topic Re: Flow meter in Revit in Revit MEP Forum

Flow meter in Revit

LjubanL — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 14:25:57 GMT

Hi to all,

I have one question regarding to flow meters in revit.

So I have this type of flow meter in revit :

So this type of flow meter doesn’t cut the pipe and i try with different approach in revit to achieve what I need..

So I try with option:

Attaches To:

But when I try attach this inline instrument:

Instrument always positioned with 90 degrees on pipe…

So is there any approach to solve this (without cut the pipe like valve):

-attached instrument on pipe

-instrument are in proper system (like pipe)

Please find in attachment example of these file...

Ljuban

Re: Flow meter in Revit

fabiosato — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 01:48:53 GMT

Hello,

You have to adjust the family orientation.

Please check the attached family.

Re: Flow meter in Revit

LjubanL — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 09:29:06 GMT

Hi ,

Thank you for advice- it seams that your family have better behavior than mine ...

So I try to put connector like you :

But result isn't good 😞

Ljuban

Re: Flow meter in Revit

fabiosato — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 00:21:36 GMT

Hello,

I tried to edit your family for a while, but it still behaves differently.

But when I change the family type, it typically changes.

You must shift the extrusions since the connector position corresponds to the pipe's external face.

Re: Flow meter in Revit

LjubanL — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:03:51 GMT

Hi,

So this family (Attaches To option) doesn't control just with connector also its important how family look/modeled ?

Because only difference between yours and my is how it look (please correct me if Iam wrong)?

Connector are on same position , but still behavior is different..

I was always think that I can draw anything and connector control behavior of the family (pipe accessories of course).

Ljuban

Re: Flow meter in Revit

fabiosato — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 02:13:02 GMT

Hello,

This part type has a very particular behavior, I have never done something like yours, so I have no idea why the problem happens.

It will demand some testing from you.

Re: Flow meter in Revit

LjubanL — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:06:54 GMT

Ok thank you for help.

I will continue investigate this issue with my type of flow meter. For now I just put flow meter on pipe without connection. Iam sure that @Anonymous has some recommendation how to deal this type of pipe accessories because its standard element in piping industry.

Thanks again.

Ljuban

Re: Flow meter in Revit

HVAC-Novice — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 21:12:35 GMT

What stops you from just making it cut in? You cod make it look similar, just will have the joint. Sounds like you are over-modeling. But this may be what you want. Just saying since sometimes people falling into the trap to model to more detail than actually needed. i assume you will tag it and the schedule will show the model or type. So you don't need to make it look exactly the way it looks to ensure the contractor gives you the correct type.

BTW, did you ever use those? We once had one lent to us by a rep with the intent to buy it for mobile use (to verify flow for commissioning, not permanently). But we couldn't get it to actually work and the rep never clarified if it actually works. For permeant installation we use insertion magnetic-meters. The general idea of that type of snap-on flow meter is if you can't open up the pipe after the fact.

Re: Flow meter in Revit

LjubanL — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:20:20 GMT

Hi Enkus,

Nothing stop me to use this element as regular valve :). But sometimes you need to provide very detail drawing (sometimes we draw gasket between flanges- because preparing skid with lots of valves... ) and extra small cut pipe appear in the schedule list and this pipe is in reality part of another pipe and I need to do work around ... Yes I know that people avoid to prepare detail drawing in revit but I am very skill to do that ...

so sometimes I wonder what @Anonymous thought - how to install this equipment on the pipe... or Autodesk didn't think that this type of equipment existed at all ....

And not just this, sometimes I ask myself am I on the right way maybe I'm preparing this equipments/pipes/ducts accessories on the wrong way...

And another part of message I agree with you - I don't like to use this type for FM especially if I build new pipe installation ( if its existing pipe installation and we cant install classics FM then I understand), they are very sensitive to the method of installation and where they are placed so sometimes can get very weird result.

But I agree with you that sometimes people falling into the trap to model to much details ..On some Autodesk classes/or forum I've heard for the expression: K.I.S.S principle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle)...

and I really like this 🙂

example:

Sometimes if I have very complicated family,

I draw separately every type of family instead to insist to be one parametric family with hundreds of parameters..

And I've seen it a thousand times how people goes to this trap. I received models with so complicated family's that the guy who created this cant understand how it works after some time :).

Ljuban

Re: Flow meter in Revit

HVAC-Novice — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:50:02 GMT

I don't know your contract/bid environment. But if I had to use this meter, I probably would do one of these:

- use a cut-in family. This only needs to approximate the meter and allow for clearances. And based on the model number, contractor has to use manufacturer installation manual

- if you want to duplicate or enhance what the manufacturer manual already says, you could do a 2D detail and refer to that. You can make 2D details very complex easily and without needing a lot of computing resources, like you need for a complex 3D model. I think what really is needed to ensure they get the distance and alignment right and enter the correct pipe material and thickness.

Again, I don't know what region or bid environment you are in. But the above is what I would consider for my projects.

Yepp, KISS should be in the name of the software. Make it as complex as necessary and as simple as possible.

Edit: i try to avoid redundant information. I wouldn't just duplicate the manual unless I really add something special. Because I'm lazy. And if the manufacturer changes the instructions (i.e. different minimum straight pipe or something else) you now have contradicting documents and have to verify they are up to date.