Why InstaCrete is the best Revit modelling tool? Let’s find.
- August 29, 2019
- Vikram Baraskar
Comparison between Revit modelling vs InstaCrete modelling (Part V)
In part I, II, III & IV of the blog series, “Revit Modelling vs InstaCrete modelling” we compared the grid, level, foundation, structural column, beam & structural floor tools.
In this part V of the blog series, we will discuss the wall tool.
Wall –
The purposes of the walls in buildings are to enclose a space as part of the building envelope along with a roof to give buildings form and to provide shelter and security. In addition, the wall may house various types of utilities such as electrical wiring or plumbing.
Load-bearing walls do support the roof of the building structure.
Wall tool testing procedure –
We have 11 columns of different sizes placed from Level 1 to Level 2 & from level 2 to 3. There are beams of various depths attaching the columns at level 2 & 3. Our aim is to construct walls from Level 2 to 3.
In the first stage, we will construct the walls using Autodesk Revit & then we will use the Revit addon InstaCrete.
Revit completed the procedure in 1minutes 56 seconds. While InstaCrete took 50 seconds to complete the same procedure. Around 57% of time-saving.
In part I of the blog series where we compared grid, level & Foundation tools InstaCrete saved 34% of the time.
In part II of the blog series where we compared the structural column tool, InstaCrete saved 36% of the time.
In part III of the blog series where we compared the beam tool, InstaCrete saved 32% of the time.
In part IV of the blog series where we compared the beam tool, InstaCrete saved 65% of the time.
In part V of the blog series where we compared the wall tool, InstaCrete saved 57% of the time.
The procedure for testing – Revit modelling
To construct the wall from level 2 to 3, I will open the view level 3. Let us open the wall command & click two mid-points of the two sequential columns. In this way draw 10 walls. While drawing the walls check the levels of the wall in the properties palette box.
Now, open the south elevation view. Select the wall & drag top handle of the wall so that the top of the wall touches the beam bottom. Thus adjust the height of all the 10 walls.
This procedure took 1minute 56 seconds.
After using Revit for years, we thought the wall tool requires following enhancements like –
– the user should be able to construct the wall from any view.
– the wall should be constructed by mentioning the grids intersection points.
– The wall tool should calculate the span & height of the wall on its own. It should automatically consider the columns & beam at that particular grid points.
– The user should be able to apply all offset distances to the wall from the dialogue boxes.
– All the wall data should be controlled from a centralized position i.e. dialogue box.
– one should be able to attach the cost & phase data to it.
– the user should be able to construct a wall in “x” or “y” symmetry.
Considering these requirements we developed 3 wall tools.
Quick wall tool –
It is used to construct a wall between two consecutive grid points. Points like A1-A2, A1-B1 etc.
Wall by selection –
It is used to construct the wall between two non-sequential grid points. Points like A1-A3, A1-D1 etc.
Direct Wall –
It is used to construct the wall between two grid points on which we do not have columns.
In our present case, we want to construct a wall between two consecutive grid points that’s why we will use the quick wall tool.
InstaCrete modelling –
Open the quick wall dialogue box. Select base level 2. Go on selecting the walls from the table.
The procedure took 50 minutes.
After constructing the walls select them one by one to demonstrate that they have proper span & height.
Download InstaCrete here as well as from https://apps.autodesk.com/en
Vikram Baraskar is the founder director of the RCCCAD IT Solution Pvt. Ltd. He is a civil engineer by profession. He has got over 25 years of handling construction projects, teaching CAD software. He has carried out over 6 million sq. ft. of RCC auditing & Revit modelling work.
He loves all sports with a special liking to chess.