Component Family Exercise

Project Description:

According to Autodesk, "A family is a group of elements with a common set of properties, called parameters, and a related graphic representation.  Different elements belonging to a family may have different values for some or all of their parameters, but the set of parameters (their names and meanings) is the same.  These variations within the family are called family types or [just] types."

The goal of this assignment is to develop a usable, parametrically flexible family that is an asset to current and future projects.

PART 1: Component Family Research

DUE: Tuesday, February 19th
Bring to class photos, measurements, and orthographic sketches (front elev, plan, side elevation, etc.) of an object that you would like to model as a component family.  This object must be something that can have multiple family types -- with at least one of the parameters being dimensional. If you are unsure, you may want to bring multiple choices.  You must have dimensions, photos, and sketches as these will be submitted in the final project.

When considering your object(s), you might want to pick something that is somewhat appropriate for your designed space, as you will be required to use the family in your model.  I will allow you to make some deviations from the selected object or custom design choices when creating your family as long as you provide hand sketches of what you want to create/change.

PART 2: Modeled Component Family

Your family must include the following:

1. Material Parameter(s)
2. Must include a nested family
3. Must have at least 4 types that are "built-in" to the family
4. Must flex and not fail!

On Tuesday, February 26th, you will submit the following to your class dropbox in a folder named "Component Family Exercsie":

1. Your .rfa family file
2. A pdf from your schematic design model showing how you used your family in your project
3. Scans of your original object images and sketches (Part 1)

Files must be submitted by 2:00pm on the 26th.  No late work will be accepted. 

Family Tutorials:

Autodesk Family Tutorials
Lynda Comprehensive Family Tutorial (you may want to skip over the "tag" family section for now)