Straightening pressure pipe profiles

[Neilw_05]

I'm slowly getting familiar with the new pressure pipe tools. So far I like the layout compass but I'm finding the rest to be rather cumbersome to work with.

One problem I have is how to straighten portions of a pipe in profile after fitting it to a surface profile. Each pipe ends up segmented according to it's cut length property. Typically after fitting it to a surface profile we want to straighten the pipe between critical points along the profile. I don't see any way to do this aside from dragging each segment. Is there a way to remove, add or adjust the length of individual segments?

Also a tutorial would sure be helpful. I don't see any other than the videos provided in the new features catalog.

[Neilw_05]

For those who are interested:

From Autodesk Support:

I understand you are looking to remove some of the segments of the pipe after using the “follow surface” command in the profile editing tools. Unfortunately after this command is initiated and completed there is no way to remove some of the segments.

The segments you see created are governed by the cut length specified in the catalog. If you would like to edit the cut length to be longer or shorter this will reflect when the pressure network is created. This may be a way around having too many segments created.

I think the pressure pipe tool needs to stay in the oven a bit longer.

[stakeline]

Hi,

I'm having this problem in 2015

Has this issue been resolved in the 2015 version C3D, to allow editing and removing segment deflections as per user requirements?

Thanks

[SamEAS]

From my experience, pipe networks of any kind have some posotives and some negatives in Civil 3D. They are great tools for some applications but when you try to do anything that is outside the normal use for them you encounter many issues. Also as it seems that you have discovered the ability to modify or utilize your pipe network in Calcs, profiles, or a simple move are not very easy. Manually changing things will be your best bet probably. Autodesk really needs to work on the pipe networks and add some more user friendly commands.

[drazen-ars]

Hi Neil,

I know that my post is not solution of your problem, but following your activity on C3D discussion group I noticed that you use different software solutions and technologies so hopefully you will not mind if I give you view to another software which we are developing (Urbano, on top of AutoCAD platform). Urbano is design, calculation and analysis software for storm sewage and water distribution systems.

Your problem is well known and we have solution for it (at least I think that).

If you have time look at YouTube movies which I created for you. My only interest is your opinion about shown functionality.

Regards

Drazen

d dot galic at studioars dot hr

1. Interactive straightening of pipe in the profile - https://youtu.be/4Rvj2tSZOL0 

2. Automatic solution of pipe in the profile - https://youtu.be/n9hZl-zRDO8

[drazen-ars]

And maybe more about possible editing operations in the profiles (node delete, insert and move in the profile). Promise, this is last one (-:))

https://youtu.be/OXz8a8ko1Qs

Regards,

Drazen

[drazen-ars]

One link is not functioning, so repeat all three links:

1. Interactive straightening - https://youtu.be/n9hZl-zRDO8

2. Automatic definition - https://youtu.be/4Rvj2tSZOL0

3. Node edit operations in profile - https://youtu.be/OXz8a8ko1Qs

[Neilw_05]

Hi,

I appreciate your efforts to overcome some of the deficiencies in the pressure pipe tools. You obviously understand the problem and your tools look useful. I especially like your idea to create a vertical corridor for fitting the profile automatically.

One thing that I see as a problem is when you delete nodes in the profile, the plan view nodes get deleted too. That should not happen if the pipe is designed to follow a specific route. You will need to address that if you haven't already.

You will also need to be able to add nodes,,adjust slope bpetween nodes, etc. Of course you may have addressed that as well. I only know what I see in the videos.

While your tools are a definiite imrpovement, as you noted, I am using another product which handles this task and others more efficiently than C3D so I am not looking for custom solutions at this time. 'm sure others will be interested..

Thank you for preparing the videos.

[Neilw_05 · Accepted solution]

In case anyone is interested in a solution to this problem, I have a workaround that is decent in my opinion. The workaround is to create an alignment and profile for the pressure pipe and use a corridor or gradings to build a surface for the pressure pipe. Then you have full control of the profile and can redrape the pipe whenever the profile changes.

It's not 100% dynamic but it is better then trying to manipulate all those VPIs manually.