Structural Members

[dzatto]

This has been bugging me for some time. I created a cee purlin family based on a structural framing template. Easy enough.

How can I get the members to butt up against each other? I hate the automatic offset that is built into the structural members. I know I can change them to mitre, but I don't need that. The beams but up against each other to create a 90 degree angle.

[dzatto]

I figured a work around. Draw reference planes and cut the member to the reference plane.

[gdoherty0102]

There is a checkbox in Familiy editor that controls that.

[dzatto]

"show family pre cut in plan views"? I unchecked it and it's still doing it.

[eric.piotrowicz]

Go into the Family Types menu and there are Start Extension and End Extension parameters. Just change the assigned value to 0'-0" and it will eliminate those pesky gaps.

[dzatto]

Go into the Family Types menu and there are Start Extension and End Extension parameters. Just change the assigned value to 0'-0" and it will eliminate those pesky gaps.

Well, I created these and noticed that they aren't on there. I do know they are on the OOTB ones, but not the ones I created. I guess I missed that part! lol

Oh well, I'll add my cee purlins to the long list of things that need to be redone. The more I learn, the more I need to revise.

One more question though, I can dimension to the centers of my purlins when they are perpendicular to horizontal. Once I rotate them to take the roof pitch into account (no matter how slight) I can no longer dimension to the centers. Any way around this? I've tried symbolic lines in the family and it didn't help.

[eric.piotrowicz]

Are you trying to dimension to one of the center axis lines? You won't be able to dimension to things they aren't parallel to but if you TAB to select the Analytical center line than you can pull dimensions.

[Ben-May]

If you are using an OOTB structural framing template you just need to extend the sweep/extrusion to the left & right reference planes in the family

By default the will be set to another reference plane which controls the cut-back


Check out this blog post as well for my details
http://bimandbeam.typepad.com/bim_be...o-setback.html

[dzatto]

Are you trying to dimension to one of the center axis lines? You won't be able to dimension to things they aren't parallel to but if you TAB to select the Analytical center line than you can pull dimensions.

How do I add that, or is it part of the template? I'm tabiing all over the place but only get the edge of the purlins.

[dzatto]

If you are using an OOTB structural framing template you just need to extend the sweep/extrusion to the left & right reference planes in the family

By default the will be set to another reference plane which controls the cut-back


Check out this blog post as well for my details
http://bimandbeam.typepad.com/bim_be...o-setback.html

That needs to be a sticky! Great info. Thanks Ben :beer: and :wine: lol