Rotate Generic Model by Parameter and keep length parameter correct

[Anonymous]

Hey,

I'm trying out Revit for a few weeks now and i'm working on a simple generic model in the family editor. Basically just one simple Sweep, but my problems are the constraints. Rather i don't know how to set up the proper ref planes and constrains for how i want the model to behave.

First of all, i added a length parameter, as i want it to come in several types with different lengths. Thats no problem at all, BUT as i also need the model to rotate in two axis. If i do so per reference line, the length changes. Thats because my reference plane, defining the length won't rotate with the modell, but the models ends stay attachend to it. That's also the reason why i can just rotate it by 89.99° maximum, which is also a Problem.

Is there any possibility to make my ref plane rotate with my modell, or is it a completely wrong attempt at all?

Or isn't it even possible and i have to make a second Family for vertical ones?

Thanks in advance

Kind Regards

Sven

[Alfredo_Medina]

Yes, it is possible to rotate and change the length. It helps if the object is nested into another family. The length will be controlled by a length parameter in the nested family, that is associated to a length parameter in the host. And the rotation will be controlled by hosting the nested element on a reference line in the host family. 

[Anonymous]

That's some good news. Is there a Step-by-step tutorial, or some source where i can read an instruction how to do it all right?

I guess i already got the part with the reference line for the rotation from your video, but i don't know how to do the first part right yet.

[Anonymous]

So i was successful with the rotation paramerters, but it seems, that the rotation parameters won't stick to the movement of my Model. E.g. it moves differnently when horizontally oriented. is there any way i can fix this, or do i have to deal with it?

[chrisplyler]

You could build the whole thing on a single adaptive point.

You pick one of the point's workplanes to be your active workplane, then create your dimensions/parameters on that workplane only. Then the adaptive point itself can have a rotation parameter for each plane.

In this way, nothing about the model changes when you rotate, because you're rotating the point that the model is hosted on.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, that sounds pretty simple, which Family template do i have to use then?

Right now i'm only working in the Generic Model Template.

And do i have to create a nested family with it as well to controll the length independently to the rotation, or can i constrain it all in that one family, as the whole model rotates (so should my ref plane/ dimension for the Length, shouldn't it?)

[Alfredo_Medina · Accepted solution]

If you're doing a generic family, something such as furniture, casework, specialty equipment, maybe you should keep it simple and generic. I wouldn't change the template just because of a rotation.

As I said in my previous post: you need two families, generic in this case. Family 1 is the object that you want to rotate. This family 1 contains a parameter that control a length, such as "Length" by instance. This Family 1 is set to "work-plane based" = yes.

In Family 2 you need another length parameter, this one can be instance or type. Let's call it "Length", too. In this Family 2 you create a reference line controlled by an angular parameter, as you saw in that video. That is all you need to control the rotation.

Then, nest Family 1 into Family 2. Select Family 2 and use "Edit work plane", select the workplane of the reference line. Then place Family 2 at the desired location along that line.

Click on  Family 2 and, from the instance properties, associate the nested "Length" parameter to the local "Length" parameter. That is all you need to control the length.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much for the Step-by-Step manal. I really appreciate it. I got it all right now!

I just noticed, that if i want to rotate the model on more than one axis, the model rotates within the ref planes, so the axis on which it rotates is not going to rotate with the model. it's not a problem or something, i just noticed.