Rotating Light fixture

[SamuelAB]

I am trying to create a light fixture with a head that can rotate in two axes so that the light can aim up or down and left or right.

I have been unable to create a light fixture that can rotate up and down as shown in the Revit help files(http://wikihelp.autodesk.com/Revit/enu/2012/Help/Revit_User%27s_Guide/1394-Document1394/1975-Renderin1975/1978-Lights1978/1987-Creating1987/1989-Creating1989/1991-Creating1991).


Here is a resume of my two attempts at creating this and the reasons why they failed:

Embedded family solution: The embedded family will not rotate vertically even as a face based fixture hosted on a line reference. If you rotate the line reference in the horizontal axis, the hosted embedded fixture ignores the rotation and does not follow.

Unique family solution: The light source will not move even if it is locked to a reference line, it evokes an error.

If you have done this successfully in the past, please let me know.

[Ning Zhou]

it should work if you host on ref line, but not sure about lighting source, besides, connector cannot be nested.

[SamuelAB]

it should work if you host on ref line, but not sure about lighting source, besides, connector cannot be nested.

Unfortunately, it does not work. Have a look at this family if you have any time to spare.

[Ning Zhou]

i just opened your model and took a peek, noticed that i cannot rotate ref. line manually, what i guess is because your nested guy is face based, maybe you should use non-hosted but workplane based for that nested guy, that's what i did for my all-purpose exit light/sign family whether it's hosted on wall or ceiling or ...

[SamuelAB]

mmm, you can place face based objects on workplaces and that's what I did here.

Since face based fixtures have the ability to host of faces or any workplane, I do not think it will make a difference to restrict my family to a generic type that can only host to work planes.

[Ning Zhou]

i twisted your RFA a bit (see attached), seems working except lighting source, i guess it's because your nested family is face based so lighting source will always orient to host face, but i managed to make it work by using non-hosted family, hope it helps.

[SamuelAB]

mmmm, this seems to work the way I want it. Thanks so much!

I think the main mistake I did was to model the reference line in plan view. When I went to rotate it in elevation, I had to disjoin it which made the attached elements disjoin.

I redrew my ref. line in elevation and attached my face based fixture to it by Work Plane. When I rotate the fixture, it works!

I'll upload the fixture when it is fixed for future reference.

[SamuelAB]

Here's the functional light fixture.

Please not that the fixture has to be locked after it's been place on the linear reference or else it moves around when rotating through a parameter.

Let me know if you have any questions.

PS-I'm pretty sure the IES file renders in rainbows (pseudo colors) so you may want to change it. This is related to IES absolute photometry and the faulty way that 3ds and Revit read absolute photometry. This issue is set to be fixed in Update Release 1 (unknown release date) of Revit 2013 (set to be released around April 2012).

[Ning Zhou]

nice work! so doesn't matter whether nested guy is face based or not, interesting.

[SamuelAB]

Correct, Face based families can host onto planes as well. I do everything as face based since it gives me that extra flexibility, whereas you can't place a generic family on any surface unless you make a plane.

[robert.glover740309]

First and foremost, THANK YOU! Thank you for ensuring that your issue was resolved and providing the resolved file. I believe this is the exact same issue a user of mine has asked about. I sent him your file for review and will need to change out the IES file and physical representation of the fixture, but the concept is spot on. Thank you.

I tried doing the same thing in Revit 2017, and for some reason every time I try to align and lock the nested family to my reference line it fails to rotate. I ensured that keep vertical was off. The workplane based option is also off, but as you said it shouldn't matter.

Sincerely,
Robert Glover


Here's the functional light fixture.

Please not that the fixture has to be locked after it's been place on the linear reference or else it moves around when rotating through a parameter.

Let me know if you have any questions.

PS-I'm pretty sure the IES file renders in rainbows (pseudo colors) so you may want to change it. This is related to IES absolute photometry and the faulty way that 3ds and Revit read absolute photometry. This issue is set to be fixed in Update Release 1 (unknown release date) of Revit 2013 (set to be released around April 2012).

[david_peterson]

So it sounds like the issue here is getting an object to rotate with an angular parameter. By nature Angular Dimensions break all the time.
I trick I pick up at an AU class taught by MARCELLO SGAMBELLURI uses a Revolve to control the angle. The revolve doesn't require a dimension object and doesn't care if it get flipped.
Here's a quick Demo Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6Wrro1QP4
Also look for his Families in Motion Video. They're great.