BIM & BEAM

Export a Dragonfly model to Revit

Hi All,

Back in March 2009, I wrote a blog post about Dragonfly which was available to download for testing at Autodesk Labs. The site has seen very brisk traffic since its launch in March.

I recently learn that Dragonfly has the ability to export a model to Revit using the Revit API.

What is Dragonfly?

Dragonfly is a web-based application for home improvement projects targeting entry level "designers" like the homeowner.   Dragonfly's intuitive design tools help you rapidly create and furnish a floor plan, experimenting in real time with your ideas in 2D and 3D before making it real!  Dragonfly also enables you to share any saved designs with others by simply clicking the "Share" icon in the upper left hand corner of the Designer window.

For professional designers who use Dragonfly, you can export the floor plan and furnishings as a Revit RVT file.

All you need to do is log onto Dragonfly:

http://dragonfly.autodesk.com

Below are some screen captures of how to export to Revit:

 

Select Export to Revit:

 

Then open the model in Revit:

 

Enjoy!

Wai

Share the Value of Autodesk University (Special AU Online Offer Ends Soon)

 

Hi All,

 

There is a special offer for you to share the value of AU content with your co-workers and friends who do not currently have full access to AU Online.

It's easy. Just forward this message to your co-workers and friends who might benefit from the thousands of hours of training screencasts and session materials on AU Online. When they click on the following link, they can register and get immediate access to all AU Online content. This offer is good until June 1, 2009.

http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=promo&code=5n1_116473_09

Thanks for helping us spread the word about the value of learning, sharing, and networking on AU Online.

Wai

Autodesk Labs - iCopy for Inventor

 

There is a very cool and interesting technology that Autodesk has recently put in the Labs that you might want to give a try - iCopy for Inventor.

Often a design will incorporate multiple instances of a standard element that needs to be adjusted with each occurrence. When dealing with a large number of elements, making these adjustments manually is time-consuming and prone to error.

The Autodesk Inventor iCopy Technology Preview can significantly improve your productivity by enabling you to make multiple copies of an assembly that automatically resize to fit your design. By capturing a few key constraints, such as connection points and paths, iCopy creates and inserts multiple instances of the assembly, automatically adjusting the size and shape of each occurrence based on your functional requirements.

iCopy for Inventor helps you:

- Save time by easily customizing commonly-used assemblies

- Avoid errors when working with complex designs involving multiple paths

- Innovate by exploring multiple design iterations quickly

 

Download it free today, and tell us what you think!

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/inventor_icopy

 

Have fun 

 

Wai

Autodesk Lab - RDB Link Tool for Revit Family

 

Hi All,

The RDBLink tool is now available in the Autodesk Lab for you to test drive:

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/revit_rdb/

The RDBLink tool allows the user to export data from the elements in a Revit project and maintain relationships against data that exists outside of Revit. The tool allows for both import and export of the project data and will allow the user to make changes on the database side that affect the data within the project once imported. Also, during subsequent exports of the data to the same database, only data from the project will be affected, so any new fields or tables added to the database for your own purposes will remain intact along side the newly exported data. The RDBLink import tool provides a grid view of the data to allow the user to make any final edits before import. This grid control also allows the user to create Revit Shared Parameters which will add new fields for those parameters to the database in the related tables. Changes to these new fields within the database will update these Revit Shared Parameters upon future imports.

Supported Applications

§  Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010

§  Autodesk Revit Structure 2010

§  Autodesk Revit MEP 2010

 

Supported database platforms

§  Supported databases when running under 32 bit: MS Access 2003/2007 and SQL Server 2005/2008.

§  Supported databases when running under 64 bit: SQL Server 2005/2008.

 

Enjoy,

Wai

Using the Conceptual Form Simulation Extension in Autodesk Revit Structure 2010

Hi everyone,

We have just a posted a new video to Youtube (see below) highlighting the new Conceptual Form Simulation Extension available for Autodesk Revit Structure 2010.

Using the Conceptual Form Simulation extension, you can perform a simulation of static analysis of a 3D solid defined in any of the Revit® products:

You can import the following information into the Extension:

·    Geometry

·    Material parameters

·    Supports

·    Loads

·    Load cases

·    Load combinations.

Here are some simple steps to perform a simulation using this Extension:

·      Define a solid in Revit ® and meshes on the solid faces

·      Launch the Conceptual Form Simulation extension (meshes are exported as finite elements)

·      Modify material parameters or thickness values for finite elements (if necessary)

·      Define supports at the mesh nodes

·      Define loads

·      Perform calculations

·      View the calculation results (internal forces, displacements, animations of displacements); you can save the result report in a Microsoft Excel© or Microsoft Word© file

Enjoy,

Wai