AutoCAD Plant 3D

[#1]

What happened? I've used this several times, then I open a model and it's no longer working! I can't fine any help on-line or in Plant 3D help. I also try to connect a branch off a pump suction line to another pump suction, which I've done lots of times, but I keep getting a disconnect even though the nodes are perfectly aligned. When I try to connect them from the menu, I get an error message that says they aren't aligned. These worked before; why aren't they working now?

[#2]

If you do a DI (Distance) from one node to the other, are they definitely in the same plane?

[#3]

Yes, XYZ  are identical. Also, if I try to auto-route, it routes the pipe to then node with no alternative routings and no connection. I'm bewildered.

[#4]

Can you post the model here please?

If not the whole model, that just that area/section?

[#5]

This is a demo file I created for you showing examples of unconnected lines. the node of the elbow is identical with the node of the connecting pipe. The drawing also shows the result of trying to auto-route the 8' pipe on the rack with the 8" pipe below.

[#6 · Accepted solution]

I just removed the line (from the last flange of the valve, and up to the tee) and then re-ran it as an auto run line. Extended the line from the flange, to the node of the tee, as shown and works fine.

Under Elevation and Routing, on the Home Tab, I have "Offset Routing" on. Maybe check that? If its still an issue, does it work ok in a new blank project? We just have to work out if its the project, or possibly something else that might be causing the problem.

Refer attached pic.

[#7 · Accepted solution]

I'm sorry I didn't respond right away. Your suggestion pointed to the exact problem. One of the offsets had a value and it was throwing auto-routing off. As soon as I set it to zero, it worked perfectly. Thanks. It's burned into my memory now. LOL You've resolved my problem.

Apparently, I had been testing routing with offsets and forgot to reset the value to zero. Perhaps I assumed logging off and on reset it to default zero. Once set to a value it remains set until changed. Just one more thing to watch for.