Introduction

Sometimes you want to create a non-standard steel connection. In Revit 2020 you can create a custom connection manually and reuse this for future connections. Let us look at how this is done.

Overview

The first step is to create the connection components like plates and bolts using the tools that is in the Steel Tab in Revit 2020. Thereafter you’ll create a Connection name and add these components to this new connection.

Process

To illustrate this process, I’ve opened the Revit 2020 Sample Structural model that installs with Revit.

Open the 3D view and below is the connection we’ll focus on.

Now go to the Steel tab and create a plate by selecting the Plate tool.

Select the Show Workplane and then the Set Workplane tool. Then in the dialogue box select the ‘Pick a Plane’ option. Select the furthest plane of the column as your work plane to use.

Now draw the profile of the plate you are using. In this example I have draw the plate as in the screenshot below.

Select Finish and set the width to 150 for instance. You might see the extrusion is done towards the back.

Now select the Edit Sketch on the ribbon and select Set Workplane, Pick a Plane and then select the front edge of the column. Click Finish.

The result will be that the plate is in the correct position.

The next step is to create the bolts to fix the plate to the column and rafter. Select the Bolt tool. Then select the column and plate. Press Space or Enter.

Now pick the plane on which the bolts need to be attached.

Now select the rectangle tool and draw where you need the bolts positioned. The select Finish.

The result will look like this.

Now go through the same process to bolt the rafter and the plate. In this case the result of adding the bolt to the rafter created an error were the coping between the column and rafter has been removed. For this example we’ll ignore the error. The result of our new connection is as below.

We have not finished modelling the connection and are now ready to save this connection and name it.  To do this select both the column and rafter. Then select the Connection Tool on the ribbon.

A generic connection has been created. Select Edit Type.

Then Duplicate and give a name.

Make sure the connection is selected and then select Customise on the ribbon. Name the connection.

Now make sure Add mode is selected and then select the components that need to added to the connection. Select Finish.

The connection has been created. You can now select the connection, right click and select ‘Create Similar’. On the next connection select both the column and rafter and then press enter or spacebar. The connection will have been added as shown.

If you want to use this connection in another future Revit project you can open the new project and use the Manage -> Transfer Project Standards tool to transfer the Connection to the new drawing.

Conclusion

Using this process, you can create any custom connections and reuse them in the same project or in future Revit project, thus saving time. If you have any further questions please contact us at : https://www.mgfx.co.za/contact