Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation - Advanced Solutions

Revit MEP 2013:
Content Creation
Student Guide
Revision 1.0
June 2012
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Advanced Solutions, Inc.
Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation
Revision 1.0
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Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation
Table of Contents
Preface
ii
Chapter 1 Family Editor 1-1
1.1 Family Overview 1-2
1.2 Family Editor Environment 1-19
1.3 Family Categories, Parameters and Types
Chapter 2 Revit MEP - Object Family Creation 2-1
2.1 Defining Components from Outside Sources 2-2
Exercise: Defining Components from Outside Sources
2.2 Object Family Creation - Defining a Light Fixture 2-21
Exercise: Creating a Light Fixture Family
2.3 Object Family Creation - Defining a VAV Box 2-41
Exercise: Defining a VAV Box
2.4 Editing Parametric Fittings 2-67
Exercise: Modifying a Duct Elbow
2.5 Adding Clearance Objects and Subcategories 2-71
Exercise: Adding a Subcategory to a Family
2.6 Creating Type Catalogs 2-77
Exercise: Creating a Type Catalog 2-80
Chapter 3 Revit MEP - Annotation Family Creation 3-1
3.1 Creating Custom Tags 3-2
Exercise: Creating a Custom Tags 3-7
Chapter 4 Project Templates and Settings
4.1 Understanding Key Project Template Settings and Procedures 4-2
4.2 Working with Phases 4-9
4.3 Customizing Panel Schedules 4-15
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Preface
This book is intended to be used as a guide during the training class and as a reference to be used after the
course. This book is not a comprehensive reference for all aspects of Revit MEP, it is intended to provide the
user with the more advanced concepts of families, templates and other tools needed to advance a user’s skill
level with the software.
It is imperative that Revit MEP Fundamentals and the corresponding vertical segment (or a fundamental
understanding of Revit MEP is demonstrated) is taken prior to taking this class.
This book is organized by chapters, sub-chapters and exercises. Each chapter has multiple sub-chapters and
many of the sub-chapters have exercises. The datasets for the exercises will be provided to the student prior
to the start of the class. The intent of this book is to be able to cover the material in a single day.
The agenda for Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation offered by Advanced Solutions is listed below:
Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation Agenda
Chapter 1– Family Editor
Family Overview
Family Editor and Environment
Family Categories, Parameters and Types
Chapter 2 – Object Family Creation
Defining Components from Outside
Object Family Creation - Defining a Light Fixture
Object Family Creation - Defining a VAV Box
Editing a Parametric Fittings
Adding Clearances Objects and Subcategories
Creating Type Catalogs
Chapter 3 – Annotation Family Creation
Creating Custom Tags
Chapter 4 – Project Templates and Settings
Understanding Key Project Template Settings and Procedures
Understanding Key Family Template Settings and Procedurres
Working with Phases
Customizing Panel Schedules
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Preface
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Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation
Using this Book and Datasets
Throughout this book pay special attention to the Tip icons. The icons will highlight additional hints or
suggestions pertaining to the topic being covered.
To obtain a copy of the datasets for this book, please contact Advanced Solutions at 1-877-GET-ASI1 or email
TrainingRequest@AdvancedSolutions.com.
The datasets were created in Revit MEP 2013. The files cannot be opened in a previous version of the
software. To obtain a free trial version of Revit MEP please contact your Advanced Solutions’ Sales Associate
or navigate to Autodesk’s website to download a free trial.
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Chapter 1
Family Editor
All versions of Revit include the family editor, which is a separate graphical interface dedicated specifically
to customizing and creating content. As with projects, families are defined by starting from a template. The
program includes several examples of templates that help the user quickly define a part that exhibits the
desired behavior.
In order to gain a full understanding of how families are defined and edited for use in a project, the user
will learn in this first chapter how the Family Editor interface differs from the project interface. This chapter
also includes the steps used to create family types, parameters, reference planes, solid extrusions and 2D
symbology.
This chapter introduces:
Understanding Family Types and Templates with the Family Overview
Navigate the Revit MEP 2013 Family Editor Interface
Understand Family Categories, Parameters and Types
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Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation
1.1 Family Overview
Revit MEP is a parametric modeling program that is driven by elements. An element is a representation of
an object in Revit. There are two categories of elements in Revit – model and annotation. A model element
can range from a wall, door, window, VAV box, light, pump to a diffuser. Elements can also be annotation
components, such as dimensions, text, tags, etc., that help document a model.
A family groups elements with a common set of parameters (properties), identical use, and similar graphical
representation. Different elements in a family may have different values for some or all properties, but the set
of properties - their names and meaning - is the same.
Families are created as three types:
- System Families
- physical components that are simple in shape but can have a large variety of sizes;
- system families are defined within the project environment (typically created and saved within the
template file);
- Duct, pipe, conduit and cable tray are examples of system families.
- Component Families
- more complex components that have few variations in size;
- component families are created within the family editor environment;
- air terminals, pumps and light fixtures are examples of component based families.
- In-Place Families
- specific shapes and dimensions that are stored in a project but can be pasted into other projects;
- in-place families are created within the project environment;
- in-place families are families that are unique to the project.
Families include sub-elements known as parametric types. A parametric type can be a specific size of a
family, for example a diffuser may be available in several sizes i.e. 12” x 12” face with a 6” neck size or a 24” x
24” face with a 8” neck size. Each diffuser size is a different type within the same family.
In the image below, the type selector list displays one air terminal family (Supply Diffuser – Rectangular Face
Round Neck) with multiple types (i.e. 12x12 – 6 Neck, 12x12 – 8 Neck):
Parameters are the properties of the element that add intelligence and real world information about the
family which are referenced in schedules and tags within the project. Model elements can include 2 types of
parameters: type and instance parameters.
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- Instance Parameters
- associated data that is unique to each component;
- an example of an instance parameter is the offset (elevation) of the air terminal. The same air terminal
may be placed 50 times in the project, but may be placed on ceilings of varying heights.
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Family Editor
- Type Parameters
- data that affects all examples and types of an element;
- examples of type parameters are the neck size parameter and model number and manufacturer
information.
Within the project environment the parameters of an element are modified through the Element Properties
dialog box, which is accessed by selecting an item, and then choosing the Element Properties icon on the
ribbon, or by hovering over an element in a view and right-mouse clicking, and then choose the Element
Properties option.
The example below demonstrates the type properties of an element. This area is accessed by selecting
the Edit/New button on the Element Properties dialog or by directly opening the Type Properties tool on the
ribbon:
When the edit type tool is selected, a new dialog will appear. In this case, the type parameters for the supply
diffuser show the specific parameters that apply to all examples of that element, including:
- the connector size;
- the width of the overall component;
- the identity data for the element type, including model, manufacturer, type mark, cost, etc.
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From here, additional types can be added to a family simply by choosing the Duplicate button and modifying
the parameters to be unique to the new type.
Component Families
Component Families can be created several different ways, with each of them having their advantages and
limitations. It is important to understand how a family is created because it will determine how it is placed in
the model.
There are two types of component families – non-hosted (standalone) and hosted that are used in the Revit
MEP application.
- Non-hosted (or standalone) elements can be placed anywhere and located in any level from any view.
Non-hosted elements are associated to the level in which it is placed. For example if a piece of
equipment is placed on the second floor of the project, the equipment is associated to the second level. If
the second level elevation changes the equipment will adjust accordingly.
- Hosted elements must have a surface, workplane or face to be placed. As the host element is moved
or modified, the hosted component updates with that component. An example of a hosted element is a
receptacle that is placed on a wall. If the wall location shifts, the receptacle will shift accordingly.
Hosted elements can be faced based, wall based or ceiling based. Other types of hosted elements
include roof and floor based components, as well as line based components, but these are not used
as frequently with MEP elements.
TIP: Place the most commonly used component families in the project template. If a large
number of component families are in the template, begin to segregate the templates into
construction specific types.
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Custom component families should be stored in a separate folder, such as a custom
folder, to avoid confusion with the families that are provided with the software.
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Family Editor
System Families
In Revit, system type families represent linear components such as pipe and duct types. They have very
simple geometry, but can contain thousands of combinations of sizes. System families help to group elements
by similar construction materials – for example, piping can include plastic, carbon steel, ductile iron, copper or
stainless steel types. Each type that is defined in a project can control the placement and selection of fittings.
System families are defined in the project environment instead of the family editor and are typically created
and stored in a project template file. By defining these systems in a template, they will already be included in
a new project, but they may also be shared with other projects using the Windows copy and paste method, or
by using the Transfer Project Standards tool (located on the manage tab of the ribbon).
Below is an example of the type properties of a pipe type family:
Each pipe type is unique, and includes parameters that control which fittings are used based on the type of
fitting.
Pipe types are primarily defined by three main areas: Materials, Connection Types and Class:
The materials are defined using the Mechanical Settings tool in the Type Properties dialog box. This tool
includes a list of options available for each parameter, including the roughness, connection type and schedule
type of the pipe:
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The pipe type properties also includes a series of pipe fittings which allow the user to define the fitting that will
be inserted when appropriate.
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For example the Standard pipe type has the Tee - Generic: Standard defined as the default tee and The PVC
pipe type has the Tee Sanitary - PVC - Sch 40 - DWV: Standard defined as the default tee.
When the pipe is placed into the model the tee defined in the properties of the pipe type will be placed:
Note that there are only two options for tees in the list, these are the only tees that are loaded into the project.
(Note: Revit MEP includes a large library of fittings that comply with national standards such as ASTM and
AWWA):
To expand the pipe library, load additional fitting families into the project from the Imperial Library.
TIP: Create the most commonly used system families in the template prior to starting on a
project. If needed, use the Transfer Project Standards tool to share these types with other
(or older) projects.
The default templates only ship with a few samples of pipe and duct types, so it is beneficial to start
creating unique types. If there are any variations that will be used on a regular basis it is beneficial to create
corresponding types as needed.
Creating a new System Family Type
This example walks the user through creating a new pipe type. Creating duct, conduit and cable tray types
follows a similar methodology.
1. Open a project template (such as Systems Default.rte).
Select Application Menu > Open > Revit file
Browse to the template location.
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2. On the Project Browser, go to Families and locate the Pipes section. Note that only two pipe types are
listed in the template:
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Family Editor
3. To create a new pipe type, right mouse click on the standard pipe type and select Duplicate:
4. Right click on the new type named Standard (2). Choose Rename and change the name to Carbon
Steel. Once the pipe type is renamed, right click on the pipe type and choose Type Properties.
5. In the element properties dialog, change the material to Carbon Steel.
Note the remainder of the settings – the connection type is threaded, the class is schedule 40, and the
fittings are all defined to standard type fittings.
6. To create a new version of Carbon Steel, rename this version to Carbon Steel – Threaded. After
renaming the file, choose the Duplicate button.
7. For the new type, choose the name Carbon Steel – Welded. In the type properties dialogue, change the
connection type to Welded.
8. Select OK to close the dialogue.
Family Templates
Revit includes a series of default templates as a starting point to create families. Each template includes
predefined workplanes, surfaces and other settings to help streamline the creation of the components rather
than starting from scratch.
To start a new family, select Application Menu > New > Family
When creating a new family, a dialog box will be displayed prompting the user to choose a template.
Understanding how the family will behave in the project prior to creating the part is important. Follow the best
practices listed below to ensure the correct template is chosen from the start:
- Will the family be hosted? Should the family move with the architectural element that it is associated to?
- Start with the Generic Model face based.rft family template;
- After starting the family ensure to change the Family Category to the appropriate category:
Select Create tab > Properties panel > Family Category and Parameters
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Revit MEP 2013: Content Creation
- Does the user want control over the elevation and location of the object?
- Start with one of the following templates:
- Data Device.rft
- Data Panel.rft
- Electrical Equipment.rft
- Electrical Fixture.rft
- Fire Alarm Device.rft
- Lighting Fixture.rft
- Linear Lighting Fixture.rft
- Mechanical Equipment.rft
- Plumbing Fixture.rft
- Spot Lighting Fixture.rft
- Telephone Device.rft
- Note: If the typical MEP project has a linked architectural model, DO NOT start with a family template
that contains the following words:
- Wall Based
- Ceiling Based
- Floor based
- Roof based
- Is the family going to be used as a duct fitting?
- Start with one of the following templates
- Duct Cross.rft
- Duct Elbow.rft
- Duct Tee.rft
- Duct Transition.rft
TIP: Always start with a specific template that relates to the type of part being created. The
simplest form of a template to work with is the non-hosted type of component, which can
be placed anywhere in a project.
Prior to defining any new component, open an existing example that is similar, any new
equipment created should be made in the same fashion for consistency.
Avoid using templates that are related to architectural components (i.e. wall-based, ceiling-based,
floor-based and roof-based). MEP components cannot associate through linked
files to these components, so the reference object cannot be used.
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