Relocating the Insertion Point in Revit MEP Families

Bill Knittle
Synergis Building Solutions Engineer

O.K.! This one comes up every time I train users in Autodesk Revit MEP. You too, have probably encountered this issue when inserting certain component families into your project. “Why does the Air Terminal come in with the insertion point centered on the terminal and not at a corner for locating it on a ceiling grid?”

It’s quite simple to explain. It’s all in the family. Every family has an insertion point. Begin by placing a terminal in a Ceiling Plan within your project. Select the Home tab on the Ribbon. Then, select the Air Terminal command on the HVAC panel.

The Ribbon will change to the Place Air Terminal tab. Select the Supply Diffuser – Hosted type from the Type Selector on the Element panel. Choose the Place on Face command on the Placement panel.

Finally, place the terminal at the intersection of the grid on your ceiling. After placing the terminal, select it. The Ribbon will display the Modify Air Terminals tab. Select Edit Family on the Family panel. Select the Yes button in the following dialog to open the family in the Family Editor.

The insertion point is usually dictated by the family templates that are provided out-of-the-box. Open the Reference View under Floor Plans. The insertion point is located at the intersection of the two reference planes. There is a vertical reference plane called Center (Left/Right) and a horizontal reference plane called Center (Front/Back), as shown in the following images.
              

               
If you hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and select both reference planes, the Ribbon will display the Multi Select tab. Select the Element Properties command on the Element panel.  

Under the Instance Parameters, locate the parameter Defines Origin. It is checked by default. Go ahead and uncheck it. This relieves the default reference planes from the task of defining the origin.

Now we did it! There is no insertion point any more or, should I say, “Yet!” Select the Create tab on the Ribbon. Then select the Reference Plane command on the Datum panel.

Draw a vertical reference plane to the left of the terminal. Then draw a horizontal reference plane below the terminal.

Select the Modify tab on the Ribbon, and then the Align command on the Edit panel. Select the Left edge of the terminal and then the new vertical reference plane. Select the Bottom edge of the terminal and then the new horizontal reference plane. Do not lock the padlocks because you may want to create a 1x1 terminal in a 2x2 ceiling grid.
                   

                    
Instead, we’ll create dimensions between the parallel reference planes and lock their distances. Select the Detail tab on the Ribbon, and then the Aligned dimension command on the Dimension panel. Place a dimension between the vertical reference planes. Lock the padlock that appears below the dimension.

Place a dimension between the horizontal planes. Lock the padlock that appears below that dimension.

                  
Last but not least, we need to redefine our insertion point. While holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard, select the two new reference planes. On the Modify Reference Planes tab that appears, select the Element Properties command on the Element panel. Check the box for the instance parameter, Defines Origin.

Open the Application menu. Select Save to save the revised family to your library.

On the Create tab of the Ribbon, select the Load into Project command on the Family Editor panel.

Select Overwrite the existing version button in the dialog box that opens.

This will relocate the existing instance of the air terminal to the new insertion point.

Don’t worry about those drywall ceilings. The original reference planes act as hard references for dimensions. So you can still locate your newly refurbished terminal based on its center, if necessary. Try this solution with other families that have the same issue.

About the Author

Bill is a graduate of the University of Hartford in Architectural Engineering and has accumulated eight years of “real world” design, management, and CAD experience in the field of Architecture. At George J. Donovan AIA & Associates, Architects, he was instrumental in implementing, managing, and training his peers during their transition from AutoCAD to Autodesk Architectural Desktop. With Architectural Desktop, Bill was able to increase productivity, coordination, and profitability in a variety of key projects. His most recent achievements are within the Newtown Business Commons, where he documented a vacant building’s conversion into 75,000 square feet of leasable office and retail space for Cameron C. Troilo Properties, as well as designed a new five story hotel for the Homewood Suites, Hilton. Bill has a passion for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and what it can bring to the future of design for both professionals and their clients. He can be reached at bill.knittle@synergis.com.

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