topic Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter in Revit MEP Forum

Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

jonathan_larson — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 21:37:20 GMT

I'm running into problems when I try to move a pipe connector using an instance parameter. The intent is to be able to control which side of a fan coil the condensation drain is connected to. I've gotten as far as creating an extrusion for the pipe connector with dimensions to flex the position of the extrusion. It works fine in the family editor: change the yes/no parameter and the pipe connector moves. However, once it's in a project, changing the yes/no parameter does not affect the position of the pipe connector. The pipe connector only moves in the project if I define the extrusion with Type parameters. Is this a limitation of MEP connectors, or am I doing something wrong? Attaching the family just in case someone feels like taking a look at it.

@RobDraw, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

RobDraw — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 21:50:56 GMT

Personally, I would do it with type parameters. The last time I looked into this, it was necessary to use two connectors. If you can get the extrusion to flip sides and only use the one connector, that's better than I've seen in the past from others as well.

Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

iainsavage — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 21:55:06 GMT

I'm sure I did this before by adding a rotation angle to the spud which holds the connector so that it can be flipped/mirrored by changing the angle from 0 to 180 degrees. There should be an older post on this topic.

Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

jonathan_larson — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:01:02 GMT

I started by trying to do an angle constraint. But I couldn't figure out how to get the round extrusion for the pipe connector to move with the angle. My background in Solidworks is probably making it more difficult than it should be to wrap my head around the Revit Family Editor. I tried a few google searches to find a solution with the angle thing, but didn't have any luck.

Re: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

RobDraw — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:28:55 GMT

Try hosting the extrusion to a reference plane and applying the angle to the plane.

Re: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

RobDraw — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:32:22 GMT

Does the physical unit have both connections or is it a specified option?

Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

ToanDN — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 22:53:55 GMT

Since your family is symmetrical, can you use a Flip control?

Re: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

jonathan_larson — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:00:08 GMT

On the physical unit, the installer can choose in the field to pipe the drain from the left-back, left-bottom, left-side, right-back, right-bottom or right-side. We usually just represent this on plans with a pipe down elbow on one side or the other.

Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

iainsavage — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 11:17:51 GMT

@jonathan_larson schrieb:
I started by trying to do an angle constraint. But I couldn't figure out how to get the round extrusion for the pipe connector to move with the angle. My background in Solidworks is probably making it more difficult than it should be to wrap my head around the Revit Family Editor. I tried a few google searches to find a solution with the angle thing, but didn't have any luck.

I tried to find my older post but couldn't.

If I recall correctly the "spud" needs to be a nested family and aligned to a reference line.

That solution though was only to give you left/right flipping but now I note that you need more options than that.

One way of doing this is to put multiple connectors in the family at the various positions and use yes/no parameters to control visibility within the project.

Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

iainsavage — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 11:20:08 GMT

Control the visibility of the spuds which host the connectors, the connector visibility will follow suit.

Betreff: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

jonathan_larson — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 20:31:57 GMT

@iainsavage, I appreciate your suggestions. I've tried hosting the connectors both to extrusions in the family and shared families, but the connectors are not turning off with the host geometry in either case. I'm using Revit 2020, does that make a difference?

It looks like I might have to simplify things and just use a flip control instead.

Re: Problems moving pipe connector with instance parameter

RobDraw — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 21:14:31 GMT

@jonathan_larson wrote:
On the physical unit, the installer can choose in the field to pipe the drain from the left-back, left-bottom, left-side, right-back, right-bottom or right-side. We usually just represent this on plans with a pipe down elbow on one side or the other.

Since multiple connection points exist on the unit, I would model it with multiple connectors and not even care about visibility but that's just me. I get that seeing 6 connectors when you're only connecting to one is a bit much. Forward thinking tells me that since they are options, there will probably be a time when they will be used. If that is absolutely not going to happen because your LOD does not include all the fittings at the unit, then limit them to the ones you will use. Adding an extra step for visibility just for changing sides isn't necessary IMVHO. It's just cosmetic. That is unless you need to account for it in a schedule.