Revit Families: Just Like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (But Hopefully Less Risky!) 😉

 

Alright, alright, alright! Let’s talk Revit Families. Now, I know what you’re thinking: families? Sounds about as exciting as detention with Principal Rooney. But hold your horses, friend! Creating Revit Families can be a surprisingly liberating experience, kind of like ditching school with your best pals and experiencing the sheer joy of a perfect day.

Think about it. A Revit project is like any major city – a bustling metropolis of elements. And Revit Families? They’re the individual characters that bring that city to life: the sassy fire hydrant, the stoic skyscraper, the quirky little streetlamp. Without well-crafted families, your BIM model is just a bunch of empty stages.

Just like Ferris meticulously planned his legendary day off, creating effective Revit Families requires a bit of strategy and foresight. You can’t just slap some geometry together and hope for the best – that’s like Cameron showing up at Sloane’s house without a plan!

So, grab your shades, hop in your dad’s vintage Ferrari (metaphorically, of course – please don’t actually do that!), and let’s explore the fun (and slightly less rebellious) world of Revit Family creation.

 

The “Life Moves Pretty Fast” Guide to Revit Family Creation (aka Best Practices):

 

The “Do’s” – Be Like Ferris (Strategic & Engaging):

  • DO Plan Your Escape (aka Define Your Family’s Purpose): Before you even think about extrusions and sweeps, ask yourself: What is this family for? What parameters will it need? How will it be used in the project? Just like Ferris knew exactly what he wanted to achieve on his day off, having a clear objective for your family is crucial.
  • DO Choose Your Crew Wisely (aka Select the Right Template): Revit offers various family templates (doors, windows, furniture, etc.). Picking the right template is like choosing the perfect trio for your day off. It sets the basic behaviors and properties of your family, saving you a ton of groundwork.
  • DO Parameterize Like a Pro (aka Control Your Destiny): Parameters are your best friends! They allow you to control the dimensions, materials, visibility, and other properties of your family. Make them flexible and user-friendly – just like Ferris could charm his way out of any situation with the right line. Use Type Parameters for consistent variations and Instance Parameters for unique adjustments.
  • DO Keep it Lean and Mean (aka Don’t Overcomplicate): Just like Ferris kept his day off itinerary streamlined (no unnecessary detours!), avoid adding excessive geometry or unnecessary details to your families. This will keep your model performing smoothly and your file sizes manageable. Focus on the level of detail required for the intended use.
  • DO Test Drive Your Creation (aka Load and Review in a Project): Before you unleash your new family on the entire project, load it into a test project and see how it behaves. Does it resize correctly? Do the parameters work as expected? It’s like Ferris testing his “sick” act on Cameron before the big performance.
  • DO Annotate Responsibly (aka Add Clear Information): Include clear type names and potentially some notes within the family parameters. This helps other users (and your future self) understand how the family is intended to be used. Think of it as leaving a helpful breadcrumb trail for your BIM colleagues.

The “Don’ts” – Avoid Being Like Rooney (Overbearing & Inefficient):

  • DON’T Over-Model the Unseen (aka Avoid Excessive Detail): Unless it’s absolutely critical for a specific view or analysis, don’t model tiny screws or internal components. Remember, BIM is about information, not creating a perfect digital replica of every single physical part. This is like Rooney obsessing over every minute detail of Ferris’s supposed illness.
  • DON’T Rely Solely on Generic Models (aka Avoid Vagueness): While generic models have their place for early-stage conceptualization, try to categorize your families appropriately. This ensures they behave correctly with schedules and other BIM processes. Don’t let your families be as ambiguous as Ferris’s excuse for being absent.
  • DON’T Create Inconsistent Parameter Naming (aka Stay Organized): Use a consistent naming convention for your parameters. This makes it easier to understand and manage your families. Imagine if Ferris called Cameron “Buddy” one minute and “Pal” the next – confusing, right?
  • DON’T Ignore Constraints (aka Respect the Rules): Constraints are the rules that govern how the different parts of your family relate to each other. Use them wisely to ensure your family behaves predictably when parameters are adjusted. Ignoring constraints is like Ferris ignoring traffic laws – eventually, you’ll run into trouble.
  • DON’T Forget About Levels of Detail (LOD) (aka Cater to Different Views): Consider creating different levels of detail for your families. A highly detailed family might be great for close-up sections but can bog down overall model performance in large floor plans. Think about how Ferris toned down his act slightly when talking to his parents versus when addressing the entire parade.
  • DON’T Be a Lone Wolf (aka Share and Collaborate): Revit is a team sport! Share your well-crafted families with your colleagues and encourage collaboration in their creation. This prevents duplication of effort and ensures consistency across projects. Don’t be like Ferris trying to keep his day off a secret – share the joy (and the families)!

 

“You’re Not Dying, You Just Need Better Families!”

 

Creating Revit Families might not involve a parade or a fancy restaurant reservation, but it’s a fundamental skill that empowers you to build better, more informative BIM models. By following these “do’s” and avoiding the “don’ts,” you can create families that are efficient, flexible, and a joy to work with.

So go forth, embrace the creative freedom of Revit Families, and remember: Life moves pretty fast in the BIM world. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss out on creating some truly awesome content! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I hear a parade is about to start… (just kidding… mostly!). Comments / Questions?