Rotating a family within a family

[matt__w]

I've been working on a security camera family for a project that will allow you to enter the field of view dimensions (width & height) and the distance to the target and everything is working fine. The problem I'm running into is this... the camera needs to be able to point down (or up) towards the target. Right now it points straight ahead. I can rotate it in plan view but in a section it throws a wobbly. I've messed around with a rotation parameter but I keep getting a message that says it can't create the family when it's rotated. The field of view family is simply a blend with a 2" diameter circle on one end and a rectangle on the other end.

A sample project (2010) is attached with the family I'm playing around with. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

Matt

[CADastrophe]

I had to create a similar family, which needed a component to turn and tilt. Without having a lot of time on it, I create a two-level sub-family to control it. If the root, the element was drawn and giving constraints for one axis of rotation. It was then loaded into another family and constrained for the other axis. Finally, the component was loaded into the main family where it was controlled by simple parameters. Maybe this technique could work for you...

[matt__w]

I don't quite follow you... could you post a small example (not your real family - just something I can learn from)?

Thanks!
Matt

[CADastrophe]

Attached is an example of what I am talking about (RMEP 2010). The rotation of the cone is controlled on all three axis through the parameters Angle X, Angle Y, and Angle Z.

Note that the Reference Plane and the Family had to be grouped in the embedded family to allow it to be constrained to the angle parameter.

[matt__w]

Thanks for the file to play around with. Too bad I'm not having any luck getting mine to work. I have a feeling it has something to do with the fact that you're using a revolve and I'm trying to use a blend. I'll keep plugging away at it.

Thanks again!
Matt

[Ning Zhou]

perhaps using ref line(s) instead of ref plane(s)? well, ref line is more suitable for angular / rotating stuff, and it can also host geometry.

[matt__w]

I've got something that sort of works (for now) and this is one of those times where I REALLY wished I was paying attention what I was doing. I think it comes down to the type of family template I was using. I'll post the finished family when it's done.

Thanks for the help all!!

Matt

[malagon03504440]

hi... i am sort of stuck with something similar... could you please describe a little bit more what you did or selected (for the template) to achieve the angle constrain?? tks!!!

[CADastrophe]

What are you trying to accomplish, specifically? The example family I had attached was pretty crude, and intended to display the conceptual idea. If you provide more insight as to your aims, perhaps we can find the best method to accomplish it.

[randy.sallwasser]

Here is tutorial on how to rotate a family around 3 axes

http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Revit/e...Different_Axes