New RMEP User, need assistance with pipes & new items

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. My company recently purchased the Building Design Suite Premium so we have all 3 Revit's in a "box." I'm focusing mostly on the MEP side of things. Anywho, the background that I have is a 4-day training class for RMEP that was pretty much just the intro into the software and taught how to do layout, run piping and fittings, change some things here and there, set up sheets, etc. Now that I'm into the software back at the office, there are some things that I'm unsure of how to do.

First of all, when I took the class, they already had copper sweat fittings and pipe loaded into the software. I've got 2013 and though there is Copper Type L, M, K pipes in there, the fittings don't exist. They aren't availabe on Seek either, just the press-fit connections. I've downloaded the press-fits and managed to get them to work in here, but what's weird is the copper Type L pipe doesn't seem to match up to the size of the fittings, nor does it share the same copper color that the fittings have. If I do a 1" run, the pipe is bigger in diameter than that of the fittings, and it looks gray as if it were just the generic or steel pipe. I'm not sure where the look-up table exists for these pipes and how to make proper changes.

The second issue is I'm in need of making strut (uni-strut, 1-5/8" x 1-5/8") for building rack systems. Here is the link to a .pdf of the size we are using: http://www.powerstrut.com/ps200pdf/ps200.pdf . I'm clueless as to how to actually give this profile some intelligence and be able to draw it in lengths as if it were a piece of channel or angle like what the software comes with. I drew the profile in CAD and thought maybe importing the sketch would work best, but again, I never had schooling on this part.

If anyone has answers to these questions, links to other threads, or YouTube videos for any of this, it'd be appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OTB lookup table location:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 2013\Lookup Tables

Revit ini location (look here to make sure the lookup table location is correct):

C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 2013

This will most likely fix your pipe fitting size problem.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

OTB lookup table location:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 2013\Lookup Tables

Revit ini location (look here to make sure the lookup table location is correct):

C:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit 2013

This will most likely fix your pipe fitting size problem.

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I know where the look up tables are located in the directory, but I'm there right now and don't see the Excel file for pipe. I see a bunch of Pipe Glued Vent Tee, Pipe Long Bend, Pipe this that and the other. No Pipe - Copper Type L or whatever it should be.

And what are you getting at with the Revit ini location? I went to that directory and there's 2 folders and some random files. Am I to direct to these file paths somewhere in the software? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Open the Revit.ini text file, find the lookup table line and make sure its path matches where your lookup tables are located.  Typically when people have problems with pipe fittings not matching the pipe size, this is the issue.

[Anonymous]

Also, lookup tables have nothing to do with pipes.  They are what defines the dimensional data for pipe fittings.  Pipes are defined within Revit under Mechanical Settings.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Open the Revit.ini text file, find the lookup table line and make sure its path matches where your lookup tables are located.  Typically when people have problems with pipe fittings not matching the pipe size, this is the issue.

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Just looked. It matches up fine. Still doesn't help that I don't have any copper sweat fittings installed. Was hoping someone knew of a library thats available to use.

And I went into the Mechanical Settings and compared the dimensions on the tables of say, Type L Copper, with tables on a google search and they match up. I attached a screenshot of what I'm talking about though. Not only is the copper pipe not "copper" in color to match the fittings, it's over sized. These are 1" fittings and pipe. What gives?

[RandMan]

You have a lot to learn.  (if I were you) I would expect the person that sold you the software to answer every one of your questions.  If you want to use anything other than what is in the box, somebody's going to have to do some programming.  The "standard" pipe-type uses the "generic" fittings.  They look like sweat fittings so I would start with that. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

You have a lot to learn.  (if I were you) I would expect the person that sold you the software to answer every one of your questions.  If you want to use anything other than what is in the box, somebody's going to have to do some programming.  The "standard" pipe-type uses the "generic" fittings.  They look like sweat fittings so I would start with that. 

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Are you referring to the attached picture? Those are actually the Nibco Press fittings available on Seek.

[RandMan]

No, I'm not referring to the picture.  Before you downloaded any fittings, the standard pipe-type defaulted to generic fittings.  That may have been good enough for a start.  You have new fittings, but you don't have a new pipe-type with a matching profile (inside and outside diameter).  You were able to assign a "Copper" and "Type L" parameter to the pipe, but that didn't really do anything to the dimensions (let alone the coloer). 

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I think I figured out (partly) what the problem is with the press fittings appearing smaller than the pipe sizes. It's not the pipe. It's the fittings that are the problem. The 1/2" press fittings are the only ones that appear to be sized properly for the 1/2" pipe, which appears to be inserted into the fitting. The problem is that any size above 1/2" shows a 1/2" fitting and then the correct size pipe. The fitting never changes it's size to match. The look-up table for the Nibco press 90 and all the dimensional data appears to increase with pipe size so why are these fittings not adjusting within Revit?

[abulla]

That's probably the lookup table problem with the revit.ini file that jseck mentioned earlier. Open up the revit.ini file located at:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\Revit\Autodesk Revit MEP 2013

and look for the line LookupTableLocation=

Make sure your lookup tables are located at whatever location this line is pointing to.

[Anonymous]

Anywho, the background that I have is a 4-day training class

Most likely, that was useless.  I remember a couple day class where the instructor showed us (and strongly recommended us to use) REVIT's ability to autoroute ductwork and piping --- absolute garbage unless you find it entertaining.  Remember your instructor might never have created a single drawing in his/her life and has no real world experience.

there are some things that I'm unsure of how to do.

You should probably change that "some" to "a lot of".

 If I do a 1" run, the pipe is bigger in diameter than that of the fittings, and it looks gray as if it were just the generic or steel pipe. I'm not sure where the look-up table exists for these pipes and how to make proper changes.

There is no lookup table for pipes.  They are in the MEP settings as jseck pointed out.  Gray is the default color in REVIT.  You can color anything any color you want (see my colorful pipes below).

I've got 2013 and though there is Copper Type L, M, K pipes in there, the fittings don't exist.

The second issue is I'm in need of making strut (uni-strut, 1-5/8" x 1-5/8") for building rack systems. Here is the link to a .pdf of the size we are using:http://www.powerstrut.com/ps200pdf/ps200.pdf . I'm clueless as to how to actually give this profile some intelligence and be able to draw it in lengths as if it were a piece of channel or angle like what the software comes with. I drew the profile in CAD and thought maybe importing the sketch would work best  

It's a fairly easy family to create.  You don't need to import a CAD file into your REVIT family to create this (but you could, it would make the file larger).  You go to big purple R on the top left corner ---> new ---> family.  Select a template to start out in --- you can change the category of the family in the family editor.  I would create either a sweep or an extrusion ... the profile would be as shown in the powerstrut catalog and the length should be an instance parameter.  

but again, I never had schooling on this part.  

Neither have I.  I've learned REVIT via projects, trial/error, and simply messing around with REVIT.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

there are some things that I'm unsure of how to do.

You should probably change that "some" to "a lot of".

 If I do a 1" run, the pipe is bigger in diameter than that of the fittings, and it looks gray as if it were just the generic or steel pipe. I'm not sure where the look-up table exists for these pipes and how to make proper changes.

There is no lookup table for pipes.  They are in the MEP settings as jseck pointed out.  Gray is the default color in REVIT.  You can color anything any color you want (see my colorful pipes below).

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I hope you slapped your own knee at that joke. -__- Ofcourse, but "some" just prefaced the items I was having trouble with. I've been using Revit for a couple days, I'm not fooling anyone here.

Where exactly is the color option for pipes? Is it based off the system you draw in? I faintly remember this from class, but couldn't find anything in the properties menu when you select an individual pipe segment.

Thank you btw for the rest of your explanations. I'll see how far along I can get with that.

[RandMan]

I downloaded the Nibco fitting and saved its lookup table in the proper location.  I made a new pipe-type, and edited its routing preferences for the Nibco elbow.  I was only able to draw 2 1/2" and 3" pipe with elbows.  All other sizes failed. 

I drew another pipe-type that uses the generic fittings . . . no problem.  I compared the csv files of the two fittings.  Take a look at this screen-cap, and tell me why the Nibco can only handle two sizes, yet the generic works between .125" and 72".

[abulla]

Whoever made that lookup table from Nibco is responsible. This is a good example of why we as users should be cautious when using manufacturer content. You can add more sizes manually if you want, and that should fix the fittings.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I downloaded the Nibco fitting and saved its lookup table in the proper location.  I made a new pipe-type, and edited its routing preferences for the Nibco elbow.  I was only able to draw 2 1/2" and 3" pipe with elbows.  All other sizes failed. 

I drew another pipe-type that uses the generic fittings . . . no problem.  I compared the csv files of the two fittings.  Take a look at this screen-cap, and tell me why the Nibco can only handle two sizes, yet the generic works between .125" and 72".

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That's strange because I just now figured out my issue and got all the sizes to work properly. I had the look up tables for the press fittings in the library with the .rfa files. I moved all the excel files over to the lookup table folder and restarted Revit. Now they all draw properly sized!!

[RandMan · Accepted solution]

What fittings did you download?  My response pertained to Nibco model # PC607-2-LT.  Just now, I downloaded Nibco model # PC607-LT.  That table included a 4" size. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What fittings did you download?  My response pertained to Nibco model # PC607-2-LT.  Just now, I downloaded Nibco model # PC607-LT.  That table included a 4" size. 

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Oops on "accepting as solution." Hopefully that doesn't destroy the thread haha.

Anywho, I downloaded all of those nibco fittings from seek, and the ones I just tested were the PC607-LT, which are press x press, so a normal press 90. I downloaded the zip files that included the .rfa and type catalog. Everything is there as it should be.

[RandMan]

I had (by chance) downloaded a different fitting (the long-radius elbow) and got a different result.  When I downloaded the PC6-6-2_PC607-2, I got yet another csv file.  That file has a range from 1/2" to 4" (not yet sure why they setup the table with duplicates).  If I were to try to draw an 8" pipe with this elbow, the elbow would appear small. 

[Anonymous]

Where exactly is the color option for pipes? Is it based off the system you draw in? I faintly remember this from class, but couldn't find anything in the properties menu when you select an individual pipe segment.

Colors, line weights... are based on the view, not on the individual families themselves.  You can have different views showing the same pipes differently.  See example below of the same pipes shown in different 3D views.

Here are some common ways to change the appearance of something:

• Visibility/Graphic Overrides ---> Model Tab
• Visibility/Graphic Overrides ---> Filters Tab  
• Object Styles (under the manage tab or through V/G Overrides command button "Object Styles" in Model Tab)
• Right Click Element ---> Override Graphics In View
• Color Scheme (View Properties grouped under "Graphics")
• System Color Scheme (View Properties grouped under "Graphics")