MWF Rafters

User Guide

October 1st, 2018

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Table of contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Things You Should Know Before Starting .................................................................... 4
1.1.1 Rafter Supports..................................................................................................... 4
1.1.2 Roof Panels Structure Orientation......................................................................... 4
1.1.3 Member Selection ................................................................................................. 5
1.1.4 Revit Detail Levels ................................................................................................ 5
1.1.5 Family Types ........................................................................................................ 5
1.1.6 Loading Families ................................................................................................... 5
1.1.7 Creating New Family Members Properly ............................................................... 6
2. Creating a Rafter System .................................................................................................... 7
3. Rafter System Templates .................................................................................................... 9
3.1 Creating a New Rafter Template .................................................................................. 9
3.2 Modifying a Rafter System Template ..........................................................................10
4. Panel Properties ................................................................................................................11
4.1 Rafter System Properties ............................................................................................11
4.1.1 Fascia Board........................................................................................................12
4.1.2 Valley Plate ..........................................................................................................12
4.1.3 Ridge Rafter ........................................................................................................13
4.1.4 Bird’s Mouth .........................................................................................................13
4.2 Rafters Panels’ Properties ..........................................................................................14
4.2.1 Placing Ledger Boards.........................................................................................14
4.2.2 Rafter Settings .....................................................................................................15
5. Regenerating a Panel ........................................................................................................16
6. Deleting a Panel.................................................................................................................16
7. Template Manager .............................................................................................................16
8. Opening Type Manager .....................................................................................................17
9. Tools ..................................................................................................................................18
9.1 Regenerate .................................................................................................................18
9.2 Align ...........................................................................................................................18

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9.3 Merge .........................................................................................................................18

10. Edits ...........................................................................................................................19
10.1 Cut by Reference Plane ..............................................................................................19
10.2 Cut by Void .................................................................................................................20
10.3 Override generated .....................................................................................................20
10.4 Add Member ...............................................................................................................21
10.5 Delete Member ...........................................................................................................22
10.6 Change Opening Type ................................................................................................22

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1. Introduction
Focused on specific areas of MWF Rafters functionality, this manual highlights the main
features in this module. As each topic explains tools which are used to complete common
tasks, users will learn some of the practices which will help improve efficient design and
the development of a framed roof.

To take the most out of the instructions given in this tutorial, start by creating a simple
model with basic roof types in Revit to follow the steps in each topic.

1.1 Things You Should Know Before Starting

When starting a project and using MWF Rafters, there are a few basic tips one should
know to better utilize the software.

1.1.1 Rafter Supports

When creating rafters, there is an option to select the supports for the rafters. This will
allow the creation of “birdsmouth cuts” in the rafters based on the location of the supports.
The supports can be structural walls and structural beams (including a panel top track).

If you want to make a wall the support of the rafters, make sure this wall is set as
structural.

1.1.2 Roof Panels Structure Orientation

When an MWF Rafter Panel in a 3D

view is selected, arrows will indicate
each roof panel and which rafter(s) will
be created on them. In this example,
there are three panels (indicated by
three arrows) which we can apply
different properties for. Additionally,
nodes and range limits of the roof
boundaries will be placed at every
domain.

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1.1.3 Member Selection

Select either the panel label, any member of the panel or the datum when changes or
modifications need to be applied to a panel.

1.1.4 Revit Detail Levels

Revit's detail level must be set to medium or fine.

If set to Coarse, framing members and datum will appear

solely as thin straight lines. Changing the level of detail
after framing the walls in your project is a suitable
approach to keeping your project light.

1.1.5 Family Types

MWF uses some basic family catalogues as a reference. Before creating

panels, load the rafter families that will be used for your project.

Users can also duplicate original rafter families from MWF installation
folders and create new joist/track types or rename the families' folders
according to their needs. However, when creating new member types,
users must maintain the same parameters used in the original MWF floor
families. These parameters are needed for running all functions in MWF
properly.

The About option is found in the MWF icon menu. By clicking Home
Directory in the main MWF dropdown, you will be directed to the MWF
installation folder in your computer.

1.1.6 Loading Families

Loading MWF stud families is important to do before creating your own templates. Other
framing members such as connectors will be found in this location as well.

Using Revit's Insert tab and Load Family button, locate the MWF installation folder and
open it. You can then choose between the Imperial or Metric folder depending on your
project units.

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Open your desired folder and select the family that you need.

1.1.7 Creating New Family Members Properly

MWF provides you with a wide variety of families and

sizes. If the specific size you need is not in the list,
simply add it in manually.

To properly create new family size that is not in the

given list of sizes you must first locate the family’s .txt
file. In this instance we will be creating a new BIMSF-
SSMA-T.

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Open the corresponding .txt file and notice the comma separated code along the top and
the list of available framing members.

Insert the desired measurements of the track and name it according to the order in which
MWF reads the txt file.

bf##length##inches: flange length

d##length##inches: web depth

tf##length##inches: material thickness.

For instance, if you have a track that is 6 ½” deep with a 2 ½” flange and a thickness of
3/64”, you can assign the code name: 650T250-43.

Next, at the bottom of the txt file insert:

650T250-43,2.5,6.5,0.045,1.25,0.04526

Save the txt file and upon reloading that family, your new track size will be available.

2. Creating a Rafter System

Select a Revit roof that contains one structural layer in the project. Under MWF Truss
Rafter menu select the Create command:

The window below will appear. When creating a roof system, you can have only nodes,
boundary lines and representative arrows and labels created first, or have the rafter
objects also created by checking the box ‘’Frame it Now’’.

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Once you hit Create, another window will appear. To select the Rafters Alignment, choose
to each layer of the Revit roof object the rafters should align to.

After choosing the rafter’s alignment, the ‘Bird’s

Mouth’ window will appear.

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Within this window you can Add or Remove supports for a birdsmouth cut. You can also
add horizontal and vertical offsets from the rafters’ support.

Select the elements (structural walls or structural beams) that will act as supports for the
rafter system and once done, click Finish in Revit.

3. Rafter System Templates

Rafter templates will contain all properties of a Rafter Panel. Templates can be saved so
their properties can be reused in other roof instances in the project.

3.1 Creating a New Rafter Template

To create a new template, after creating at

least one roof panel and modifying the
desired properties of the rafter’s panel, go
to the Properties tab and click Template.

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The Template Manager dialog box will open. Click on Save As, give the new template a
name and click OK to save it. A new template will be created.

3.2 Modifying a Rafter System Template

To modify a template, first change the properties of the roof system to what would be the
final set of properties to be saved in the template. Then, open the Properties of the rafter
system and click Template.

Select the template to be modified

and click Update. The template will
be updated considering the new
settings of the rafter system.

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4. Panel Properties
After creating the rafter system, you can access their properties by selecting any member
of the system, the roof or the panel labels and clicking Properties in the Truss Rafters
Menu.

In the Rafter System properties there are two types of properties: system properties and
panel properties. The System Properties tab contains commands that controls properties
related to the entire system of rafter panels. The Panels’ Properties tab will have
commands related to only that rafter panel selected.

4.1 Rafter System Properties

The System Properties tab contain the following tools: Fascia Board, Valley Plate, Ridge
Rafters and Bird’s mouth.

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4.1.1 Fascia Board

You can add a fascia board by

double clicking on Fascia Board in
the Rafter System menu and
checking the box Place Fascia
Board. Select the desired member
family and type for the fascia.

You are also able to choose the

configuration as Ridge Board or
Adjusted Beam.

4.1.2 Valley Plate

Add a valley plate by double clicking on Valley Plate, checking the box ‘’Place Valley
Plate’’ and then choose the desired member family and type.

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4.1.3 Ridge Rafter

Add a ridge rafter by double-

clicking on Ridge Rafter.
Check the boxes Place
Ridge Rafters, Place Hip
Rafters and/or Place Valley
Rafters to add those
members.

Switch between the members

tabs to control each member’s
properties individually.

4.1.4 Bird’s Mouth

A birdsmouth cut can be added to the rafters if a support element is existent in the project.
You should have a structural beam element (i.e. top track of wall panels already
generated) or a structural wall to use as the support for the rafters.

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Once the Bird’s Mouth window pops up, the tool will visually isolate structural walls or
structural beams, so you can pick as supports for the rafters.

You can also add horizontal and/or vertical offset values from the supports.

4.2 Rafters Panels’ Properties

Within the panel’s Properties tab, you can set different values for a single panel or just
check the box Apply changes to All Panels.

4.2.1 Placing Ledger Boards

From the Panel’s Properties tab,

double-click on Ledger to open the
Ledger Setting box.

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To activate the creation

of ledger boards, check
the box Place Ledger.
The ledger member’s
family, type and quantity
can be selected.

4.2.2 Rafter Settings

Within panel Properties, double click

on Rafter. When a window appears,
specify the spacing and Min. Length
of the rafters and member
configuration.

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5. Regenerating a Panel
Any changes on the Properties tab can applied to the rafter system by clicking
Regenerate. All panels within the same roof system will be regenerated.

6. Deleting a Panel
The rafter system can be deleted by hitting Delete in the Truss Rafters menu. All elements
(rafters, markers and boundary lines) will be deleted.

7. Template Manager
In the Template Manager window, Import or Export the desired template. Users can also
rename and delete any obsolete templates.

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8. Opening Type Manager

If you have any openings on the roof or dormer, you can apply Opening Types from the
lists shown within Opening Type Manager. Each type can be modified as well.

The Default templates are:

Default (Dormer Opening)

Default (Joist Supported)
Default (Rim Supported)

Headers, Trimmers and Support Joists can have their family and type modified.

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9. Tools
Within the Tools tab users can Regenerate, Align or Merge rafter systems.

9.1 Regenerate

A single panel can be regenerated to its original configuration by using the command
Regenerate Panel from the Tools menu.

9.2 Align

Rafters from linear connecting sides of a roof can be aligned by using

“Align Rafters” on the Tools tab.

9.3 Merge

Rafters within two adjacent roof systems can be merged together to

create one single panel. Select a member of a panel, then click
Merge Rafter Systems in the Tools menu. Select the adjacent panel
to merge into the original one.

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10. Edits
From the Edits menu one can Add or Delete individual members of a panel, cut members
or change opening types.

10.1 Cut by Reference Plane

Rafters can be cut by reference plane in a project.

Select the rafter(s) to be cut, and in the Edits menu select Edit Cut By
Reference Plane. In the Rafter Edits box, click Add Ref. Plane and
select the reference plane that will be used to cut the rafters. Click Ok.

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10.2 Cut by Void

Rafters can be cut by a void element existent in the project. Select the member to be cut
and click Edits – Cut by Void. Then, select the void and the member will be cut.

10.3 Override generated

A member can have its configuration overridden by using the

command Edits – Override Generated. You can change the
quantity of plies, family or type of the element.
Select the member to be changed and click the command in the
Edits menu. Once the Override Generated box appears, make
the changes that you want and click OK to see the results.
This change will remain after any regeneration of the panel.

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10.4 Add Member

You can add a common Structural Framing element to a Rafter System in the project. Select any
member that is already part of the rafter system and click Edits – Add Member. You will be
prompted to select the member to be added to the panel.

Once you select the member to be added, the box Add Member
will show up. Select the tag configuration that should be applied to
the member.

The new member will receive the proper MWF parameters that
makes it part of the rafter system. The regeneration process will
now see the new member as part of the panel and it will not delete
the member.

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10.5 Delete Member

To delete any member of a rafter system, select the element and use the
command Edits – Delete Member. The regeneration process will not
bring a deleted member back.

10.6 Change Opening Type

To change an opening type configuration, select the opening marker and then select
Change Opening Type from the Edits menu.

In the Edits menu choose “Change

Opening Type’’.

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In the Opening Type Manager, select the desired default opening condition and click Select. You
can also rename, import and export any created conditions. You can make an opening type as
an “Instance” type. The modifications done to an instance type will not be propagated to other
openings.

Joist Supported Opening

Rim Supported Opening

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