Issues creating angle parameter in family

[Rob_Durham]

Hi,

I tried asking this in the MEP forum but didn't get a reply. It's a family issue anyway so I figured you architects would probably know the answer so I'm re-posting here.

I am trying to create pan & tilt parameters in an existing CCTV camera family.

The wall bracket needs to remain fixed, whilst the camera and stem rotate about a pivot point in both horizontal (pan) and vertical (tilt) planes.

Starting with the pan angle, I have created a 45° reference line from the desired pivot point but I'm stuck at the first hurdle because when I try using the align tool to lock the end point of the reference line to the pivot point, I get the following error message.

The Dimension would overconstrain the Sketch.

There don't appear to be any other dimensions or constraints in the family that would give this error.

Please can someone take a look at the family and see if you can figure out why I'm getting this error? I'm using the Left Elevation view.

[azad.Nanva]

Ok, I explain from end , maybe you can find a easy way to minder work.

you need the EXTRA rotate angle self axis rotate (your base family Camera Head not drawing on the Ref.Level it draws in Front Elevation,So for me was easier to draw it again on Floor Plan)

this new angle fortunately can be too easy calculated.

- Now we start with changing the base family, First one!!

and:

fortunatly it was too easy.

- use this family as the nasted family in another one in Front view :

- use this family in another one, In Front View . this is important and  don't forget to define the self axis rotate in this family,In this family you have two Angle

Tilt and SelfAxis:

- use this family in your CCTV Bullet Camera in TOP view and define the Pan Angle in top view.

and :

[Rob_Durham]

Thank you @azad.Nanva and you're correct, that is complicated 😥

If you have the family in R2025 can you please share it and I'll install R2025 so that I can try and replicate in R2020.

Thanks again

Rob

[azad.Nanva]

This is R25.

[Rob_Durham]

@azad.Nanva

I am struggling with the final step in the parent family. I keep getting constraint errors for the pan angle.

What am I doing wrong?

[azad.Nanva]

You should align the Reference Line start point to the center of drawing :

and if you have problem with z axis, you can use this one :

if(Tilt Angle > 0°, Pan Angle-90, 0°)

[Rob_Durham]

Thanks again @azad.Nanva 

When loaded into a project, it still doesn't work exactly as I'd like. For example if I want the camera to pan 90° (actually 0° as parameter value) and then tilt down by 30° it looks like this

If i change the tilt angle to 1° it does this

So I can't get the camera to be upright at this pan setting but tilted down by 30°

Also the pan rotation seems to change to tilt and vice versa at some angles. It's pretty strange behaviour.

I can live with it for now, I know you've spent a lot of time helping me, of which I am very grateful.

[azad.Nanva · Accepted solution]

You can always adjust all three angles manually.

[Rob_Durham]

Thank you @azad.Nanva for your assistance on this. I have accepted as solution.

[azad.Nanva]

anytime