Author "Renata Jočienė" posts

Wood Framing Roof+ for Revit: New Families, New Version, New Features

Greetings to all AGACAD Wood Framing product lovers! We know that there are many of you all over the world who get a lot out of our professional tools for Revit. For those of you who work with prefabricated roof framing and rafter structures, the newly released version of Wood Framing Roof+ has some new features that will be especially helpful for you. Let’s take a look.

1. Reduced number of families but more flexible and intelligent. The new families are easier to use than the old ones that they have replaced, and you’ll find that they greatly expand your framing possibilities. Just pay attention when you get around to using them, especially if you decide to use them on an existing project, because new framing configurations will be installed with the new families. (More on the configurations below.)

Recommendation: Finish existing projects with the existing families and framing configurations. Install the new Roof+ version when you start a new project.

Also, note that new families can be renamed with old family names and can be successfully used in new projects with only minor adjustments made to existing configurations.

Here is a side-by-side list of the new families and the old families being replaced in Imperial projects. (For Metric projects, there will be M_ at the beginning).

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CNC Exporter for Steel Frames in Revit

Want to export light-gauge steel wall, floor, truss, or roof panel frames from Autodesk® Revit® to a CNC machine?

AGACAD’s got you covered. (We’ve also got CNC Exporters for timber frames.)

Our CNC Exporter for Steel Frames automatically assembles all framing members per user definitions and send all necessary data and geometry to the machine or production line you’re running for efficient prefabrication of metal structures. We have a CNC Exporter that’s compatible with machines manufactured by Metroll, Royal C.N.C., Howick, and Scottsdale.

The exporter can easily be adapted to other CNC machines that read the same file extension and is customizable to fit users’ needs. We’ll work one-on-one with you to make sure the final product performs seamlessly and accurately. Exactly the way you need.

Our CNC Metal Exporter must be used in tandem with our Metal Framing BIM software that’s made for framing floors, walls, trusses, and
rafter roofs in Revit. We’ve also got specialized solutions for framing
Curtain Walls & Panels, Ventilated Facades, and Framed Partitions.

Advanced automation and built-in best practices help BIM professionals move fast, make optimal choices (particularly early in the design process), and avoid errors at every stage –
from design and documentation to fabrication and construction. Our CNC Metal Exporter converts the framed model with all the information data and geometry inside the Revit project
into a format readable by your CNC machine.

Below is more information on our CNC Metal Exporter as it pertains to each machine manufacturer.

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CNC Exporters for Timber Frames in Revit

Would you like to export multi-layered timber frames of walls, floors, trusses, or roof panels from Autodesk® Revit® to a CNC machine or CAD/CAM production line?

AGACAD’s got you covered. (We’ve also got a CNC Exporter for metal frames.)

Our CNC Exporters for Timber Frames automatically assemble all framing members per user definitions and send all necessary data and geometry to the machine or production line you’re running for efficient prefabrication of wood structures. We currently have CNC Exporters for machines manufactured by Weinmann, Randek, and Hundegger.

Exporters can easily be adapted to other CNC machines that read the same file extensions (for example, BTL is used worldwide). All exporters are customizable to fit users’ needs, and we’ll work one-on-one with you to make sure the final product performs seamlessly and accurately. Exactly the way you need.

Our CNC Exporters must be used in tandem with our Wood Framing BIM software that’s made for framing floors, walls, trusses, and
rafter roofs in Revit. We’ve also got specialized solutions for framing
CLT, SIPS, and heavy timber structures.

Advanced automation and built-in best practices help BIM professionals move fast, make optimal choices (particularly early in the design process), and avoid errors at every stage –
from design and documentation to fabrication and construction. The respective CNC Exporter converts the framed model with all the information data and geometry inside the Revit project
into a format readable by your CNC machine.

Learn more about each of our CNC Exporters for Timber Frames below.

	Weinmann CAD/CAM Production Line (WUP) Weinmann (BTL) and (BTLx) Weinmann (BTL) CLT
	Randek CAD/CAM Production Line (CDT4) Randek (SPL728)
	Hundegger (BVX) Hundegger (BVX2 Paneling)

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Wood Framing & Metal Framing in Revit: the most significant enhancements of the year (Feb 2019–Feb 2020)

During the past year we implemented over 40 updates to our Wood Framing and Metal Framing BIM software for designing walls, floors, and roofs of prefabricated timber and light-gauge steel framed buildings in Revit®. Enumerated below are the top 31 enhancements (it was hard to choose!) that were made from February of 2019 to February of 2020.

These updates include new features and requests made by clients. (Click a topic to scroll down for details.)

Framing updates (Feb 2019 – Feb 2020):

1. Align Stud Spacing with Frame and Opening Sides
2. Split Sheathing by Openings and Prioritize Merging
3. Expanded Possibilities for Joined Openings
4. New Options in Link Wall/Floor/Roof
5. Split Studs by Brace
6. Multi-frame Assemblies
7. New User Interface
8. Framing Reports & Suggestions
9. Validate Walls
10. Custom Studs/Joists, Top Covers, Top Plates, Blockings/Noggings, Bottom Plates and Bottom Pads
11. Custom Ridge Studs and Edge Joists
12. Variable Joists
13. Manage Connections
14. Splitting Parts using Special Rules
15. Modify Sheathing/Paneling
16. New Numbering Technology
17. Generate and Modify 3D Grids Created by One Roof Line
18. Generate Trusses by 3D Grids and Auto-Array throughout a Roof
19. Complex Truss Roof Framing
20. Create Uniquely Shaped, Parametric Truss Families even for Multiple Roofs
21. Modify Trusses using the Truss Builder
22. Terminal Truss Roof
23. Replacing Trusses
24. Overhang Framing
25. Create separate preassemblies for each joined opening
26. Add transportation braces (even across openings)
27. Align Secondary Stud System with Project Base Point
28. More options for brace groups
29. Special layouts and splitting options for paneling
30. Minimum dimensions for openings to be framed
31. Toggle configuration visibility

Wooden Homes in the USA: BIM Software for Automating Wood Framing Can Help to Effectively Continue A Centuries-Old Building Tradition

Wooden homes are one of the cornerstones of American culture. That’s something we’ve come to know very well while working with our clients from the United States.

Europeans are often surprised when they see how densely timber houses are built throughout the US. Whether it’s a suburb or a big city, you’ll find whole neighborhoods built from wood; building after building, lined up one after the other, reminiscent of the idyllic suburban areas of the 1950s.

In fact, not much has changed since the 1950s. With 93% of new houses in 2018 built using wooden materials, Americans are sticking to their lumber with pride.

New Release of Wood/Metal Framing Floor+ and Roof+ for Revit®. Now possible to make custom headers and top plate supports!

As with our framing solutions for wood and metal walls, our floor and roof framing software have also gotten some major enhancements recently. The most noteworthy is that it’s now possible to make custom headers and top plate supports in your metal or wood framing project – that was a big wish for many of our users, so it is with great pleasure that we announce this huge improvement!

In this post you’ll find more details about creating custom headers as well as a quick glance at what else is new in the latest versions of Wood / Metal Framing Floor+ and Roof+.

1. Certainly the flexibility of making your own custom type of header and top plate support is the biggest asset added to the updated software. It truly is a dream-come-true for so many users.

New Prefabricated Metal Roof Framing Solution for Revit® users

A few months ago, we unveiled our solution for framing wood roofs (Compatible with REVIT). Now it’s time for the metal framing counterpart: Metal Framing Roof+! Designed for prefabricated metal roofs, this new product meets the demand for efficiently turning an architectural roof into a prefabricated metal-framed roof, allowing for quick manufacture of roofs on site.

Metal Framing Roof+ empowers the user to draw prefabricated metal-framed roofs in Revit® models. This tool does it all: roof joists, battens, valley joists, roof boards, etc. And let’s not forget that it automates the shop drawing process, including sorting, tagging, dimensioning, and scheduling all frames.

Are you interested in 30-day Trial or Quote? Send us an e-mail – and we’ll get in touch with you right away!

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New Release of Wood/Metal Framing Wall+: A Real-life Dream

Customizing a header, sill, or top-pate support in Revit used to be the stuff of dreams and fairy tales. As more and more Revit users in the framing field began dreaming this collective dream, however, it was no longer something only to be dreamed of – but acted upon. Now the time has come to say: The dream has become reality.

Yes, that’s right. You weren’t daydreaming as you read that. Honest to goodness, you can now create custom headers, sills, and top plate supports in your metal or wood framing project! We’d like to give you a quick overview of this extremely valuable feature as well as other useful improvements that are part of the latest versions of Wood / Metal Framing Wall+.

1. The ability to make virtually any custom type of header, sill, and top plate support. This is a dream-come-true for many of our customers. It’s one of the biggest advances ever made in our wall framing solutions, so we’re very excited to share it with you!

You can create any type of header, sill, or top plate support and save it under its own name for future projects. Your custom configurations can also be shared with colleagues.

NEW Solution! Ventilated Facades – Take your walls to the next level in Revit!

By putting a new spin on some existing technology, we can make things which had earlier seemed out of reach. That’s certainly the case with using ventilated facades to cover the exterior of new or renovated building.

Both functional and aesthetic, the versatility of ventilated facades allows for a variety of eye-catching looks that come with lots of practical advantages like thermal and sound insulation, rain protection, thermal expansion, and fire safety.

A ventilated facade is designed so that panels – often made of technical ceramic or porcelain – cover a building’s exterior, leaving a space for air to flow between the structural wall and the facade. This buffer layer creates a chimney effect all around the building, giving rise to the aforementioned benefits.

Only problem is, there has been no efficient way of modelling ventilated facades in Revit.

Until now, that is.

By using our new solution, you can model ventilated facades in your Revit project!

Ventilated Facades makes it quick and easy to design high-quality ventilated facades in Revit® with automated real-time updates for project changes. That ensures you’ll get high-quality framing models, including hangers, fixings, brackets, etc. You’ll get accurate bills of materials, shop and fabrication drawings, and accurate on-site assembly thanks to BIM-to-Field features.

It’s time to dress your walls to the nines!

Let’s start from the beginning! Below, we have concrete multi-story building that needs to have a ventilated facade.

An Already-great Tool Just Got Even Better: The Updated Smart Browser Manage

Being able to find, access, and modify families quickly in your Revit® library is essential to working efficiently with Revit®. This is the purpose of Smart Browser Manage, the tool whose usefulness and power have been amplified in the latest release (versions 2016.3 and 2017.2).

Never used Smart Browser Manage? If you want a way to efficiently and manage all the content in your Revit® library, SBM is the tool for you, your go-to assistant when it comes to browsing, sorting, managing, and controlling items in your library.

If you are already an SBM user, the updated version speeds up your Revit® content management even further and brings new options to life that increase the accessibility of items in your library.

What exactly are the extremely useful changes in the updated SBM?

1. Type catalogs are now fully supported.
2. “Create Subcategories” works for multiple families at the same time, not just the selected one.
3. A new function upgrades selected projects to the current Revit version.
4. You can transfer the units from one template family to other selected families. A huge time-saver!
5. The Assembly Code for a batch of families can be modified.
6. There is a new option to modify the materials of selected families.
7. The “Organization” dialog includes more options.
8. When making modifications in the library, values are displayed in the same units as the current project.
9. The synchronization process will not automatically override your custom PNG files being used as browser thumbnails.

Read on!

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