Jitterbug Revit Family

Open Revit and create new family

File → New → Family

Select template

Choose: Metric Generic Model Adaptive.rft

Location: Family Templates → English (or your language) → Conceptual Mass

This template provides Adaptive Points that can be repositioned — essential for kinematic mechanisms.

Set units

Manage → Project Units

• Length: Centimetres (or your preference)
• Precision: 0.01

Use whatever units you normally work in — the geometry is the same.

Open Family Types dialog

Use any of these methods:

• Keyboard: Press F then T (two separate keystrokes)
• Ribbon (2020+): Modify tab → Properties panel → Family Types
• Ribbon (older): Create tab → Properties panel → Family Types
• Right-click: Right-click canvas → Family Types...

Add EdgeLength parameter

Click Add... under the Parameters section

Click OK, then set default value: 15.24 cm (or 152.4 mm)

Add ScaleFactor parameter

Click Add... again

After creating, add a formula:

Select ScaleFactor row → in the Formula column, enter:
EdgeLength / 1.4142135623731

Go to Floor Plan

Floor Plans → Level 1

Create X-axis reference planes

Create → Reference Plane

• Draw vertical plane at X = +ScaleFactor → Name: Ref_X_Pos
• Draw vertical plane at X = -ScaleFactor → Name: Ref_X_Neg

Dimension from center and label with ScaleFactor parameter.

Create Y-axis reference planes

• Draw horizontal plane at Y = +ScaleFactor → Name: Ref_Y_Pos
• Draw horizontal plane at Y = -ScaleFactor → Name: Ref_Y_Neg

Go to Front Elevation

Elevations → Front

Create Z-axis reference planes

• Draw plane at Z = +ScaleFactor → Name: Ref_Z_Pos
• Draw plane at Z = -ScaleFactor → Name: Ref_Z_Neg

Dimension from Level 1 and label with ScaleFactor.

Go to Level 1 plan view

This is the Z = 0 plane where V0, V1, V2, V3 lie.

Place Adaptive Point for V0

Create → Point Element → Point

Click at intersection of Ref_X_Pos and Ref_Y_Pos

Select point → Properties → Name: V0

Important: Select the point, then in Properties check "Make Adaptive" to convert it to an Adaptive Point.

Place V1, V2, V3

• V1 at Ref_X_Pos ∩ Ref_Y_Neg
• V2 at Ref_X_Neg ∩ Ref_Y_Pos
• V3 at Ref_X_Neg ∩ Ref_Y_Neg

Go to Front Elevation

This shows the Y = 0 plane where V4, V5, V6, V7 lie.

Place V4, V5, V6, V7

• V4 at Ref_X_Pos ∩ Ref_Z_Pos
• V5 at Ref_X_Pos ∩ Ref_Z_Neg
• V6 at Ref_X_Neg ∩ Ref_Z_Pos
• V7 at Ref_X_Neg ∩ Ref_Z_Neg

Go to Right Elevation

This shows the X = 0 plane where V8, V9, V10, V11 lie.

Place V8, V9, V10, V11

• V8 at Ref_Y_Pos ∩ Ref_Z_Pos
• V9 at Ref_Y_Pos ∩ Ref_Z_Neg
• V10 at Ref_Y_Neg ∩ Ref_Z_Pos
• V11 at Ref_Y_Neg ∩ Ref_Z_Neg

Go to 3D View

3D View → {3D}

Create first edge

Create → Model → Model Line

Draw line from V0 to V4 (snap to reference points)

Complete Triangle T0

Draw: V4-V8, then V8-V0

You've completed the first triangular face!

Continue systematically

Work through each triangle using the table above.

Total: 24 unique edges (some edges are shared between triangles and rhombi).

Create triangular surface

Create → Forms → Create Form

Select three points (e.g., V0, V4, V8)

Revit creates a surface through these points.

Create rhombus surface

Create → Forms → Create Form

Select four points in order (e.g., V0, V4, V1, V5)

Open Family Types

Press F then T

Change EdgeLength to 30 cm

Click Apply — model should double in size.

Verify edges now measure 30 cm. Change back when done.

Save the family

File → Save As → Family

Name: Jitterbug_Adaptive.rfa

The "_Adaptive" suffix indicates this family can be driven by Dynamo.

Load into project

Open a Revit project

Insert → Load Family → Select Jitterbug_Adaptive.rfa

Place in model

Architecture → Component → Place a Component

When placing, you'll click 12 times to position each Adaptive Point.

For default VE state, use coordinates from the CSV file.