Creating a Plenum Object with Variable amount of connectors

[mhillis]

Hello all,

So, in AutoCAD, I have an add-on to MEP that allows me to create a Plenum.  This plenum is rectangular in shape (think a rect duct) with one connector.   The other 5 sides will have taps/connectors on them.

Now, here's the thing.  In my AutoCAD add-on, the user can put as many  Round or Rect connectors as they want, where ever they want on those five sides.

I'm looking for a means to translate this into Revit.  I want to be able to extract information from that plenum as to where I can insert it into a Revit project.

My ideal situation would be to create it on-the-fly within Revit when I am importing those objects, within the API itself. Basically, I'd love to be able to model the user's plenum object programmatically, that in itself would be simple, it's just a box with some shape extruding off of it, however; it's my understanding that I would need to do this within a Family.  The Family would be called something like "Rectangular Plenum", I believe I would run into some issues trying to create a bunch of families that are all different, in dimensions, but have the same name "Rectangular Plenum".

I've also debated on creating a Revit Family that just has 5 connectors of each type on each side, the issue is that you'd end up with a Family that has a relatively insane amount of Parameters to it.

So, does anyone have any suggestions or ideas?  If you need any more calrification of any kind, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Thank you.

[robert.klempau]

Hello @mhillis,

Two thinks:

1. Could you give us an example (picture) from the Plenum in AutoCAD. Or a sketch of the basic principle for your plenum box?
2. Why don't you post this idea at the Revit Ideas section.

[mhillis]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hello @mhillis,

Two thinks:

1. Could you give us an example (picture) from the Plenum in AutoCAD. Or a sketch of the basic principle for your plenum box?
2. Why don't you post this idea at the Revit Ideas section.

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1.) Sure thing.  I have attached a .gif that will show the basic concept.  You'll see that I can take Rect/Round connectors and arrange them however I want on 5 sides of this box (the bottom is open and reserved as a connector).

2.) I'm looking for something that could potentially help me now, as opposed to *maybe* multiple patches from now.

[Secttor]

Based on your attach file : 

Can be created a family with such functionality - 5 connectors that can move in any point of any of your five faces (based on coordinates). The only problem is that you can't switch between round/rect shape of the connector and you can't have only 1 connector visible and the other 4 hidden. All the connectors are visible and their shape remains as was set at the beginning.

I've created a vav-unit with simmilar functionality,probably a bit more. If you need help, please let me know.