Connector Description in Revit Family
Connectors attached to families are used to link families with ducts, pipes, electrical systems, and other components.
There are two main methods to place a connector:
Placed on the Surface
This method (with edge centered set to true) positions the connector point at the center of an edge. In most cases, this is the preferred way to place connectors. The “Place on the Surface” option is straightforward and applicable in a wide range of scenarios.
Placed on the Work Plane
This option allows you to place connectors on a selected work plane. Often, you can constrain the connector to a desired position by defining the plane and applying dimensions, which serves a similar function as “Place on the Surface.” However, this method usually requires effective use of additional parameters and constraints.
Connection Direction
For fittings (including pipe and duct fittings), it is ideal for the family’s instance origin to coincide with the connector’s intersection point.
In most cases, pipe fittings have a specific point where all connectors would intersect if extended. This point should correspond to the intersection of the Center (Front/Back), Center (Left/Right), and Reference Elevation work planes.
Therefore, it is best to lock these reference planes before starting to create the family.
When placing connectors for pipe fittings, the main connector must be positioned on the surface aligned with the X-axis. A crosshair will appear to indicate that this is the primary connector. You can confirm this placement by viewing the surface in a floor plan view.
If the primary connector is not correctly positioned relative to other connectors, or if the connectors are not rotated and linked properly, unexpected behavior may occur.
Rotating Connectors
Rotating connectors is an essential step in placement.
The connector’s direction automatically determines the correct orientation of objects inserted into the component. While this is less critical for circular connectors, it is extremely important for rectangular connectors, such as those on rectangular duct fittings.
For rectangular connectors, the width must be aligned with the faces on the X and Y axes when oriented; the height should not align with these axes.
If a rectangular connector is not rotated properly, rectangular duct fittings will not insert correctly, leading to unexpected results.
Many users find it easier to rotate connectors in a 3D view, where the component geometry is clearly visible.
Connector Arrow Direction
When creating a connector to complete a connection, the connector arrow should point in the direction of the duct or pipe extension. Note that this arrow does not indicate flow direction.
In most cases, connector arrows point from inside to outside of the associated object. This ensures that when the duct or pipe is created, it extends away from the object rather than passing through its geometry.
You can change the connector arrow direction by selecting the connector and clicking the flip arrow button.
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