There are multiple ways to schedule things out. The first way would be within the program itself. To start scheduling components, they will have to be apart of a set.

(A set in Navisworks is a group of selected components.)

Once all the sets are formed, then the task will need to be created and named accordingly. The name of the task will appear on the simulation as the video progresses.

There are settings to control the content that is visible on the side of the screen.

Within here, the dates/ times can be adjusted to display actual dates/ time (May 2, 2018, May 3, 2018, etc) if needed, or it could be a generic date etc (day 1, day 2, day 3…) There are plenty of other factors that can be included.

Once the task is created, the next step will be to attach the sets to the corresponding task. To attach sets to a specific task, right click on the “attached” column and go to the “set” that needs to occur at that task.

Lastly, set all the attachments to a “task”, and then add a start and end date to each one.

An alternative way to set up a schedule is to import a “csv” file (comma-separated values). This process involves more typing, BUT it’s a lot faster in the long run. The sets will have to be configured beforehand in order for this to work. Only critical step in this process is to have the nomenclature under the “Attached” column match the “sets” nomenclature, or else the “Attached” column will be empty.

The chart above represents the layout of how it’s supposed to be laid out before importing into the Navisworks file. To import the csv or any other excel file format, go to “Data Sources” > click “Add” > select the file format that will be imported.

Once imported, it should populate the schedule within Navisworks. The only downside to importing a csv or any excel format is that it only populates Monday-Friday. Saturday and Sunday will remain empty and when this is exported, there will be a long pause in between Friday and Monday. Now if this isn’t a problem then this method would be ideal but if not, then there’s a little manual work to be done.

To export the simulation, click on the “Simulate” tab and click on a box with two arrows pointing to the center.

This will bring up a window with some export options. This portion is more of a personal preference and how the simulation will be used.

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