Revit LED Striplight Creation Tutorial

As per Greg Hayslett's request for a tutorial on the creation of a previous blog post: Revit LED Striplights, herewith the steps to create it using both the Generic Line Based method, as well as the Railing method.

Method 1: Strip Light as Line Based Family

Step 1: We need to create two families, the first being a Metric Line Based family. Create a new family based on the Metric Generic Model Line Based family template.

Step 2: Create a Sweep by picking the Reference Line as the path. Create a 10mm radius circle profile to represent the LED tube. You can either now choose a Material for the tube, or Associate the Material parameter. This will allow you to change the tube material in the project environment. 

Step 3: We need a light source to embed (Or nest) inside of the line based family. Create a new family based on the Metric Lighting Fixture family template.

Step 4: Select the Light Source and change the Light Source Definition’s Shape Emittance to Line, and the Light Distribution to Spherical.

Step 5: Load the Lighting Fixture family into the Line Based Family. Select the light source and edit the Type Properties. Change the Initial Intensity under the Photometrics area to 2.00 Watt. Set the Initial Colour as per your preference.

Step 6: Here is the trick:  If you have a straight ceiling line, you will be able to draw a LED tube segment according to the correct size, and create either an array (Cringe) or copy it along the straight path. When you get to a curved ceiling line, you will have to use either the Inscribed- or Circumscribed Polygon Draw tool. We can create a maximum of 32 individual line based segments per polygon draw command. Any unnecessary LED tube segments can be deleted if required. 

When enabling the Light Source checkbox in the Visibility Graphics command for Lighting Fixtures, you will be able to see the “representation” of light diffusion 

Method 2: Strip Light as Railing Family

Step 1: Create a new family based on the Metric Profile family template

Step 2: Using the Line command, create a 5mm radius profile to indicate the LED tube.

Step 3: For the light source, create a new family based on the Metric Baluster Panel family template.

Step 4: Nest the previously created Lighting Fixture Light Source family (Method 1 – Line based family) into the Metric Baluster Panel family. Position the Lighting Fixture family accordingly.

Step 5: Load the Metric Baluster Panel family, as well as the Rail Profile family into your project. Start the Railing command and duplicate a Railing type. Re-name the railing as Striplight_Railing or similar. Edit the Type Properties of the Striplight_Railing family and edit the Rails. Add a Rail using the Rail Profile family, with a specified offset, using the Plastic, Transparent Autodesk Revit material.

Step 6: Now it’s time to add the baluster (Light Source) to the rail. Edit the Balusters and change the Baluster Family to the previously created Metric Baluster Panel family. You will have to change the Distance From Previous value to get a perfect render representation. I found that in the prvious post, a value of 230mm gave an acceptable result. Remember to set the Posts area for Start Post, Corner Post, and End Post to None.

You will now be able to sketch the railing path using any of the drawing tools you want. Remember to set the Base Offset of the rail to the required Base Offset.

·      Note that if you set the Top Rail option in the rail Type Properties to None, your rail will “break”. The best bet would be to hide the Top Rail per construction view required.