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Create a new mass family and solid forms from linework.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
11 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:04
Mass
00:05
is often the first stage of designing a new building
00:09
by creating simple shapes to represent the form of the building.
00:12
The architectural designer can start to convey the
00:15
visual impact of the building upon its surroundings.
00:19
They can also be used to calculate areas to ensure that requirements are being met.
00:24
Before going on to create a detailed model.
00:29
I have the exercise file, create mass in open
00:34
and this file is a family file
00:36
and needs to be opened using the open family option.
00:40
This file is based on the mass family template
00:44
and as we were in a massive family,
00:46
the ribbon interface is slightly different
00:49
on the create tab. Here we have the sketching tools on the draw panel
00:53
that will allow us to create model lines, reference lines and reference planes
00:57
as well as tools for dimensions and levels.
01:01
I'll swap to the modify ribbon tab
01:04
and we can see that we have the same drawer panel with the sketching tools on this tab.
01:08
Also
01:09
along with the modified tools for editing
01:12
and the clipboard tools too.
01:15
Therefore, the modify ribbon type is the one we will use the most
01:21
looking at the D 4 3d view here,
01:23
we can see that not only do we have levels visible but reference planes too.
01:28
And this makes it easier to perform most of the modeling and editing in
01:31
this 3d view.
01:34
Although looking at the project browser, we do have two D plan views and elevations.
01:39
And these are also useful for sketching and aligning objects accurately.
01:45
The 3D forms are created by first drawing two D line
01:48
work that is then used to turn into 3d forms.
01:52
Different combinations of two D line work are combined
01:55
to create the different types of 3D form.
01:58
We'll start by creating a two D rectangle.
02:02
So from the draw panel on the ribbon tab here,
02:04
I'll select the rectangle tool
02:07
and we can see this by default, will create model lines
02:13
looking at the view,
02:13
we can see that level one is highlighted as
02:15
this will be the placement plane for our rectangle.
02:19
Looking at the options bar here, we can see that we have the placement plan option
02:24
and it's set to level one.
02:25
Although we could change this here if we needed to.
02:29
Now, I'll just sketch the rectangle somewhere near the center of the view
02:37
and then I'll click, modify to finish drawing the rectangle.
02:41
And if I select the rectangle,
02:43
we can see that we get the chain of four lines that
02:45
make the rectangle and not the individual lines on each side.
02:50
So in order to edit one side,
02:52
I'll now click on the right hand edge here
02:54
and just that single side will be selected.
02:58
And now we can see we have the temporary dimension.
02:60
So I'll edit this and we'll set this to be 40 ft.
03:06
Now, I'll select the line on the top of the rectangle here
03:09
and we'll set this temporary dimension to be 20 ft.
03:15
Now, we have it adjusted to the correct size.
03:17
We can move it into the correct location.
03:20
So I'll reelect the rectangle
03:22
and then from the modify lines, ribbon tab here on the modify panel,
03:26
we'll click on the move tool,
03:29
then we'll snap to the middle of the lower edge here
03:33
and move it to the intersection of the reference planes and snap it into place.
03:39
So now we have that rectangle in the correct location,
03:42
we can resect it
03:44
and then looking at the modify lines ribbon tab,
03:48
we can see we have a form panel here and on here,
03:50
we have tools to create either a solid form or a void form.
03:55
I'll click the create solid form
03:57
and we can see that that rectangle has now been extruded into a 3D box
04:01
and looking a little closer.
04:03
We have the 3d drag control here that we can use to adjust its height
04:08
or
04:08
we have the temporary dimension here
04:10
and I'll edit this and set this to be 40 ft.
04:14
So that has now created a 3D extrusion based on the two D rectangle that we drew
04:21
next we want to create a solid form by lifting through 32 D shapes.
04:27
We want this to be lifted in a horizontal direction.
04:30
So we will need to create some vertical reference planes to host the two D shapes
04:35
to do this. From the project browser. I'll go to the level one floor plan view
04:40
and we'll sketch in two reference planes.
04:43
So from the draw panel on the ribbon,
04:45
we'll click the playing tool to create reference planes.
04:50
Now, I'll draw vertically down just to the right of this central plane
04:54
and we'll set the temporary dimension to be 80 ft.
04:59
I will repeat this to the right hand side again,
05:02
set the temporary dimension to 80 ft once more.
05:09
And if I select the first reference plane here,
05:11
we can see that it doesn't have a name yet.
05:15
So
05:17
we'll click on here and we'll name this one in the middle.
05:21
And now I'll select the second plan we created
05:24
and name this one right
05:32
next. You want to sketch with the first shape that we're going to use for the loft
05:35
and to do this, I'll open up the east elevation view.
05:38
Now zooming into our existing rectangle here,
05:42
I'll go to the draw panel on the ribbon here and select the rectangle tool
05:48
and just looking at the placement plan option,
05:50
we can see it's set to be the center left, right reference plane.
05:54
I'll snap to the end point of the reference plane that's in the middle of the box here.
05:58
And then we'll draw a rectangle up into the right hand side.
06:03
So I'll click, modify to finish drawing the rectangle.
06:06
And then we'll select the rectangle and then click on the right hand side here.
06:10
We have the temporary dimension. So we'll set this to be 30 ft.
06:15
Now, I'll select the top line
06:17
and we'll adjust this temporary dimension to be 45 ft.
06:23
And that will select the left line in the center of the reference planes here.
06:27
And we'll change this temporary dimension to be 60 ft
06:30
to give us the overall size of the rectangle.
06:34
Now, we have that created, I'll swap back to the 3D view
06:37
and we want to place copies of these rectangles
06:40
onto the new reference plans that we've just created.
06:44
So to do this,
06:45
we'll use the copy and paste tools.
06:48
So with the rectangle selected, we can see its host is currently the center left,
06:52
right reference plane.
06:54
So we'll go to the clipboard panel and we'll click copy to clipboard.
06:59
And then from the options bar,
07:01
we'll change the host reference plan to be the right reference plan first.
07:05
And then we'll go back to the clipboard panel here and under the paste tool,
07:09
we'll click paste aligned into same place
07:12
and this will paste that back onto the center left, right reference play.
07:17
So whilst it's still selected, will change its host to be the middle reference plane
07:22
and then once more, we'll go back to the clipboard panel
07:25
and underneath the post tool, we'll clip align to the same place
07:29
to give us the three rectangles aligned to the three planes that we have got created.
07:35
Now, we just want to scow the middle reference plane to make it a little bit bigger.
07:40
So with it selected,
07:41
we'll go to the modify panel on the modified tab here and choose the scale tool.
07:48
It's like in the middle of the base line here
07:51
and then the fire edge to be the reference dimension.
07:54
And then we'll set this to be 45 ft
07:57
and that will have scaled the rectangle accordingly.
07:60
So now that we have those three profiles created on their reference planes,
08:03
I'll select all three of them. So holding down the control key to multiple select
08:10
and now from the modify lines, ribbon tab on the form panel here,
08:15
we'll click to create a solid form
08:17
and straight away we can see we have that 3d solid created
08:21
that's been lifted through those three shapes.
08:23
And if I select it here,
08:25
we can actually see the profile of each rectangle inside the shape.
08:30
Finally, we want to create a form on the other side here.
08:33
And this will be a blend between two shapes.
08:37
The first shape will be hosted on level one.
08:40
And then we'll need to create a new level to host the second shape.
08:44
So let's do that first,
08:45
I'll select level one
08:47
and from the modify levels ribbon here, we'll click the copy tool on the modify panel
08:52
and then we'll click level one for the reference
08:55
and move this vertically up. And we'll type in 45 ft for the distance
09:01
that it's created will draw the first shape on level one.
09:05
I'll swap to level one plan view
09:08
and then from the draw panel on the ribbon here, we'll click the rectangle tool
09:13
and we'll use the guides here to align to the
09:16
edge of the existing geometry for the first corner.
09:21
And then once we've got that set,
09:22
we'll come down and use the guide on the opposite side and
09:26
approximately 60 ft in, we'll click to set that rectangle
09:30
and then I'll click, modify to finish drawing it and then reelect the rectangle.
09:35
Then we'll select the left hand side and
09:37
set the temporary dimension to exactly 60 ft.
09:39
Now,
09:43
so I'll swap back to the 3d view
09:45
and we can see that rectangle created on level one here,
09:48
we'll copy it up to level two. So
09:51
with it selected, we'll go to the modify lines, ribbon and
09:54
from the clipboard panel, we'll click copy to clipboard
09:58
and then under the paste tools, we'll click align to pick level,
10:04
then we just need to pick on level two
10:07
and we can see that rectangle posted above the original one on level two.
10:13
So with it selected,
10:14
now we'll click on the left hand edge here and set the temporary dimension to be 75 ft.
10:20
And now we have the two shapes that we need to create the blend for our last form.
10:25
So I select both of them using the control key to multiple select.
10:28
And then from the modify lines driven on the form panel, here
10:32
we'll click to create a solid form.
10:35
And we can see now that that's created a 3d form
10:38
that effectively blends between those two rectangles that we've had selected
10:43
and that finishes creating the forms that we need for this mass.
Video transcript
00:04
Mass
00:05
is often the first stage of designing a new building
00:09
by creating simple shapes to represent the form of the building.
00:12
The architectural designer can start to convey the
00:15
visual impact of the building upon its surroundings.
00:19
They can also be used to calculate areas to ensure that requirements are being met.
00:24
Before going on to create a detailed model.
00:29
I have the exercise file, create mass in open
00:34
and this file is a family file
00:36
and needs to be opened using the open family option.
00:40
This file is based on the mass family template
00:44
and as we were in a massive family,
00:46
the ribbon interface is slightly different
00:49
on the create tab. Here we have the sketching tools on the draw panel
00:53
that will allow us to create model lines, reference lines and reference planes
00:57
as well as tools for dimensions and levels.
01:01
I'll swap to the modify ribbon tab
01:04
and we can see that we have the same drawer panel with the sketching tools on this tab.
01:08
Also
01:09
along with the modified tools for editing
01:12
and the clipboard tools too.
01:15
Therefore, the modify ribbon type is the one we will use the most
01:21
looking at the D 4 3d view here,
01:23
we can see that not only do we have levels visible but reference planes too.
01:28
And this makes it easier to perform most of the modeling and editing in
01:31
this 3d view.
01:34
Although looking at the project browser, we do have two D plan views and elevations.
01:39
And these are also useful for sketching and aligning objects accurately.
01:45
The 3D forms are created by first drawing two D line
01:48
work that is then used to turn into 3d forms.
01:52
Different combinations of two D line work are combined
01:55
to create the different types of 3D form.
01:58
We'll start by creating a two D rectangle.
02:02
So from the draw panel on the ribbon tab here,
02:04
I'll select the rectangle tool
02:07
and we can see this by default, will create model lines
02:13
looking at the view,
02:13
we can see that level one is highlighted as
02:15
this will be the placement plane for our rectangle.
02:19
Looking at the options bar here, we can see that we have the placement plan option
02:24
and it's set to level one.
02:25
Although we could change this here if we needed to.
02:29
Now, I'll just sketch the rectangle somewhere near the center of the view
02:37
and then I'll click, modify to finish drawing the rectangle.
02:41
And if I select the rectangle,
02:43
we can see that we get the chain of four lines that
02:45
make the rectangle and not the individual lines on each side.
02:50
So in order to edit one side,
02:52
I'll now click on the right hand edge here
02:54
and just that single side will be selected.
02:58
And now we can see we have the temporary dimension.
02:60
So I'll edit this and we'll set this to be 40 ft.
03:06
Now, I'll select the line on the top of the rectangle here
03:09
and we'll set this temporary dimension to be 20 ft.
03:15
Now, we have it adjusted to the correct size.
03:17
We can move it into the correct location.
03:20
So I'll reelect the rectangle
03:22
and then from the modify lines, ribbon tab here on the modify panel,
03:26
we'll click on the move tool,
03:29
then we'll snap to the middle of the lower edge here
03:33
and move it to the intersection of the reference planes and snap it into place.
03:39
So now we have that rectangle in the correct location,
03:42
we can resect it
03:44
and then looking at the modify lines ribbon tab,
03:48
we can see we have a form panel here and on here,
03:50
we have tools to create either a solid form or a void form.
03:55
I'll click the create solid form
03:57
and we can see that that rectangle has now been extruded into a 3D box
04:01
and looking a little closer.
04:03
We have the 3d drag control here that we can use to adjust its height
04:08
or
04:08
we have the temporary dimension here
04:10
and I'll edit this and set this to be 40 ft.
04:14
So that has now created a 3D extrusion based on the two D rectangle that we drew
04:21
next we want to create a solid form by lifting through 32 D shapes.
04:27
We want this to be lifted in a horizontal direction.
04:30
So we will need to create some vertical reference planes to host the two D shapes
04:35
to do this. From the project browser. I'll go to the level one floor plan view
04:40
and we'll sketch in two reference planes.
04:43
So from the draw panel on the ribbon,
04:45
we'll click the playing tool to create reference planes.
04:50
Now, I'll draw vertically down just to the right of this central plane
04:54
and we'll set the temporary dimension to be 80 ft.
04:59
I will repeat this to the right hand side again,
05:02
set the temporary dimension to 80 ft once more.
05:09
And if I select the first reference plane here,
05:11
we can see that it doesn't have a name yet.
05:15
So
05:17
we'll click on here and we'll name this one in the middle.
05:21
And now I'll select the second plan we created
05:24
and name this one right
05:32
next. You want to sketch with the first shape that we're going to use for the loft
05:35
and to do this, I'll open up the east elevation view.
05:38
Now zooming into our existing rectangle here,
05:42
I'll go to the draw panel on the ribbon here and select the rectangle tool
05:48
and just looking at the placement plan option,
05:50
we can see it's set to be the center left, right reference plane.
05:54
I'll snap to the end point of the reference plane that's in the middle of the box here.
05:58
And then we'll draw a rectangle up into the right hand side.
06:03
So I'll click, modify to finish drawing the rectangle.
06:06
And then we'll select the rectangle and then click on the right hand side here.
06:10
We have the temporary dimension. So we'll set this to be 30 ft.
06:15
Now, I'll select the top line
06:17
and we'll adjust this temporary dimension to be 45 ft.
06:23
And that will select the left line in the center of the reference planes here.
06:27
And we'll change this temporary dimension to be 60 ft
06:30
to give us the overall size of the rectangle.
06:34
Now, we have that created, I'll swap back to the 3D view
06:37
and we want to place copies of these rectangles
06:40
onto the new reference plans that we've just created.
06:44
So to do this,
06:45
we'll use the copy and paste tools.
06:48
So with the rectangle selected, we can see its host is currently the center left,
06:52
right reference plane.
06:54
So we'll go to the clipboard panel and we'll click copy to clipboard.
06:59
And then from the options bar,
07:01
we'll change the host reference plan to be the right reference plan first.
07:05
And then we'll go back to the clipboard panel here and under the paste tool,
07:09
we'll click paste aligned into same place
07:12
and this will paste that back onto the center left, right reference play.
07:17
So whilst it's still selected, will change its host to be the middle reference plane
07:22
and then once more, we'll go back to the clipboard panel
07:25
and underneath the post tool, we'll clip align to the same place
07:29
to give us the three rectangles aligned to the three planes that we have got created.
07:35
Now, we just want to scow the middle reference plane to make it a little bit bigger.
07:40
So with it selected,
07:41
we'll go to the modify panel on the modified tab here and choose the scale tool.
07:48
It's like in the middle of the base line here
07:51
and then the fire edge to be the reference dimension.
07:54
And then we'll set this to be 45 ft
07:57
and that will have scaled the rectangle accordingly.
07:60
So now that we have those three profiles created on their reference planes,
08:03
I'll select all three of them. So holding down the control key to multiple select
08:10
and now from the modify lines, ribbon tab on the form panel here,
08:15
we'll click to create a solid form
08:17
and straight away we can see we have that 3d solid created
08:21
that's been lifted through those three shapes.
08:23
And if I select it here,
08:25
we can actually see the profile of each rectangle inside the shape.
08:30
Finally, we want to create a form on the other side here.
08:33
And this will be a blend between two shapes.
08:37
The first shape will be hosted on level one.
08:40
And then we'll need to create a new level to host the second shape.
08:44
So let's do that first,
08:45
I'll select level one
08:47
and from the modify levels ribbon here, we'll click the copy tool on the modify panel
08:52
and then we'll click level one for the reference
08:55
and move this vertically up. And we'll type in 45 ft for the distance
09:01
that it's created will draw the first shape on level one.
09:05
I'll swap to level one plan view
09:08
and then from the draw panel on the ribbon here, we'll click the rectangle tool
09:13
and we'll use the guides here to align to the
09:16
edge of the existing geometry for the first corner.
09:21
And then once we've got that set,
09:22
we'll come down and use the guide on the opposite side and
09:26
approximately 60 ft in, we'll click to set that rectangle
09:30
and then I'll click, modify to finish drawing it and then reelect the rectangle.
09:35
Then we'll select the left hand side and
09:37
set the temporary dimension to exactly 60 ft.
09:39
Now,
09:43
so I'll swap back to the 3d view
09:45
and we can see that rectangle created on level one here,
09:48
we'll copy it up to level two. So
09:51
with it selected, we'll go to the modify lines, ribbon and
09:54
from the clipboard panel, we'll click copy to clipboard
09:58
and then under the paste tools, we'll click align to pick level,
10:04
then we just need to pick on level two
10:07
and we can see that rectangle posted above the original one on level two.
10:13
So with it selected,
10:14
now we'll click on the left hand edge here and set the temporary dimension to be 75 ft.
10:20
And now we have the two shapes that we need to create the blend for our last form.
10:25
So I select both of them using the control key to multiple select.
10:28
And then from the modify lines driven on the form panel, here
10:32
we'll click to create a solid form.
10:35
And we can see now that that's created a 3d form
10:38
that effectively blends between those two rectangles that we've had selected
10:43
and that finishes creating the forms that we need for this mass.
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