Rotating a nested family which hosts a pipe connector

[bobinlmd1]

I have been searching for a solution to rotate a nested family through x axis. I am having zero joy achieving this and have received so many error messages stating the object cannot be rotated to that position.

The outlet needs to host a pipe connector, and because autodesk seemingly likes to make things more difficult by removing visibility controls for connectors I am ready to throw my PC through the window.

I am now aware Sweeps don't work, I have generic models, non & work plane hosted and I just can't get it to work.

Please help, and don't try to show off. I want the simplest way to do it, and that includes creating 3 types (left hand, right hand & vertical) which control the angle value.

[L.Maas]

Have a look at attached family. This is one way of doing it.

The pipe can have differetn length and heid, different radia, different bends and segment and you can set the the angle (e.g. -90, 0 , 45)

The rotating pipe is a nested family. Inside that pipe family with rotation I have created a non-rotating family of the pipe itself. There I can control radius, length, height, bend and segments (and more if needed).

I selected "workplane based" and deselected "always vertical". Loaded this non-rotating pipe in the host family.

There I created a reference line. This reference line is used to create the rotation. I place the nested family and then edit the workplane and select the reference line as new host. Now it will rotate with the reference line. Then add some constraints to prevent things from moving around. Passing through relevant parameters and adding a rotation parameter to the reference line. This family I can now add to the "equipment" family and position it on the right spot. Again passing through relevant parameters that I want to control. Also placing a connector on the pipe.

It is indeed not as straightforward as you might expect. But once you get the hang of it, it is relative easy to do.

Because it is is a nested family you also can easily reuse it on more places and in more families.

You can study the attached family to see how it can be done.

[bobinlmd1]

Thanks Louis.

I managed to sort this out myself by sheer determination!!!!

The next part of the question on this is as follows:

The outlet has 3 fixed positions: Left, Right, Up

I created 3 family types with the appropriate parameter values for the angle which has worked brilliantly. However, I would prefer it, certainly for creating schedules, that it was a single family with just 1 type, and the angle was controlled by Checkboxes(it is a pump that can have the outlet direction determined by the installer). From reading through forums, I am only getting IF statements for 2 checkboxes. What I am trying to achieve is: IF(BOX A, YES), THEN((BOX B, NO)(BOX C, NO)) etc. This will then drive the Angle parameter (IF (BOX A, YES, 90)(BOX B, YES, 180)(BOX C, YES, 270).

I am unsure how to write it and how to push the statement into the angle value.

[L.Maas]

Do it something like this

Please note that the options are here Instance Paremeters so can be chosen by the user.

As the options are instance, then the angle also needs to be an instance parameter.

It is not possible to uncheck the two other checkboxes when one is chosen. This would require a formula but also means it can not be chosen by the user anymore. That is why when you have many options you often make types to prevent user errors.

If statements are evaluated from left to right, this means if multiple checkboxes have been selected, the first evaluated value will be taken and the remainng ignored, like this....

So it means little bit of instruction to your users or adding screentip or comment to clarify purpose. If you do not want to bother your users you could still consider 3 different types.

(Note: I usually do not use "-" or spaces in my Parameter names as this might be confusing during family construction and might cause issues with formulas, I normally use camelcase or underscores)

[bobinlmd1]

I managed to resolve the check boxes AND managed to write the statement for angle values based on the Check Box results.

Thanks for your help

[fabiosato]

Hello,

Another option is to use the parameter tooltips