The UI of our CLT software for Revit was recently enhanced to make the workflow more intuitive and overall easier to use.

On top of that, we are now making Agacad CLT Panels available to trial for free!

That being the case, we want to make it as simple as possible for you to try out our CLT software on your own. In this blog post, I’ll go through the basic steps to follow.

Note: Since these instructions are meant to simplify testing of Agacad CLT Panels, I have used our sample configurations and families throughout.

Just keep in mind that all these sample rules can be modified to your own needs and standards.

Because the reconfigured UI is intended to make the workflow more intuitive, here is a quick recap of the simplified ribbon. I’ll be referring to these functions throughout this article. (For more details on the new UI, read our post on that.)

Tools and functions of Agacad CLT Panels

In the ribbon, there are six top-level functions:

Let’s start creating frames with CLT panels in Revit from scratch!

Step 1: Load families

Choose the sample families to be loaded into the current project. Wood Framing CLT provides sample Metric and Imperial families for creating frames with connections common for CLT structures, tag families, and sample schedules.

After loading, you can find the families in Project Browser → Families under Structural Framing, Structural Connections, Division Profiles, Annotation Symbols and Generic Models categories.

Step 2: Transfer standards

‘Template Project’ is a Revit file with sample Wall, Floor and Roof types, standards, and annotations. The ‘Template Project’ feature allows users to transfer all needed information from a template project, eliminating the need to create Wall/Floor/Roof types and other needed elements or standards from scratch for every new project.

So, before working with the software, we recommend using these features (numbers 2-6 in the image above).

1. Template Project Location – the path to your template project. Wood Framing CLT comes with a sample Template Project, which is mapped here automatically.

When starting out, we recommend using the sample template project that comes with the software and is automatically mapped already. Later on, of course, you can create and use your own:

2. Transfer Wall Types – transfer wall types from the projects which is defined in ‘Template Project Location’ to the current project.

3. Transfer Floor Types – transfer floor types from the projects which is defined in ‘Template Project Location’ to the current project.

4. Transfer Roof Types – transfer roof types from the projects which is defined in ‘Template Project Location’ to the current project.

For steps 2-4 (above), you can transfer only the types containing ‘CLT’ in their name.

An example using the metric sample template project and ‘Transfer Wall Types’:

5. Transfer Standards – Opens Revit’s ‘Transfer Project Standards’ dialog window. You then need to manually select various styles, types, and settings, which need to be transferred from the Template Project File to the Current Project.

For a smooth workflow, we recommend that you select at least these 6 options:

You can select more options if needed.

6. Transfer Annotations – loads and overwrites Tags, Callout Heads, Section Heads, Section View Types, and Title Blocks and copies Legend Views and Schedules from the projects that is defined in the ‘Template Project Location’ to the current project.

Modeling a CLT panel system in Revit

Now, assuming you already have…

• the necessary sample families loaded using ‘Load Families’ (Step 1)
• all types and standards transferred to new/current project (Step 2)

…then you can move on to creating the architectural model to be auto-framed with CLT panels.

Step 3: Creating basic walls, floors and roofs

In this example, I modeled a few walls and a floor using the types that were transferred from the template project. I also used a ‘3D CLT’ View Template for the 3D View:

After the model is created, we can start using the sample configurations to create CLT panels.

Step 4: Link type

The sample walls/floors/roofs have only one layer for the CLT structure, and this is how we should set up the link:

Note: This example is with a wall, but the logic is the same for floors and roofs.

1. Selected wall/floor/roof type

2. ‘Frame’ should be selected in the ‘Framing Layer’

3. ‘Framing Configuration’ – select a framing configuration with the definition of all framing parameters. A sample configuration that comes with the CLT software was used here, but you can also create your own later on. 

4. ‘Frame’ – choose whether layers should be framed during the framing process.

5. ‘Split Parts’ and ‘Split by’ options should be selected, as CLT panels are created as Parts category in Revit and also, they’re split by the Configuration defined in the ‘Framing Configuration’.

6. ‘Paneling Configuration’ – select a paneling configuration with the definition of how CLT panels should be split. A sample configuration that comes with the CLT software was used here, but you can also create your own later on. 

7. ‘Exclude Parts’ –  select the parts that need to be excluded from the wall/floor/roof. CLT panels are created as parts, so this tick mark should be unticked for the CLT Layer.

Step 5: Create frame

First, let’s run the ‘Number Types‘ command, which will number all host elements, namely, walls, floors, and roofs:

That’s it! Now select all of the walls, floors, and roofs, and use ‘Create Frame‘.

In this example, CLT panels with half-lap connections were generated:

Result:

Make sure you select elements from the wall, floor, or roof category — not parts!

Note: I demonstrate the process from STEP 5: Create Frame in the webinar embedded below. Various ways of modifying the frames after they have been created are also shown. Start viewing from about 10:45.

Step 6: Insert connections

Now, let’s insert half-lap connections for L and T connections in our wall panels.

Select all wall Parts, and then use ‘Auto-Insert‘:

As a result, half-lap connections were created for L-joins and also, cuts for T-joins:

Step 7: Number elements

Some of the parameter values that are common for CLT structures can be entered manually, before numbering the panels based on predefined rules.

For example, I can enter:

Visual quality for interior and exterior sides of the panel:
FM_CLT_Visual Q_Int
FM_CLT_Visual Q_Ext

Grain direction (ON – horizontal, OFF – vertical):
FM_CLT_Grain Dir

Unit number – it can represent separate buildings in the project or something else of that nature:
FM_CLT_Unit Number

In the image below, in the Numbering Rules window (1), you can choose all needed rules for various categories (like Walls, Parts, Structural Framing, Structural Connections, etc.) and their parameters, which should be filled in, in a single configuration.

Also, you’ll be able to assign configurations that should be used with ‘Number Types‘ and ‘Number Elements‘ commands (2):

Now, when we’ll run the ‘Number Elements‘ command, all elements will be numbered by the sample configurations assigned in the ‘Numberign Rules’. As you can see, ‘FM_CLT_Part Level‘ was calculated and filled in. Also ‘Mark’ parameter value, and so on:

Step 8: Insert tags

After numbering the elements, we can select all needed parts and use ‘Insert Tags’. After that, 3D Tags will be inserted, where you’ll see previously entered Visual Quality parameter values for the interior and exterior sides of the panel:

These 3D Tags are Structural Framing category elements that are being used as Tags.

Note: If you don’t want to see these tags in the 3D View, you can hide them, but you should still insert them, as we’ll be using these 3D Tags to tag panels when creating shop drawings in the following step.
If you do not insert them, then the panels will not have tags in the shop drawings!

Of course, these are only sample configurations and can be adjusted to your needs later.

Step 9: Create shop drawings

Finally, you can select all numbered and tagged parts and use ‘Create Assembly’. In this example, I’m creating an assembly of a wall panel, so I’ll choose the ‘CLT Wall Panel’ sample configuration:

You’ll find all generated views and schedules in the Project Browser under Assemblies. All views will have dimensions, and tags added automatically:

We chose horizontal grain direction for this panel in STEP 7, so now, in the Elevation Front view, we have the automatically added tag showing us the horizontal direction, as well as the Mark (U1_142) of this part and the visual quality (V-ext (V-int)):

That’s it!

All sample configurations used in this explanation can be found and modified under ‘Configs’, here:

Video tutorial

The 9 steps outlined below can be seen in this tutorial video.

Sample project

Download the sample project for your Revit version via our training and support center. Then, just make sure you follow the workflow outlined above.