Problem adding a dashed line (as insulation) on a duct bend block

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Hi all..

I have this duct bend block and I've been trying to add a dashed line offsetted from the edge a duct (for all visibility states) to illustrate the insulation, I've managed to get so far with it but its not working properly how it should be and I'm unsure on what I'm missing to get it right...

I'm trying to get the insulation line to be a lookup option of how thick the insulation needs to be... with the options 25, 45, 50mm from the edge of the duct.... so I've set the distance parameters (distance 1 and Distance 2) to be list type and put the distances in, I've created a lookup option and selected the distance parameters..

 could someone have a look at the attached and describe what I need to do to put it right or if you like to fix it that would be amazing.. 😀

[Brock_Olly]

Hi,

I think it's best if you use scale actions on the bends and then manipulate them with the lookup table.
I tested it once on this vis state, I didn't include them in all the flip/rotate and scale actions yet though.

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Thank you for taking the time to reply Block_olly, Thank you for trying, much appreciate it!

I don't think the way you've done with the scaling has worked.. as the insulation line on the inside of the bend gets closer to the edge of the duct whereas it should move further away... when you select the thicker insulation from the lookup.... so it should all move in one direction....

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

I've got it to work with this block, which is not a bend but it's an example of what I'm trying to achieve with the duct bend....

[Libbya · Accepted solution]

I got it working in the way you want (I believe), except for deleting the extra flip parameter/action as those are redundant with the rotate and single flip.  It was a PITA and is quite complicated.  It gets strange if you shrink the diameter of pipe below where the insulation arc can exist, but it does not break.  It goes back to correct if you stretch it back to a reasonable length.  See attached.  Let me know if you have questions.

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Many Thanks Libbya, That's perfect! - yeah can understand it's gets a bit strange on the smaller diameters, I think the smallest we tend to go is 50mm duct half width, so I knew that a 50mm insulation line on the inside would be difficult to show or wouldn't be drawn... so hence the reason why I wanted an option with slightly smaller thickness of 45mm and then for the 25mm, that's there for the rare times if we go smaller than 50mm duct half width... we've got that option to go to 25...

Many Thanks for taking the time to reply and having a go at the block... much appreciated!...

Now I'm going to try and copy what you've done and apply it to, two other blocks, a 45° bend block and a variable bend block...  (hope you don't mind and wish me luck!)

Have a good day!

🙂

[Brock_Olly]

That's a wonderful solution, very well done.

[matthew.mccormack2257W]

Hi Libbya

Could I ask you to work your magic as I've tried copying what you've done to these other two blocks,but to no avail...   I've reset the blocks back to their original state (to save complicating things with the mess that I created)...  so if it's ok with you, could I ask you to apply the dynamic parameters that you did for the 90º bend to the other two blocks, 45º bend and the Variable bend with the insulation lines. see attached dwg...