Is there a simple way to 3D rotate of family instance?

[maciej.szymanowski]

I have a generic model family of elements from which I would like to assemble a more complex structure. The instances are in different angles. When I try to rotate on a axis other than Z, I get the message "Can't rotate element into this position."
I searched for several ways to do this like setting to work planes (Way to 3D rotate ), but I wanted to ask if there really isn't a simpler way to rotate elements in the drawing any way you like?

Litterally I mean the equivalent of the 3D Rotate function from Autocad.

[djthompson]

When I get Families from manufacturers I insert them into a Generic Model Adaptive.RFA to accomplish that.

[ToanDN]

Edit the family, tick workplane, untick always vertical, load it in project, place on a reference plane, it can rotate on that plane, and that plane can also be rotated.

[martijn_pater]

Well perhaps you could add an angled refplane in the family with rotation dimension. Maybe with nested families you could also create some sort of 3D rotate by linking these parameters for xyz, just a thought... never had the request before tbh...

[barthbradley]

What you are describing is achieved by nesting a family three-deep.

A) Family1 is the fully model component.  "Work Plane-Based" is checked and "Always Vertical" is unchecked in Family1. 

B) Family1 is nested into Family2 and is hosted to a Ref. Line that rotates in the z direction which is controlled via a Labeled Dimension/Parameter.  "Work Plane-Based" is checked and "Always Vertical" is unchecked in Family2.

C) Family2 is nested into Family3 and is hosted to a Ref. Line that rotates in the x and y direction which is controlled via a Labeled Dimension/Parameter.  Additionally,  the z parameter of Family2 is associated to a z parameter in Family3. 

D) "Work Plane-Based" is checked and "Always Vertical" is unchecked in Family3.   Now, Family3 can be hosted to any Work Plane/Face and be rotated about its axis via the x, y, z  parameters.   

[barthbradley]

Oh! You want the "simple" way! 

Ditto what @ToanDN said.  

he, he.  

[FAIR59]

Two other options:

1. Edit Family,  Change Familycategory to Mechanical Equipment ( Work-Plane Based not checked, Always vertical checked ), reload

2. Edit Family, make family Shared ( Work-Plane Based not checked, Always vertical checked ), load into a new Mechanical Equipment family, place GM family and load into project.

[martijn_pater]

That was the idea pretty much. With regards to this 'simple solution' with three-deep nested family (nope^^). Was trying that earlier, but it seems you also have to prevent 90 degree angles, because it will break otherwise, and also you would somehow have to control origin of rotation. So no, definately not an easy way to make that I suppose. Although if you get it working, it might be simple to rotate afterwards though… ^^

[ToanDN]

Now I want to change everything to Mechanical Equipment category.

[barthbradley]

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@martijn_pater wrote:

That was the idea pretty much. With regards to this 'simple solution' with three-deep nested family (nope^^). Was trying that earlier, but it seems you also have to prevent 90 degree angles, because it will break otherwise, and also you would somehow have to control origin of rotation. So no, definately not an easy way to make that I suppose. Although if you get it working, it might be simple to rotate afterwards though… ^^

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A lot of families, including out OOTB ones, can be flexed to a breaking point.  If you know the breaking point, then you can definitely build the family so it won't break. Regarding controlling the origin, one way to do this is by driving the "origin" Ref. Planes with labeled dimensions.  But, whether or not meeting these two criteria is "simple" is hard to say. "Simple" is relative.  

BTW: we have in our library many families that are constructed the way I described. Many of them we use in Pattern-Based Curtain Panels.