In this lesson we will use an existing component family to adapt them for future uses. We will add new forms and change instance parameters for these families. We will assign new materials and add dimension properties. We will also define new component family types and load them into our projects.

See Before and After of the lamp:

Getting Started

Make sure you have the source files downloaded for this exercise. You can get them with the links above.

Duplicate the Existing Lamp Family

1. Open the Revit file: Lab05_E2_Modifying Family Definition.rvt
2. Open Residence - Sofa and Lamp View 3D view.
3. Click on the Lamp then click on the Edit Family button on the ribbon. This launches the Family Editor mode of revit, it's similar but different than the Project space you've been in before.
4. Click on File -> Save As -> Family and save the family as Floor Lamp - Modern somewhere you can remember it. This saves your revit family as a .rfa file that can be used in as many projects as you want. So when you make changes to the family it will update in all instances in other projects once you relink.
5. Click Save

Modify the Lamp Shade Form

1. Select and delete the center pole element.
2. Select the lamp shade element. (The black dome shape)
3. Open the Front Elevation view.
4. Click on the Edit Revolve button on the ribbon Modify tab
5. Delete existing magenta sketch lines.
6. Draw A line starting 5" away from the center axis and 4" above the ground line at an 80 degree incline ending at the dashed green line at the top as shown below:
7. Use the offset tool by typing OF to offset the line by 1/4".
8. Close off the ends of the two lines.
9. Click on the green checkmark to finish editing the revolve.

Modify the Lamp Base Form

1. Open the Front Elevation View.
2. Select and delete the existing lamp base.
3. Open the Ref. Level plan view.
4. On the Create tab select the Extrusion tool. Then select the Circle draw mode.
5. Set the center of the circle to the intersection of the green lines (The origin of the family) and set the diameter to 6".
6. In the properties palette set the Extrusion End to 0' 4" and set the Extrusion Start to 0' 0".
7. Click on the green checkmark to finish and create the geometry.
8. Open the Front Elevation View to confirm progress.

Add Support Brackets to Lamp Shade

1. Open the Front Elevation View.
2. On the Create tab click on the Sweep tool.
3. On the Modify | Sweep tab click on the Sketch Path button.
4. Use the Name option and select Reference Plane : Light Source Axis as your reference plane.
5. Trace the lamp shade, to create a 3' 6" line starting at the base.
6. Click on the green checkmark once to finish the sweep path.
7. Click on the Select Profile then Edit Profile buttons on the ribbon Modify tab.
8. Click on the 3D View: {3D} 3D View when prompted.
9. Zoom in on the red dot and draw a circle with a radius of 3/8" and located just outside the shade.
10. Click on the finish (green checkmark) button twice to finish and place the geometry.
11. Open View 1 3D View and confirm progress.
12. Now to array the bracket to make 4 identical ones. Open the Ref. Level plan view.
13. Note that you can't see the bracket, that's because it's behind or underneath the lamp shade. You can see it if you set the visual style to Wireframe. Do that.
14. Select the now visible bracket then click on the Array tool. Set the array mode to Radial. Set the Number to 4. Click on the Place button to place the center of rotation at the center of the lamp.
15. For your start click in the direction of your first bracket, then 90 degrees upwards as shown. Finish the changes.
16. Confirm as shown below:

Modify Light Source Definition

1. Open the Front Elevation View.
2. Select the Light Source Object. Again this is easier in wireframe mode.
3. Click on the Light Source Definition button on the ribbon.
4. Select the Line shape and the Spherical distribution. Click OK
5. Click on both of the padlock icons to unlock the light source constraints.
6. Rotate the light source 90 degrees to be vertical.
7. Move the light source down by 2' 0"
8. See light source final position:

Assign Materials to Lamp

1. Open the Front Elevation View.
2. On the Mange tab click on the Materials tool
3. Right Click on the Default Material and click on Duplicate. Name the new Material Modern Lamp Base
4. Open the Asset Browser (layered rectangle button at bottom left of material browser) and double click on the Walnut - Natural Polished material. This will set the Modern Lamp Base material to the same properties as Walnut - Natural Polished.
5. Close the Asset Browser, but keep the Material Browser open.
6. Duplicate the Glass - Frosted material and name it Modern Lamp Shade
7. Click OK to exit the Material Browser.
8. Open the {3D} 3D View.
9. Set visual style to Realistic
10. Select the Lamp Base Component and set the material value in the properties palette to Modern Lamp Base
11. Select the Lamp Shade Component. Click on the = sign to the right of the material field then select <none>.
12. Set the Material to Modern Lamp Shade like in step 11.
13. Click on the Bracket component and then click on Edit Group on the ribbon. Select the component again, and assign the material to Metal - Chrome.
14. Click Finish and see finished lamp below.
15. Save the Family.

Load the New Family Into Your Project

1. On the Modify tab click on the Load into Project button on the ribbon.
2. If prompted select the Lab05_E2_Modifying Family Definition.rvt Revit file.
3. Open Residence - Sofa and Lamp View 3D view.
4. Hit esc to exit the placement command since we're just going to replace the old lamp with this new family.
5. Click on the old lamp and change it's type in the properties palette to the new one that we just created. the 60W - 120V version.
6. See finished lamp below:

Save your file

Save your file as Spring2024_3262_firstinitial_lastname_LAB05_EX02.rvt

Cover Image Credits: medium.com