Reconnect pipe

[Anonymous]

I just moved a bunch of equipment and pipe using 3DMOVE 2 feet to the left. When I did this, it broke all of the pipe connections to the fittings, valves and equipment. Is there an easy way to reconnect the piping without going through each and every fitting?

[jabowabo]

edit: sorry I should read the question more carefully before replying 😉

Move the components again using the standard MOVE command. They should reconnect, then you can MOVE again.

[Anonymous]

They don't reconnect even with the regular move command. They're all shown with the water drop symbol. If I zoom in really close to the joints, the connection points are ever so slightly below the pipe connection point.

[jabowabo]

I can't reproduce this type of coordinate skewing when I move parts in unison. If the port coordinates do not match then you must move them so they do before connecting. 

[ryan.bales]

Aside from adjusting the grips? Not really. I've had mixed results stretching pipe runs to do them all at the same time but you'll likely need to reattach some parts. Connections will automatically be made when their respective ports coincide. 

While its a bit late for this, when adjusting Plant 3D parts its best to use grips - even the equipment has them - for keeping parts attached. *Note this only works cleanly if they are in the same model. Otherwise you'll need to stretch parts in their respective models.

I would not use MOVE unless I had no choice. It is a guarantee to break part connections without healing them cleanly. There are exceptions, like mentioned above when the ports are in the same place, but for the most part it will take some work to get it reconnected.

[TomislavGolubovic]

How big are your coordinates?

[Anonymous]

Looking at the grid was a good idea. I set it to 1/8" with a major line every 4 lines. I was so sure that was going to fix it.....alas, it still disconnects everything when I use MOVE or 3DMOVE.

[Slawomir_]

Equipment models are in your drawing or they are referenced from Project drawings?

Do you move pipes and equipment together or separately?

[Anonymous]

I've tried it with moving just pipes/fittings, pipes/fittings/valves and pipe/fittings/equipment. Same results. The pipe becomes disconnected from anything it was attached to previously.

[ryan.bales]

Unless you are moving an entire pipe run and equipment I would NOT use move! You will have to reconnect components after moving them.

If you are moving and entire pipe run and equipment and its still disconnecting its likely the components are not aligned properly. You had one reply that suggested this may be the case.  

[Dadspackard]

@Anonymous,

For our visual purposes could you post some screen shots of what you are trying to accomplish?

[Slawomir_]

Moving entire pipe run + equipment is okay as @ryan.bales stated. In any other case don't use MOVE.

Maybe you can share your drawing?

[Anonymous]

See attached. I'm not so worried about the connections to the equipment because those are generic blocks right now. it's more about easily changing the elevations of the entire pipe rack or changing the distance between the tanks easily if it needs to be shifted. Is there a way to do that without going pipe by pipe if it is all being moved the same distance without breaking everything?

[ryan.bales]

Anything command you use that isn't the grips on the components will carry with it the risk of breaking connections.

Grips are the recommended and safest way by far. But in the case you are discussing I've often removed or allowed the vertical connection to be broken and stretched the pipe or auto-routed back to the connection point at the elbow or fitting. 

There really isn't an easy way to do this.

[TomislavGolubovic]

Also instead of just selecting items, you should be using the Plant selection tools. If you pick a piece of pipe, then right click, and Add to Selection and pick an option, it'll pick the connected lines, plus fasteners etc etc. Sometimes welds or connectors might not move as part of a normal Select.

[Slawomir_]

I've moved, stretched pipes in 3d sample.dwg. Each connection between pipe, elbow, flange, valve, equipment was disconnected... very odd behaviour.

Assigning tag to pipes and equipment makes no difference.

I strongly recommend you to contact your software provider. Or contact Autodesk suport.

[Slawomir_]

Have you found solution to your question?

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

I'm a bit late to the party here, but you should be able to use the command "PLANTCONNECTJOINT" and that should clear up the disconnect glyph (drip symbol). 

[m.reyes74B3T]

the simplest answer in the entire thread. Thanks for answering despite being late as you helped me!