topic Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work in Inventor Forum

T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 08:55:16 GMT

Hi all,

I'm trying to author our pipe clips to place them as a fitting in a Tube and Pipe assembly. I've used the blog post of Adrian Salariu on this topic: http://blog.ads-sol.com/2015/03/inventor-pipe-clips.html. However it doesn't work for me.

When I give in all the required authoring information and hit ok, it gives me the "authoring succesfull, publish part to Content Center" popup. After this I publish the part to the content center (also succesfully) and try to place it as a fitting. This is where the mystery appears as the Ipart is placed from the content center just as a regular part, not as a T&P fitting. For some unknown reason the part loses all of the authoring information and I'm not able to drop them on a pipe.

I've tried the same thing multiple times over, at another PC and user account, tried it as a normal part (not an Ipart) but all without succes.

Does someone have any more ideas or is able to get this to work?

I've attached the Ipart to my post. (It is rather complicated as our supplier delivers three different types and we want to be able to make quite realistic renderings.)

By the way, we are using Inventor 2015 with Vault Professional 2015.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

Mark.Lancaster — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:42:05 GMT

tlbosm

Welcome to the community...

Its been awhile since I've done a branched connection but you only have one connection defined. For a branch you always need to have one more connection than what you have. So since you have a single branch connection you will need two connections. Here are some other items to help.

1. Create a user parameter (something like PipeRun_OD) and define the size of the pipe run that the clamp is going around. For example an ansi 1" pipe this value would be set to 1.315.

2. If not already set the ND value to match the branch connection size in your table.

3. Define connection number #1 as the branch connection

4. If not already place a workpoint at the mate of the component and pipe run. Right now you have a point there called work point 6. Was that pointed created by you or when you authored it? Just make sure you made it.

5. Define connection number #2 as the following:

5A. End treatment as other

5b. Define the min and max nomial size as the parameter defined in step #1

5c. Define the mating point as defined in step #4

5d. Define the pipe centerline as the pipe axis

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

cbenner — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:43:34 GMT

The question is... do you want this to be a branch fitting, or inline?

Either way, as Mark stated, you need more connections. One connection just won't cut it I'm afraid. For an inline fitting it needs both the "IN" and "OUT". For a branch (think olet) you need to pipe axis, work pont for location and an active sketch for cutting the pipe.

Refer to this help page for instruction on authoring branch fittings:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/INVNTOR/2015/ENU/?guid=GUID-C62E977C-C460-4EAD-A3C9-C9A82E1D3B0B

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:32:36 GMT

@Mark.Lancaster wrote:
tlbosm

Welcome to the community...

Its been awhile since I've done a branched connection but you only have one connection defined. For a branch you always need to have one more connection than what you have. So since you have a single branch connection you will need two connections. Here are some other items to help.

1. Create a user parameter (something like PipeRun_OD) and define the size of the pipe run that the clamp is going around. For example an ansi 1" pipe this value would be set to 1.315.
2. If not already set the ND value to match the branch connection size in your table.
3. Define connection number #1 as the branch connection
4. If not already place a workpoint at the mate of the component and pipe run. Right now you have a point there called work point 6. Was that pointed created by you or when you authored it? Just make sure you made it.
5. Define connection number #2 as the following:
5A. End treatment as other
5b. Define the min and max nomial size as the parameter defined in step #1
5c. Define the mating point as defined in step #4
5d. Define the pipe centerline as the pipe axis

I've been around for a while (this is my account at work) but thanks for the welcome and the reactions anyway!

@Mark.Lancaster

1. I've got both D1 which is the outside diameter of the pipe in mm and ND which is M'OD' which is needed for the authoring.

2. Done

3. See pictures and explanation below.

4. Yes I've created that work point and the work axis.

5. See pictures and explanation.

I've now authored the pipe clip with two connections as in the pictures attached. It now works partially. For sizes up to M110 it works perfectly, pipes aren't interrupted, I can click them on the line and they sit perfectly. For sizes M125 and M160 however the mating point is on the sketch line and not on the outside of the pipe (see picture clip M125). For clip M140 the mating point is at the outside of the pipe, however the clip is 180 degrees in the wrong direction. (So the bottom of the clip is inside of/goes through the pipe)

I tried also to add another 'other type' connection at the opposide side of connection 1 (so 3 connections total) but that gives me the same odd behaviour for the large clips.

@cbenner

I don't want to cut the pipe, pipe clips just need to hold the pipe in place and are bolted on a frame/wall.

What are inline fittings? I don't see any authoring category as 'inline'.

If it works with all the sizes as it did with the smaller ones I'm a very happy person. However I'm still curious why Adrian Salariu does get it to work with only one connection as described on his blog and in his youtube video (6:37 min):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p30sjG66R2c

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 07:38:31 GMT

Added the newly authored part and two more pictures of the M50 and M140 clips.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

salariua — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 08:33:28 GMT

Dumbfounded, tested for two hours.

Looked at mine, and compared with yours over and over again.

Your ipart becomes sick if you change member but that can’t be an issue. Mine published and work alright yours published and didn’t work.

Use the part I have attached which is based on yours but with only the first extrusion in place to test its functionality.

Open it and publish it directly, don’t mess about with it. Then try the place fitting from Content Center and see if it’s working.

If it does (worked on mine) I will get back with explaining why. I will test some more.

Edit: I see you posted some more since I’ve started playing with it. The first connection if you want to have more than one I would suggest to have it at the bottom mounting hole just to be out of the way and not be used when placing the clip. Using 2 connections works but so does using just 1.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

cbenner — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 11:15:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@cbenner

I don't want to cut the pipe, pipe clips just need to hold the pipe in place and are bolted on a frame/wall.

What are inline fittings? I don't see any authoring category as 'inline'.

Hi,... it looks like Adrian is trying to help you with this, which is good... I've never attempted his clip magic yet so he's the expert. 🙂 I just wanted to clear up what I mean by "inline". It does not show up as a category in Authoring, but what I mean by inline is any fitting that can be placed into a straight section of pipe with one inlet and one outlet. This fitting could have only those 2 connections, or it could have a third as in the case of a tee fitting. An example of an inline fitting might be a valve, or a concentric reducer,... maybe some sort of instrumentation.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 14:42:04 GMT

Hmm I don't see my Ipart getting sick anymore, what is getting sick/where can I see it? Had some problems at first, started all over again 2 or 3 times and thougt I had it this time...

The clip you attached works perfectly indeed, would be great if we can create and use a slightly more detailed version like that! Do you allready know what the problem is/was?

@cbenner Thanks for the clarification!

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

salariua — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 06:25:51 GMT

In the first file you attached some of the last members didn't compute (last extrusion had errors due to missing projection loops)

anyway ... here's the answer

I am a nerd... I shouldn't know these things.

The last thing I wanted was to mislead and confuse people. I wanted to make this pain free easy to do and I failed.

One thing I follow religiously I to never create a new part but use existing if possible especially when dealing with tube and pipe. I am sorry Autodesk but this just proves that T&P is really out of date and you left too much garbage and legacy data in this outdated module.

The explanation is quite simple: I have used an existing template to create my clip and you probably didn’t. I placed and modified a weldoled fitting from the branch fittings category of Content Center and you created a file from scratch.

It doesn’t make any sense and yet it works. If you take a weldoled from CC or my clip for that matter and you strip down all the features and parameters ending up with a clean file where you can then add yours and author it to CC with just one connection it works.

I have given this example before :

“

Just to give you guys an idea of what a mess it is with the pipes take a look at DIN 8062 PVC-U that I use allot.

It has only 2 key columns, "SN" and "ND" yet when you try and place one outside T&P as a regular part it asks for a third option, "PL" (length) which is correct actually.

This is all very confusing and against all manuals and documentation I have found. Clearly there are other mechanisms behind this that we're not supposed to know or use.

“

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 07:30:32 GMT

I will give it a try and model it from scratch (and authoring and testing it after each major extrusion etc.) while using your file as a template, I'll let you know if it succeeded.

For most of the other components I've created so far I haven't run into trouble (PVC tees, pipes, couplings etc.), all are new files started from scratch. I've used the Tube and Pipe design manual of Ascented which I can recommend to everyone who wants to start with T&P http://www.ascented.com/courseware-solutions/autodesk/courseware/autodesk-inventor.aspx. This undesired behaviour is sadly not predicted when you follow the manuals indeed, hopfully I don't run into troubles with making and authoring other components.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

dahavel — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 15:52:20 GMT

How is this still a bug in 2022?! Does anyone even work at Autodesk? This is very frustrating. Trying to create a Pipe Hanger Content Center part since I recently changed computers and lost a couple files in the move and trying follow the steps laid out here but I am having 0 luck in getting Inventor to keep the Authoring information. Using an old file that was previously published to the CC. I set it as a Branch with one connection. Set my axis and mating point. Says Successful. If I then just try to place that part in my T&p assembly, it says it wasn't authored. When I publish this part to the CC after it says Successful instead, it creates the part in the CC but when placed through the CC, it doesn't allow me to use the axis to place the part. The part doesn't let me place it anywhere on my tubing at all. Not sure what to do.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

CGBenner — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:10:50 GMT

@dahavel

Can you share the part here? Someone may be able to look at it and help you.

I'm not sure I'd call it a bug, since pipe hangers never existed inside of Tube & Pipe. There are so many variations of them around the world that they have always been a custom part, and have always been very tricky to get right. To be honest, I never worked with them myself... but others here may have some insights for you.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

dahavel — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 13:56:49 GMT

After messing with the authoring for a couple hours I got it to work as I intended. I needed to use 2 connection points, not one. Not sure if Authoring with one connection point and it saying successful a bug or working as intended, but it wouldn't let me use that connection point at all. I hate we even have to use branch in the first place for this because as a piping designer for my company we have to include clamps and such on everything we do.

It would be awesome if we could get an actual category in T&P for items such as hangers, clamp, and any thing else we might attach to the outside of a pipe for support or utility. It would also be cool if they could do piping shroud feature to show insulation that would basically offset a see-through shroud around the conduit at a given distance for the entire run to represent insulation and such. Might go submit these to the suggestion forum.

Re: T&P Author pipe clip doesn't work

91chucho22 — Wed, 08 May 2024 03:14:48 GMT

I had the same issue having one connection only and I think I found the solution. I was having the same issue with "authoring data" been lost. I was able to make it possible with 1 connection only, by making it an iPart and by declaring variables "SN", "OD" and "NS". based on what @salariua says and from what I can see in this source (Custom Tube & Pipe Styles: Authoring A Tube & Pipe Component - IMAGINiT Manufacturing Solutions Blog (rand.com)), the variables and/or an iPart set up seem to be important in branched connections.

With this configuration I was able to author as a 1 connection branch and set the Isogen type and the skey as support, just as they're supposed to be.