Autodesk Students: CADlearning courses

So I was recently logged in to the Autodesk student community. I found a link to some different support and tutorial files which were provided by Autodesk. Along with this was an advertisement for a 7 month free trial with CADLearning. I decided to look into the tutorials and service that CADLearning provided. After a short while I realised that the courses were very in depth, with a lot of different tutorials, covering a wide range of “topics” in Revit Architecture. Ranging from the very basics, project set up, walls, curtain walls etc. To the more complicated and useful: scheduling, phasing, worksets and collaboration. Each one of these “chapters” or “topics” comes with a series of tutorials explaining the different aspects of each topic. 

After watching and taking note of the tutorial videos, you are offered to take a self assessment test which is a series of multiple choice questions which you have to answer relating to that specific topic. In total there are 30 topics and each one comes with a multiple choice test. There is also a skills assessment test which involves working on a .RVT file and answering questions related to that. You are then able to see your score and evaluate the questions that you got wrong, in that hope that next time you won’t make the same mistakes! 

I feel although a lot of the topics are fairly simple, there is a lot of information which you might not specifically have known or realised before. If you have the oppurtunity, I would definitely recommend heading over to the Autodesk student community site and seeing if you are eligible to take the assessment tests from CADLearning. I feel this is another fun and slightly more interactive way of learning to use software for example Revit rather than reading from a book or watching hours of tutorials. CADLearning also offer tutorials from many other Autodesk software packages, so make sure to check out the information on their site. Give it a try today, I guarantee you’ll learn something new! 
 

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Revit Architecture 2013 videos

Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013 – Construction Modeling Autodesk Revit 2013 extends the capability to support construction modeling by allowing further customization with parts. Parts can now be merged, excluded and restored. Two or more parts can be merged into a single part. Exclusions will remove parts from the project similar to the way elements can be excluded from a group, and finally excluded parts can be restored at any time. Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013 – Component-based Stairs New Component-based stairs in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2013 provide capabilities to assemble a stair using individual run, landing, and support components. Each run and landing component can be modified by using direct manipulation controls. During the creation process, you can preview the stair in 3D as you sketch the various components. Component-based stairs allow overlapping stairs to be created, as well as more stair layouts including spiral stair cases and winder stairs. Additionally, you can create multiple runs and have Autodesk Revit automatically create landings to connect the runs. Ideate Inc home page Ideate Inc YouTube channel

Revit MEP tutorials

Today I will be posting 2 great tutorial videos for Revit MEP beginners. Both videos are from cadlearning on YouTube. The first video is a tutorial describing the basics of mechanical duct settings, followed by a tutorial on creating HVAC piping named systems. These are 2 of the key elements of Revit MEP and both can be completed to a basic level fairly simply.

 

 

Revit MEP 2012 Tutorial – Mechanical Duct Settings

What duct settings control, and how to set them.

 

Revit MEP 2012 Tutorial – Creating HVAC Piping Named Systems

Concepts of creating and naming HVAC piping systems.

 

 

If you are looking to get into Revit MEP, there are many useful videos on cadlearnings channel and throughout the whole site. Click on the links above to view the videos. Next week I will be posting more MEP videos and tutorials. 

 

My top 3 AU 2011 classes

45 Revit tips in 45 minutes

This class will be a fun and upbeat binge of random Revit platform tips. Everyone loves to learn something new, regardless of how small that something is, and even the most veteran of Revit users never stop learning. The tips covered will range from very small and simple to some that will require a bit more explanation. While this is primarily a Revit platform class, I will also try to put a couple of Revit Architecture, Structure, and MEP tips into the mix.

Key Learning

• List at least 5 things you previously didn’t know
• Improve your workflow
• Show off to your work colleagues by showing them something they didn’t know

 

Revit rendering tips

This class will cover a multitude of topics related to creating renderings in Revit. Class highlights include using Design Options to manage “props” for rendering, using a future phase to quickly create a “chip board” type rendering, and employing transfer project standards to load different color schemes for materials. The class also covers how to use Remote Desktop to utilize idle computers when producing multiple still images, how to use Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) photometric files to get more realistic results.

Key Learning

• Create a custom material library
• Use the Section Box to create interesting renderings of building sections in perspective
• Set the project location and true north to get accurate daylight

 

Creating parametric components in Revit

The key to mastering Autodesk® Revit® Architecture, Revit MEP, or Revit Structure is the ability to create intelligent, parametric families for your content libraries. It is not as easy as simply building a 3D model. This class will show you how to use the modeling tools in the Revit Family Editor, as well as the process of creating intelligent parameters to properly control their dimensions, behavior, and visibility. Additionally, you will learn how to make sure that your families “play nice” with other elements in your model.

Key Learning

• Work with nested families
• Select the correct family template for appropriate component behavior and categorization
• Work with parameters to control model geometry 

 

Project Vasari tutorial

Hey guys, hope you’ve all had a great weekend. Today I finally got round to writing and uploaded a short beginners tutorial to using Autodesk’s Project VasariV2.1. To view the tutorial click this text to be forwarded to the correct location.

Hope you all have a great week, and look forward to hearing some feedback!

If you haven’t already got a copy of Project Vasari click here to download from Autodesk labs. 

Revit and all things BIM

Good morning all! Below you will find a list of websites, which offer external solutions for Revit. All of these I have tried out myself and would recommend. I’ll try to keep this post updated as the sites change or new ones are created. If there are any other programs/websites which you would advise, then drop me a line, and I will add it to the list. This list was compiled mainly from the All things BIM blog.

BIM content for Revit

Project Vasari – Mass model, generate detailed energy analysis. Also comes with a wind tunnel analysis tool, and various other tools which will aid in your BEM process. 

RevitCity – downloadable user content, no quality control; free, registration required for downloading content.

SmartBIM – manufacturer-specific content; modeled by SmartBIM, high quality control; free, no registration required.

Autodesk Seek – content aggregated by Autodesk; contains default Revit families as well as manufacturer-specific content, low to moderate quality control; content in a variety of formats, search can filter for specific formats; free, no registration required.

ARCAT – generic and manufacturer-specific content; modeled by ARCAT, high quality control; free, no registration required.

Sweets – manufacturer-specific content, modeled by manufacturers, quality control unknown; various formats, can’t filter by format type; free, registration required for download; much of the 3D content is in SketchUp format.

RevitComponents – manufacturer-specific and general content, mostly modeled by site author; quality control unknown; free, registration not required.

ArcXL – Revit and CAD details (2D); drafted by ArcXL, quality control unknown; free, registration required for download.

RevitForum – downloadable user content, no quality control; free, registration required for downloading content.

BIMstore – manufacturer-specific content; modeled by bimstore, high quality control; free, registration required for downloading content.

Hope you all have a great week!

Autodesk university classes available now!

Did You Miss This Year’s General Session?

Waves of disruption are headed for everyone, but designers and business leaders can ride even the biggest wave with the right mindset and the right skill sets…and it can be an exhilarating ride. Watch the AU 2011 General Session and find out how.

AU Virtual Classes Have Moved

AU Virtual classes are now available from the Online Classes tab on the AU website. Members can access all AU Virtual class recordings, handouts, and other materials from there.

Speakers: View Your Class Evaluations

AU 2011 Las Vegas speakers can view their class evaluations in the Speaker Resource Center. Don’t delay—the Speaker Resouce Center will close on January 31, 2012. The class evaluation process is different for AU Virtual speakers; your class evaluations will be emailed to you soon. 

Start Planning Now for Autodesk University 2012

Join your peers from around the world at Autodesk University 2012. Introduce yourself to new products, people, and techniques at the premier conference and exhibition for Autodesk product users. This year’s conference returns to theMandalay Bay Hotel, November 27–29, 2012.

Interested in Speaking at AU 2012?

It’s never too early to start thinking about speaking at AU 2012. If you would like to teach a class next year, sign up to be notified when the AU 2012 Call for Proposals launches in March. If you submitted a proposal for AU 2011, we have your information on file and there is no need to sign up. We’ll notify you automatically.