Add two duct connectors to a parametric Air Terminal

[-Navisworker-]

It's killing me trying to figure this out. I'm trying to have two duct connectors attached to a single object. Everytime I think I have it, I test it and it fails. Been playing the revit game since 2006 but this stumps me. The file is attached via dropbox if anyone feels generous.

Click here to download the family

Here is the default. a 3' long Air terminal.

Now I change the type to 4'

Thanks

[dbutts7]

Use a revolve instead of a round extrusion to make the outlets. That way, you can lock the center plane of the outlet to the reference planes.

Basically, you're drawing the radius of the outlet as a box, with the axis line as the centerline of the outlet.

Let me know if this helps. We also assign these to the duct accessories category, since it's more of a plenum than an air terminal. Keep the part type as Normal.

thanks - db

[dbutts7]

I add the solid, even if it's inside the terminal as a void, to give me a surface that can be anchored to the reference plane. Consider it a collar, that you have to connect the duct to - havin gthe surface is what makes this work. Add a parameter to control the depth if needed.

[Judy_S · Accepted solution]

Hi, Navisworker!

Welcome to the Autodesk Community! I'm Judy and I'll be happy to help you with this question. I downloaded your family and saw that when I changed the size to 4 feet the connectors aren't where you want them to be (I'm assuming you want them where the ref planes are when it's a 3 foot long family).

You don't actually need ref planes perpendicular to the connector to control their location. The secret is to place the connectors on a reference plane that is parallel to the face of the family where you want the connectors to live. Here are the steps:

1. in plan view, I created a new ref plane for this purpose and called it Connectors (or as you like; it needs to be named so that you can place the connectors on it). VERY IMPORTANT: the drawing direction of ref planes determines which way the connectors will face. Always draw your MEP ref planes in a clockwise direction. (The one at the top of the screen is drawn from left to right, the right one is drawn from top to bottom, the bottom one from RIGHT to LEFT, and the left one from BOTTOM to TOP. )

Since the connectors will be on the front of the family (which is at the bottom in plan view) I drew the new ref plane from RIGHT to LEFT.

2. Now I click Create > Duct connector, and click Work Plane for placement. Then choose the Connectors ref plane from the list.

3. The connector attaches and is oriented correctly, with the arrow facing away from the terminal body. Make it round and add whatever other changes you want to the connector.

4. Use the arrow keys to move the connector away from the center line.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 to create a second connector. 

6. Now you can dimensions from the connectors to the centerline: Select the connector and click the temporary dimension to the centerline to make it a permanent dimension. (If the temporary dimension goes to some other ref plane, move the object so that that other ref plane is off the screen, so Revit will have to give you a dimension to the center ref plane.)

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy!

Best,

Judy_S

[martinTstewart_Adsk]

P.S. See Judy’s amazing presentations on Revit family creation in our recorded webinar series:

       Build Your AEC Collection IQ

[p.bauduin]

do you know how to export Plant 3D to BIM? Is it possible? Do you know if I can export it in revit too? with NWCOUT command.

may you help me?

[-Navisworker-]

I don't know how to do this but I have a good guess you can consider.

If you can get your files to Inventor, I believe there is an export to Revit that crates an RFA file of the components you are initially trying to export. Hope that info is correct and is useful to you. 

[dbutts7]

Exports between Plant 3D and Revit are usually handled using an IFC file format. Both programs have an IFC Export tool on the application menus, but there are some limitations:

Parts exported to Revit from Plant 3D (and vice versa) are imported as 3D solids, and have no intelligence.

You cannot use Revit tools, such as the piping tools, to make changes to items that are imported from IFC (such as changing pipe sizes);

You can make minor changes using basic modify commands such as move and copy.

If you want to just export to DWG, you can also use this method:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles...

However, IFC will assign the solids to the correct category (such as pipe to pipe, and fittings to fittings).

Jason Drew did a great presentation on Plant 3D and Revit compatibility - you find his class here:

http://au.autodesk.com/au-online/classes-on-demand/class-catalog/2016/revit/pt21758#chapter=0

Hope this helps - thanks! 

David B.

[meca.ahmed]

Revit MEP family (Slot Linear Diffuser)

how to add number of duct connectors parameter

[shadabhasan46]

Revit MEP family (Slot Linear Diffuser)
how to add number of duct connectors parameter

[zahirbaba22]

How to Split the Total Air flow between the two connectors?

[iainsavage]

Create a flow parameter, call it something like AirflowPerConnection.

Use formula to divide total flow by number of connectors.

Assign parameter to each connector.