topic Re: Convert TP route to normal part in Inventor Forum

Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 11:18:56 GMT

Hi guys,

I just wonder if there's a bit of code that can convert a tube and pipe route to a normal part.

Several reasons for this but main one would be to edit the 3D sketch without being in the main T&P assembly (lost, corrupted, etc.)

Now there's a code for un-authoring T&P fittings here:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Remove-Tube-and-Pipe-Authoring-from-part.html

or here (same link) in case one goes dead over the years.

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS13404549

and i was wondering if there's a Property Set that works for routes.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

-niels- — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:01:47 GMT

Not entirely sure, but aren't the route objects saved as normal parts when you populate the route?
I mostly have hoses and the "pifhose..." ipt files are "normal" files where you can edit the 3d sketch...??

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:09:15 GMT

Yes you are correct, they are separate ipt files but evern if you disable T&P add-in they are still locked in Route mode.

Here's a file attached for you to open and see what I mean.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

Mark.Lancaster — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:32:29 GMT

Not sure this will help you or not. But in the past when we had duplicate pipe runs in our models we would do the following instead of creating another exact pipe run...

Activate the top Tube & Pipe Run assembly file in the overall assembly browser tree.
Locate the pipe run in the browser tree and either
Select and drag the pipe run onto the graphics screen
- OR -
RMB on the pipe run, select Copy, move over to the graphics screen, RMB, and select Paste. Or exit the tube & pipe assembly and paste your copied pipe run at another level.
Pasted pipe run now appears in browser tree as a occurrence.

Depending on where you paste it may or may not maintain a link back to the original pipe run. Just a thought...

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

-niels- — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:36:15 GMT

Ah ok, i take it you're really after making the route file a normal part.

I was talking about the file that gets populated to that route, but like i said i use hoses a lot so i wasn't sure about piping.

See my example:

I wouldn't know how to get the route file itself changed, but for my hose in the picture the 3d sketch is equal to the route...

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:37:06 GMT

Mark,

You almost got me hoping there. promote-demote as well as drag doesn't work. Copy / Paste does but if you open the route it's still locked in Route mode.

Besides I want to be able to edit these without the main T&P in place (without the context) like for crashes, or corrupted or missing altogether.

Come on.... brainstorm guys, keep the thoughts coming ... we might get something out of this.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:45:01 GMT

Niels,

See if you can edit the 3D sketch, modify it I meant. you can enter the 3D sketch environment but can't change it.

Edit: You can change it if disable T&P add-in. You need to break links of end points... but it's working.

Not the same with routes. !

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

-niels- — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:56:32 GMT

Adrian, i tried this and it seemed to work... sortoff...

With the T&P addin disabled, start a new part and derive a route file into it.
Break the link with the original and edit the 3d sketch.

For my hose-route it gave me a nasty undimensioned spline, but it was editable.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 13:11:12 GMT

Niels,

I did tried that but I stopped when I realized that the sketch had lost all dimensions and constraints. Can we force Inv to bring constraints and dimensions along in the derive process? You can see the dimensions in the Edit Derived Component window but all geometry comes as projected and when you brake the link they become static.

We will keep this as best option for now but would like to see if we can come up with a better solution like disabling the Route status/label of the file.

Can I ask you to keep your thoughts rolling... maybe you guys will see something I didn't ....

Waiting to see if Adesk has something to say! maybe @NicolasXu can step in and help us out.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

cbenner — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 13:28:45 GMT

Wow... interesting thread. I got nothing....

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 13:33:50 GMT

See if I can get your thoughts flowing again:

Export to dwg and step with include sketches looses the dimensions again.

Copy 3D sketch is not possible for all I know. Anyone?

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

NicolasXu — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 11:04:46 GMT

Hi Adrian,

Unfortunately, I’m not aware of such property set. I will ask others and see if they have some ideas.

Best Regards,

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 11:15:57 GMT

Thank you Nicolas.

I will refresh this page every minute to see if you have an update.........

No pressure, take you time

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

Yijiang.Cai — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 08:33:22 GMT

If removing these properties related to T&P, it will cause the T&P assembly corrupted. We get the file saved from route, and it will a big task to remove all the properties related to T&P, and convert it to normal part. This can't be done from UI workflow. It looks that it is better for us to use derive workflow to get the route as normal part.

If possible, could you have more details why you would like to convert the route to normal part? We are really interested.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:23:36 GMT

Derive with break links will not give us a full editable 3D sketch. Dimensions and constraints are lost in the process.

Several reasons here:

I just want to be able to edit the 3D sketch without being in the main T&P assembly. Besides T&P asm being lost or corrupted it creates several extra files and folder I don’t need. For a long time now I have been using T&P and it’s 3D Ortho Tool to build 3d sketches that I use with Frame Generator. It’s all working perfect except if you need to change the 3d sketch you need to be inside T&P and you need to pay attention to constraints because it will create branches that are not allowed in T&P.

Just like authoring pipe clips as branch fittings, the rest of the reasons are only in my imagination until a solution is proven possible here.

These are all workarounds to one main thing: make the 3D ortho tool available in 3D sketches, including all the features that come with it. Point snap, rotation snap, all the glyph, directional arrows, dimension entering... the whole set.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

-niels- — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:30:18 GMT

@salariua wrote:
... to one main thing: make the 3D ortho tool available in 3D sketches, including all the features that come with it. Point snap, rotation snap, all the glyph, directional arrows, dimension entering... the whole set.

Is there an idea for that on the ideastation??

I'd definitely kudo that if it is!

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:35:31 GMT

Not as a separate idea but part of the T&P overhaul:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideastation/tube-and-pipe-overhaul/idi-p/5518269

You have allready voted for that so hope we get them implemented in the next century or so.

I have been discussing with @dan_szymanski and he's got them as next actions but I need to try and provide a dataset for testing those problems.

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

-niels- — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:52:20 GMT

This would probably be good as a separate idea as well.
Using those tools outside of the T&P environment would benefit a lot of people when using 3D sketches.
IMO it should be available even without the T&P module/addin...

Making it separate might also help getting it implemented sooner if it gets enough votes.
(which is something your overhaul idea is struggling with now right?)

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

salariua — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:56:59 GMT

Everybody's been asking me to post them as separate ideas but what I don't want is patches, fixes, and workarounds.

Besides a lot of the posts are just BUGS!

Re: Convert TP route to normal part

-niels- — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 10:07:56 GMT

Yes, i understand that and i agree.
T&P needs a major overhaul, it's just that this would add functionality outside of the T&P environment.

But anyway, i'll stop before the topic changes too much from your original question. 😉