Familes - non-hosted elements (funiture example)

Non-hosted as is stand-alone eg. furniture etc not specifically associated with a component (cf. wall sweeps)

1. File, new, family, metric generic model template
2. Make sure when you draw, that you first set up lots of relevant reference planes!
3. See example below for a table:

• draw 2 reference planes around the centre line, Modify, Aligned, click on all three vertical RPs, then move up away from drawing area and click to create the dimension 
• then to equalise, click on the EQ with the line through it which will then equalise the distance between the two sections
• repeat for the horizontal reference lines

4. Then create some RPs for positioning the legs by:

• RP, annotate, choose the pick tool, choose the offset distance,
• click on one of the RPs to align to, make sure the new RP is on the correct side of this then click again to create
• repeat to finish this set of RPs
• ESC, Modify, Aligned, select the 2 RPs to lock, then lock so that when you change to overall dimensions, the distance between these will remain constant

Label these RPs - click on the overall dimensions eg. the width one, right click, Label, Add Parameter, type in the name of the label for this dimension (eg. width), leave Type checked, Ok. Repeat for length.

4. For a table, you also need the dimension of height, so need to create another plane for this:

• choose an elevation view, create a new RP of the correct height (eg. 720mm)
• before completing the reference plane click on the permanent dimension lock to keep this dimension locked
• give this plane a name (eg. properties, Identity Data, Name) such as TOT (for top of table)

5. To create the table top, Home, pick a plane, choose TOT, then Home, Model Line, draw a rectangle within the RPs drawn, lock to the relevant RPs. Click done (green tick).

• can test you've locked correctly by changing the dimensions using the blue box icon

6.  For a simple leg, Home, Extrusion, Draw - then choose a square shape/circle etc from drawing set and create within one of the reference plan lines you created above.

• Choose temporary extrusion start and finish dimensions which you can adjust later, then click finish (the big green tick)
• Go to an elevation and adjust the extrusion start and finish to line up with the table top and floor (by dragging the handles) then lock these.

7. For a fancier leg eg. a 'turned' leg, choose Revolve. Extra steps here initially are:

• select plane for this to revolve around: TOT, then set the axis, then draw the profile for the leg. Finish

To use these components, find them by:
1. Project brower, Families
2. Expand, find Generic Models, then look for your component