Archive for the ‘Support’ Category
BOXX Revit Workstation
A Product Review by Michael Anonuevo
Introduction
In preparing to writing an instructional eBook on how to produce Autodesk Revit renderings and walkthroughs, one of the things I did a few months back was conduct a research on computer systems optimized for these types of Revit tasks. It is a subject matter that I know will occupy a chapter on its own in the eBook. I’ve looked at brand names such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Asus. However, I could not find any computer system specifically targeted for Revit modeling. By chance, I ran into a colleague who suggested that I look into BOXX computer workstations (www.boxxtech.com). I had never heard of the company, although I found out later that they had been around for the last 15 years! As a full time Revit modeler who is always busy creating complex families or writing about them, I never really got into the details of a good Revit computer workstation. And so with this new eBook project, I had a chance to look at a workstation made for Revit. After emailing my credentials and review proposal to a BOXX specialist, I was connected to the right channels and eventually was sent a unit for evaluation.
This article is about the 3DBOXX 4920 XTREME workstation. At the BOXX website, this model is referred to as The World’s Fastest Workstation for Autodesk Revit. On the internet, you’ll find great reviews about this workstation, including its technical details and specifications. To avoid being redundant, the main focus of this review is how effective this workstation is for Revit Architecture users. I will, however, highlight certain features worth taking a look at.
Is this really the fastest workstation for Revit? How can we users benefit from this system? What makes this workstation special from the rest of the pack? How does this computer compare to yours or other workstations? These questions (and many more) are tackled in this review. If you are in the process of upgrading your Revit workstations or want to add a dedicated power workstation for generating renderings and walkthroughs, this article will help you decide which system to purchase.
Read the rest of this entry »
Metric Editions of Revit Family Modeling eBooks
In response to Revit users from Australia, UK, Europe and other countries, I’m happy to announce the release of the Metric Editions of my eBooks:
- Creating Custom Revit Architecture 2012 Families, Metric Edition
- Creating Custom Revit Architecture 2013 Families, Metric Edition
They are free with the purchase of the 2012/2013 US Editions. Please click this link to get a PDF sampler containing sample images and Forewords written by Jeff Pinheiro (theRevitKid.com) and Jay Zallan (Perkowitz+Ruth Architects).
by:
Michael Anonuevo
Revit Architecture Certified Professional
www.littledetailscount.com
Revit 2013 eBook Update Now Available!
I just released the 2013 update to my 2012 eBook: Creating Custom Revit Architecture 2013 Families: A Practical Guide for Beginner and Intermediate Users
Join Revit users nationwide and all over the world who have discovered the valuable information in this eBook. There is nothing like this in the market right now. The eBook teaches the efficient ways to create families. It also explains the subtle little details that go with family creation that no other books explain. In response to Revit users from Australia, UK and European countries, I’m happy to announce the Metric Editions of these eBooks. They will be released on or before November 2012. They are free for those who purchase the 2012/2013 Imperial (US) editions.
Book description:
PDF format, 16 Chapters, 777 pages, over 2000 images. All the new 2013 features are explained in-depth. Download my PDF sampler (163 pages) containing the full Table of Contents (2012 & 2013), Forewords by Steve Stafford and Lonnie Cumpton, and sample images here.
by:
Michael Anonuevo
Revit Architecture Certified Professional
www.littledetailscount.com
Alto Revit!
Alto: Although this word is associated with music, it is Spanish for Tall. The Latin word Altus means high or deep.
Read all about this Alto Saxophone Revit Family and my latest update on 3Dconnexion’s SpacePilot Pro:
3Dconnexion Invasion of Planet Revit
The SpaceExplorer, SpaceNavigator and SpaceNavigator for Notebooks _ a multiple products review by Michael Anonuevo
It has been two months now since I started using 3Dconnexion’s SpacePilot PRO. Without a doubt, 3D navigation devices are definitely here to stay.
For those of you who just happened to stumble on this article, please read my previous review of the SpacePilot PRO at : http://clubrevit.com/2011/06/15/will-revit-users-fly-with-this-device/.
The way I use Revit has completely changed. I’ve incorporated the SpacePilot PRO and its powerful programmable buttons in my daily work. I am now automatically reaching for it with my left hand. I’ve also learned how to configure the buttons to my advantage. You’ll find out all about this at the end of this article with my follow-up review of the SpacePilot PRO.
I’m happy to tell you that I’ve gotten a tremendous amount of good feedback from readers saying how helpful my article was. And just as I had anticipated, I’ve gotten inquiries about 3Dconnexion’s other models. Well, after communicating with 3Dconnexion, they sent me the rest of their product line. And so guys, here’s the lowdown on the SpaceExplorer, SpaceNavigator and SpaceNavigator for Notebooks…
Will Revit users fly with this device?
The SpacePilot™ PRO _ a product review by Michael Anonuevo
(Disclaimer: I am not connected with 3Dconnexion. I wasn’t asked to write this review nor was I compensated for it.)
One of the new features of Revit Architecture 2012 is its support for 3Dconnexion devices. As a Revit beta tester, I was aware of this feature before this version was released. However, prior commitments prevented me from taking a look into it until last month. Anyway, here are my findings:
The first thing I did was visit 3Dconnexion’s website to learn about their products. In the internet, I read a lot of articles and reviews concerning their product line. Apparently, they have been around since 2001. Their products are popular in the manufacturing industry as navigation tools in CAD/CAM modeling and simulation applications. In the film industry, they are used for navigation and visualization with popular animation software such as Maya, Alias, Blender, etc. Although Autodesk is officially supporting 3Dconnexion’s products, I couldn’t find any information on how they are being used in Revit. A lot of product reviews by design engineers have affirmed their usefulness though. Nonetheless, I was a little bit skeptical. The regular mouse, after all, does a good job as a navigation tool in Revit. My thought then was to get hold of a unit and test it.
Not knowing anything about 3Dconnexion’s navigation devices, I contacted them. I sent an email with my credentials and asked if I could evaluate and review their SpaceNavigator. Within a few days, I was contacted and informed that the company was sending me the SpacePilot PRO. This is 3Dconnexion’s top of the line model.
For Revit Architecture 2012 users, this article is about my experience with the SpacePilot PRO in the two weeks that I put it to various tests. Aside from Revit, I also tested the device with Autodesk Inventor 2011, Photoshop CS5, and Google Earth. I’ve included a few photos and video clips to help you make a decision if you’re contemplating on buying one. I will probably write a follow-up article after I use the device extensively for a few months.
Unpacking the Box
I was surprised when I received the SpacePilot PRO. The package was contained in a 15″ x 13″ x 7″ carton mailing box! I’m like, how big could this device be? Well, after taking it out of its box, it was bigger than what I thought it would be! Take a look (see fig. 1):
Figure 1
AUGI AEC EDGE Fall 2010 Issue
I’m happy to announce that the 2010 Fall issue of AUGI AEC EDGE Ezine finally came out on New Year’s day (Saturday_January 1, 2011)!
It was supposed to come out last December but for some reason, the release was delayed. As of the date of this post, the online version is not out yet. However, you can download a PDF copy at:
http://www.augi.com/publications/augi-aec-edge/issues/
On page 27, I wrote a 12-page article on creating complex family shapes in Revit. Included are Revit family tips and tricks with accompanying video clips (available on the online version). Here is an image of the front cover showing the title of my article: “Little Details Count Too”. Enjoy!
Michael Anonuevo
Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2011 Certified Professional
www.littledetailscount.com
Why can I not place a spot elevation in some views, but I can in others?
When you are placing spot elevations sometimes you will get the no go simple on all your flat surfaces and it will only work on the edges of the object. This is a simple fix but is very frustrating when it happens. All you need to do is change “Visual Style” from “Wireframe” to any of the other options. Basically the spot elevation tool does not work unless the surface is visible. In Wireframe model the surface it not visible so the spot elevation only works on the edges.
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Revit Families_Using Content Created from Autodesk Inventor Professional 2011
Hello everybody! I know it has been a while since my last post. I’ve been busy writing an article for AUGI AEC Edge magazine which is slated for inclusion on its upcoming Fall issue (to be released sometime in December 2010). In the article, I’ll be presenting a lot of practical tips and tricks in Revit family modeling. You don’t want to miss this issue. I’ll be including a few instructional videos as well as a couple of free downloads.
For today’s post, we will be looking into Autodesk Inventor 2011 as a source of Revit content. As you may know, I’m a staunch supporter of families created in native Revit geometry. However, there are some complex shapes that are extremely difficult or impossible to create using the Family editor tools. Just recently, I created a model of an electric guitar. I wanted to produce a unique Revit family where I can get to use all the tools in the family editor. Please check it out at:
Although I am very pleased with the outcome, I wasn’t able to model it exactly as I had planned to. I wanted an arched top to go along with the smooth body profile. The concept is easy enough to execute by using an arch void extrusion applied to the top of the guitar body. The problem is I could not round the edges. Revit does not allow you to do a void sweep on edges created by a void and solid extrusion (see Figure 1):
Figure 1
After a few failed attempts, I abandoned the idea of an arched top in favor of a flat top. I then decided to take a closer look at other 3D applications to see if I can create the guitar design I had envisioned. This is when I discovered Autodesk Inventor 2011. Before I explain how I got into it, take a look at how easily Autodesk Inventor created the arched top as shown in Figure 2. The top curve is also tangent to the rounded edges.
Figure 2
Creating Complex Family Shapes in Revit: Part-1
Family Modeling in Revit Architecture 2011
This is part of a series on creating complex family shapes in Revit. In my previous post (Creating Complex Family Shapes in Revit: Introduction _June 7, 2010), the Beer Mug example was modeled in Revit Architecture 2010. However, from here on, I’ll be using Revit Architecture 2011 (RA 2011) to take advantage of its new features and enhancements.
