Look Ma, No API: making a sun tracker

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Last post I was showing some uses for the "Orientation" parameter for adaptive points, particularly "orthogonal on placement". Now, if building masonry walls is not your thing, then you might find this more compelling. Using the same features, you can design a panel that creates optimized relationships to solar orientation regardless of where it is placed on a particular surface. Download the example file from here, watch the video below.


Comments

  1. blogtestAugust 2, 2010 at 9:49 PM

    This looks good, I recreated this family and had a look at yours, but as soon as I try to add a height parameter the family breaks. I noticed you had a height parameter in their that is not tied to anything.

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  2. blogtestAugust 2, 2010 at 9:51 PM

    This looks good! I recreated the family and had a look at yours, but as soon as I put a height parameter the family breaks. I noticed you had a height parameter that is not tied to anything...

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  3. Zach KronAugust 2, 2010 at 9:55 PM

    Nice catch. Yea, I was messing around with a height and it kept blowing out my panel . . . never had a chance to troubleshoot it. Will take a look.

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  4. AnonymousAugust 3, 2010 at 7:32 AM

    Small Tip: Tried to add angle parameter 'Azimuth' to reference line but it kept breaking. Why: Revit had remembered 3D snap from creating a family previously. The point on the end gives it away.

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  5. UnknownAugust 4, 2010 at 7:51 PM

    Thank you for sharing your good information.
    Would you please check out downloading your sample file possible? I tried but only failed.

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  6. Zach KronAugust 4, 2010 at 9:41 PM

    Armorsu, I just tried the download without any problems, please try again, not sure what the issue might have been

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  7. gschleusnerAugust 8, 2010 at 10:29 AM

    If you could snap an adaptive compoenent to the center of the sun object you wouldn't even have to enter the angle info:)

    Greg S.

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  8. SOSRevitAugust 18, 2010 at 11:53 PM

    Zach, I'm so grateful about your sharing... They are very useful tu all of us, really thanks. My mind changed after I knew your blog. Thanks.

    Hugo Tavares

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  9. ZakiSeptember 17, 2010 at 12:24 PM

    Hi Zach

    This is great source of info. I wonder if anyone was able to get the length or height parameter to work all together with the Azimuth and Latitude parameter. I have gone thru your tutorial and downloaded the file but still the family breaks. Please advise!

    Thanks - Zaki

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  10. Dave BaldacchinoSeptember 22, 2010 at 12:02 AM

    Awesome Zach!

    One question: Since the Orthogonal On Placement is really working based on the global coordinate system, if your true north is rotated with respect to project north, the values you need to enter for the azimuth have to be adjusted by that angle, correct? In other words, if you knew the azimuth you wanted to use based on a specific date and time, and your true north was 30 degrees from project north, you would have to add/subtract 30 degrees from your azimuth, right?

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