Creating Irregular Structural Forms like Vertebral Bodies Using Revit’s Built-in Volume Command
In Revit, the built-in volume command allows you to create complex structural shapes such as vertebral bodies. However, because built-in models cannot be created directly within the Revit project environment using point and face tools, it requires a specific workflow. Below, we explain how to create a vertebral body using the built-in volume within the project environment.
1. First, enter the internal volume drawing environment, as illustrated in the image below.
2. Draw a reference plane on your work plane, then set the drawing view by selecting this reference plane, as shown in the figure.
3. Next, draw a polygon centered on the reference plane. Make sure the polygon’s edges are perpendicular to the reference plane, as demonstrated in the image.
4. Navigate to the Create tab, then to the Work Plane panel, and click on the Set command, as shown below.
5. Select the previously drawn work plane and switch to an elevation view, such as the south elevation. Draw a triangle within this view, ensuring its center does not extend beyond the center of the polygon, as depicted in the figure.
6. After completing your drawings, switch to the 3D view for a comprehensive perspective, as shown.
7. Select both the polygon and triangle simultaneously, then use the command to create a solid shape. The resulting model will resemble the form shown in the illustration.
The takeaway here is that using mass modeling in Revit offers significant advantages when creating complex shapes. Masses can be categorized as either internal mass or conceptual mass, each with distinct features and limitations. For instance, internal mass does not support point element tools, whereas conceptual mass does. Choose the type that best fits your project requirements.
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