topic Re: How to solve this plumbing problem? in Fabrication CADmep Forum

How to solve this Plumbing roblem?

Washingtonn — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 12:23:00 GMT

I am interested descriptive responses for the most efficient way to solve the attached problem.

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Washingtonn — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 03:20:52 GMT

I was hoping all the experts would have chime in by now and enlightened the new users on how the situation should/could be handled......

I attached a file outlining my solution for the situation. If anyone has a more efficient method, please post it.

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 14:58:30 GMT

I understand the images but I'm not quite sure what you're asking for help with.

Do you need help with design line functionality?

Or the best way to create a sloped line?

Or the best way to insert different fittings?

Here is my response based on what I think you're after:

Draw a 3d polyline from start to end point (with no slope). Start a new design line. Trace the 3d poly with correct pipe size. Insert quarter bend node at the top 90 looking down. Go to the drainage tool for design line. Set the source to the low point, set the slope to 96. Now the top node will be higher that needed. Select top two points and drop down to meet existing POC. fill in 3d. done.

Might be an easier way but I never have any luck with fixing points in design line. See attached screencast/video for my example.

Stuff in red is your existing stuff.

If the video isn't what you were after, please reply and I'll see what I can do to help!

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Washingtonn — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 20:25:27 GMT

Thank you for your response and video.

I was simply wondering how others would approach the problem presented. The solution I posted uses line work drawn with the correct slope and then converted into a design line and filled with 3D pipe and fittings. I find laying out the sloped line work (I use an add-in) and then converting to Design Lines works very well. The line work isn't generating any of the errors I have experienced with design lines and I can lay everything out, save the layout, and then generate the Design Lines. Making modifications to existing sloped systems is easier and I can preview the sloped pipe path right from the start.

I am having a problem getting the Quarter Bend to automatically place - a short sweep keeps appearing instead. It looks like you are getting a short sweep in your video as well (the upper elbow appears to have the same distance from coupling to center as the lower elbow).

If you are interested, I can generate a short video illustrating my posted solution.

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Washingtonn — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 18:05:47 GMT

Attached is a short video of my solution (it doesn't include replacing the upper node with a quarter bend). Even though I am replacing the top Node and specifying Quarter Bend fitting, I keep getting a short sweep at the all bend locations.

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 20:41:09 GMT

use multi point fill.

not sure what the issue is here....

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Washingtonn — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 22:16:45 GMT

The original thread was to solicit users for an efficient procedural solution to the hypothetical sloped pipe installation.

The entire run is sloped, so unless I am mistaken, using multi point fill requires determining the selecting points based on the specified slope before the fill can be started. Determining the points could be accomplished by adding a design line and then applying slope. The alternative shown routing a 3D line complete with the required slope first and then using the Trace command the design line is added and populated.

The last item was that the design line was populating all elbow locations with a short sweep when a quarter bend was requested for the highest elbow location (short sweep at the other locations). You can replace the short sweep with a quarter bend at that location using multi point fill but it seems to be a very inefficient method given the number of mouse clicks involved .

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:44:59 GMT

You can do slope through multi point fill. Start the command, pick your starting elevation (or click your start point if you have a placeholder there), click ok in the dialog. then type e or click elevation in the command line, click work to fall, input your slope. As you are running, you can select what elbow you want where you want to put it, just click the correct elbow when you want to input it. Or to make it easier, draw it all with one type of elbow, and go back and revdesign the sections you want to put in different elbows, excluding the unwanted ones from the pallet.

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Washingtonn — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:52:16 GMT

I would be interested in seeing a video of your screen as you use the multi point fill (MPF) command between the 2 points specified in the original post - more specifically how you are finding the location for placing each elbow "As you are running, ......" I tried a number of times (tracking and point filters) to locate the point while in the MPF command with no success. I would appreciate direction if I am doing things incorrectly.

Given that the elevation/location of the upper elbow is unknown (but could be calculated...) from the original information, there doesn't appear to be any major benefits using the MPF approach over the normal Design Line or the Design Line Trace approach illustrated. The need to have different elbow components (short sweep and quarter bends for example) appears to be a issue when populating Design Lines.

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 19:33:59 GMT

This video is showing the multi point fill: http://autode.sk/2hpCk5l

This video shows how to swap out just the one elbow. http://autode.sk/2hptBQy

This video shows a live multipoint fill elbow swap in: http://autode.sk/2h1oiKc

I'm working on ironing out getting the long radius elbow in during the multi point fill which I thought was possible, but doesn't seem to be working when slope is applied

Re: How to solve this plumbing problem?

Washingtonn — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:56:41 GMT

Here is the link to an updated video solution for the original situation. I still like the Trace option best - I think it is easier and allows the pipe routing to be generated without first having to set the size.

One of the short sweep fittings was replaced using the single fitting swap, the whole process was completed in under 2 minutes.

https://youtu.be/jTH3lf6dnBc