Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
System Families
Along with having components preloaded into your project, it is important
to define your system families. This will establish the default behavior for
any types of system families that you define. If you start your template from
scratch without using another template as a basis for your file, you will need
to attempt to draw a duct, pipe, cable tray, or conduit before the system
family will appear in the Family Browser.
Once you have the desired system family in the Family Browser, you can
right-clickittoaccessitsproperties.ThepropertiesforMEPsystemfamilies
are primarily the same for each system. The idea is that you need to define
what types of fittings are used. You can create variations of a system family
to utilize different fittings. System family types should be named
descriptively to indicate their use. Additional fittings can be added at any
time to create new family types, but it is best to start with the basics for your
project template.
An MEP system family (duct systems, pipe systems, conduits, and cable
trays) will not be usable without fittings defined. To establish the fittings
for a system family, right-click the family in the Project Browser. You can
use the Duplicate button to create a new type of system family. In the
Type Properties dialog box, you will see a button for editing the routing
preferences. Using this, you can enter the Routing Preferences dialog box,
which will give you options for assigning fitting component families to the
system family. The fitting components you have loaded into your project
will be available in the drop-down of the Fitting parameter for each specific
type of fitting. You can add as many of each type of fitting as you want
and place them in order, even give them size ranges. For pipe only, you can
also specify different pipe segment types. This is useful, for instance, with
chilled-waterpipe,whichwouldusuallybecopperupuntilacertainsizeand
then carbon steel above that size.
Figure 2.36
shows an example of the pipe
routing settings for the pipe system family.
