Dimensional Rotation Family Problems

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am trying to rotate a light arm in my family, however, because I want to have it rotate anywhere outside the parallel plane it is on, I keep having an dimensional error message.  I have a length paramter set for an upper arm, and the same length parameter set for the distance to the vertical light arm. But I cannot rotate the vertical light arm without issue. I have attached a model below. 

Thanks.

[Sahay_R]

Try this - 

1. create two reference planes in a new family, intersecting at the desired location of the center of rotation

2. create a reference line. Align and lock one end of the line to the intersection of the reference planes. When you drag one end of the reference line, you will see it rotates around the fixed point

3. rotate the reference line to an angle. Place an angle dimension. Give it a Rotation parameter. Test.

4. load the light arm family. Place it in the desired position

5. select the light arm instance. 

6. Create>>Set (Workplane)

Now when you change values of the Rotation parameter that was created, you will see the nested family rotate.

6. select the reference line.

[barthbradley]

Sounds like you are working with a nested family.  Why not associate the nested family's "offset" instance property parameter with the parent's length parameter?   

Post your family and I'll show you what I mean.  

[Anonymous]

Thank you, I wasnt aware of an offset parameter, however i couldn't post my
rfa. file for some reason, I will try again tomorrow

[Anonymous]

Here is the model

[barthbradley]

You need to ZIP the file first, then attach it.    

[Anonymous]

I wasnt aware that was a thing, I'll try it thanks.

[Anonymous]

Here is the family, the main problem is that I cannot rotate the light when I make the distance parameter match the length parameter of the arm, they are nested face based families.

[barthbradley]

Change "VST length" to an Instance Parameter, reload and associate that parameter to a parameter in the Host family.  

[barthbradley]

...hold the phone! I don't think I am reading you right. You want to rotate the nested family in the host?  

[Anonymous]

okay, I'm not sure how to associate the instance parameter to a different parameter inside the host family, tried just making a dimension and parameter but there was an error

[Anonymous]

yes, I want to rotate the nested family in the host family, and make sure the nested family has the same " offset from the center point as the host arm. so that when I change the arm length, the light will move with it, and also rotate the light freely.....and change the VST length.

[barthbradley]

I think I understand what you are after.  But you've got another issue here.  A circular nest.  Let me see what I can come up with.  Back in awhile...

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I can accomplish what I want if i put the two families into a project together, but I gotta send this thing out to people eventually so I cant exactly save a project as a family.

[Anonymous]

I figured it out!  So the main reason the light wouldn't rotate is because the dimension was going to a parallel line, and apparently i cant rotate that without breaking the dimension, but, If I turn on the center point of the circle extrusion that makes up the VST, I can rotate from that.  And If i measure from the same ref. line to literally anywhere on the VST itself and say that distance parameter is equal to ( arm length - "X"), lets say the outside of the vst. then both families can move together and I can rotate from the center of the VST without breaking the dimension! JEEEEEZ

[barthbradley]

I think this is what you are after. Note 3 parameters including angle of rotation.  I didn't test thoroughly, so if you break it, you own it.  

[barthbradley]

Some feedback would be nice.  

[Anonymous]

Cant open it, but I figured out my issue, based on what you said earlier

[barthbradley]

Arrgh! All that work for nothing!  ☹️

[barthbradley]

BTW, did you resolve the circular nesting?