Parametric Folding Panels in Revit and Dynamo

Parametric Folding Panels in Revit and Dynamo

Download the Sample Data-sets here


In the Applications menu, go to New > Family, select "Curtain Panel Pattern Based" and click Ok. Select the blue grid in the background, and change the grid dimensions to 2500 for Horizontal Spacing and 7000 for Vertical Spacing. (See below image)


Start by hosting two points on the default reference lines as denoted in the below image.



Multiple-select the two new points; in the Properties menu, click the drop down menu to the right of the "Measurement Type" parameter and change it from "Normalized Curve Parameter" to "Segment Length". 
Set the segment length to 5800mm.


In the Properties Menu, click the small button to the right of the "Segment Length" parameter 
(See below red arrow). The "Associate Family Parameter" will open. Click on "Add Parameter", make a new instance Parameter, call it "OPENING_HEIGHT_REMAINDER" and click OK to close the windows. This parameter will be used to control the movement of the selected points. 



Add two more points as indicated below and repeat steps 3.2 and 3.3 accordingly. Set the Segment Length to 2900mm.



Multiple-select the two points from the previous step, in the Properties Menu, click the small button to the right of the "Segment Length" parameter (See below red arrow). The "Associate Family Parameter" will open. Click on "Add Parameter", make a new instance Parameter, call it "PIVOT_HOST" and click OK to close the windows.


Open the Family Editor by clicking the Family Types button (See red arrow below).
Under the Formula column, add the following formula to control the "PIVOT_HOST" parameter: "OPENING_HEIGHT_REMAINDER / 2".


Under the modify tab click on "Set" (see below red arrow) and pick the xy-plane of the "PIVOT_HOST" Point highlighted in the below sketch.


Place a point on top of of the "PIVOT_HOST and drag it slightly up by pulling its z-axis icon, then repeat the previous step adding one more point to the second "PIVOT_HOST" Point. (See below image)



Multiple-select the two points from the previous step, in the Properties Menu, click the small button to the right of the "Offset" parameter (See below red arrow). The "Associate Family Parameter" will open. Click on "Add Parameter", make a new instance Parameter, call it "PIVOT" and click OK to close the windows.


Next we will create a Reporting Parameter dimension. In order to do that, hit "DI" on your keyboard to activate the dimension command. Under the Modify tab click on "Set" and select the xy-plane of the reference line as highlighted below in yellow.


With the Dimension command still active, click on Adaptive Point no. 3 then Adaptive Point no. 4 to place a dimension (Your dimension should read 7000 mm as below).



Select the dimension, click on <None> near "Label" and select "<Add parameter>". Now type-in the new parameter name "PANEL_HEIGHT"; make it Instance and check-mark "Reporting Parameter" as indicated below. Hit OK to complete this step.


Open the Family Editor and click on Add parameter. Make a new instance parameter and name it "OPENING_HEIGHT". This parameter needs to be grouped under "Constraints". To do that, click "Dimensions" (marked with a green box in the below image) and choose "Constraints" then click OK to close the window. 



The "OPENING_HEIGHT" parameter will appear immediately in the Family Editor. (See below image) Click OK to close the Family Editor and continue.



Open the Family Editor by clicking the Family Types button (See red arrow below). Click Add under Parameters to make a new instance parameter and name it "HYPOTENUSE".



Now we need to parameterize the realistic operation of the panel as it will open and slide simultaneously using the Pythagorean Theorem for right triangles. (See the below illustration)


Open the Family Editor and add the below formulas to the Parameters grouped under "Dimensions". Also make the OPENING_HEIGHT 1200 mm and click OK to close the window.


Mimic the below sketch by creating Reference Lines between the corresponding points.




Referring to the below image, select the Reference Lines highlighted in yellow and click the Create Form button then select the extrusion option from the bottom of your screen.


Select the top face of the extrusion; in the Properties Menu, change the "Positive Offset" parameter to 50 mm resembling the actual thickness of the panel. Alternatively, you can click the Associate Family Parameter button and make a new parameter which may be named "THICKNESS". (See below image)


Repeat the previous couple of steps to the reference lines selected in the below image.


Your end result should appear as below.



Start a new Conceptual Mass family. In the massing environment, sketch a model arch similar to that resembled in the below image.


Extrude the line 1000 mm and copy it 3x upwards. Divide each surface to 15 divisions vertically and 1 division horizontally.


Load the KTS Panel into the Mass family. Select the first set of divisions from the bottom (below highlighted in blue); in the Properties menu, make the "All Grid Rotation" parameter to 180º.


Repeat the above step to the third set of divisions from the bottom (below highlighted in blue); again in the Properties menu, make the "All Grid Rotation" parameter to 180º.


Multiple-select the all the surfaces; click the Type Selector and select the KTS_Panel which you have loaded-in earlier. Your Panels should appear as below.


Start Dynamo and follow the below definition to produce the panel-opening variations.




Image Source http://www.archdaily.com/89270/kiefer-technic-showroom-ernst-giselbrecht-partner

Congratulations!
You have completed this tutorial.