Learn how to use Behavior Type to specify the host object in Revit, and use the UCS, Insertion point, and Placement plane commands to control the orientation of the loadable Revit family (RFA) for insertion into a Revit project model.
Manage the orientation and placement of a product before inserting it into Revit by using the Informed Design BIM definition workflow in Inventor.
Manufacturing CAD software often defaults to modeling with the Y-axis vertical, and BIM software often defaults to modeling with the Z-axis vertical. To address this discrepancy, use the Family Definition tools in the Informed Design BIM Definition workflow to control the orientation and placement of a Revit family.
First, it is important to understand how to reorient a model using the UCS option in the family definition.
In this example, the Inventor design has been modeled with the Y-axis vertical. Use the User Coordinate System (UCS) command to ensure that the Z axis will be vertical when the generated family is placed into Revit.
The UCS is positioned relative to the origin of the assembly.
Once the UCS is positioned, the command remains active, and the UCS can be moved along an axis or rotated as needed.
On placement of the UCS, parameters are created that can be used to control the UCS position and rotation.
Notice that the UCS position changes as the adjustments are made.
The UCS appears in the BIM Definition browser and is named BIM_UCS. Only one BIM UCS can be included in a product definition.
The BIM UCS is used to define the orientation of models with the generic behavior type. Only the Z orientation of the UCS is relevant; the position is ignored. The UCS is independent and has no relationship with any insertion point or placement plane.
Consider a more complex example. In this case, the goal is to publish a family that can only be placed on a Revit host object of a specific category.
A placement plane is required for models with any Behavior Type other than Generic. Face Based, Wall, Floor, and Ceiling behavior types are known as hosts. Hosted Revit families can only be placed on an object of the host category in a Revit project. For example, ceiling-hosted objects can only be placed on ceilings, while face-based families can be placed on the face of any host.
To set a placement plane for a Face Based family:
The Placement Plane command starts automatically.
Once a placement plane is selected, the blue UCS arrow faces away from the host.
Defining an insert point is optional. By default, the Inventor origin (0,0,0) is used as the insert point for a Revit family.
The insert point is independent of any included BIM UCS and will automatically be projected onto any included placement plane.
Once the new insertion point is defined, it displays in the BIM Definition browser.
On creation, parameters are added to the model that can be used to control the position of the insert point. Only one insert point can be included in the BIM definition.
