Tube and pipe - adding flange

[Anonymous]

Hi.

I've created a pipe style that's a mixture of welded and flanged pipework. I've started the route from a tank outlet flange (the flange is modelled as part of the tank).  Currently the model shows the pipework welded to the tank outlet flange, but obviously I want to add a flange to the end of the pipework to allow it to connect to the tank outlet.

What's the best way to do this?

I have found the "Edit Fitting Connections" command, which shows the end connection to the tank (a separate part in the assembly) but the Engagement is shown as "User Defined" and greyed out so I can't change it (see screenshot).  Is there some way to change it to specify a flange?

Many thanks

[cbenner]

A note along the line of this conversation, @Anonymous, if you change your Tube & Pipe style to a flanged style, and specify a flange and gasket for the style, they will drop in automatically when you place a flanged fitting (like your valve) into the route.

[Anonymous]

Thanks @cbenner I see that now.  And if I insert a welded fitting, it leaves a gap (as specified in my "Rules" of my style.

So with a style that specifies welded and flanged connections, which one it uses depends on the end treatment of the fitting that is inserted.  However, my problem is that when it uses a flange, it applies my weld gap to the pipework connection to the flange.  I need to somehow modify the method it uses to connect the flange to the pipework when it automatically inserts a flange.

A workaround could be to change the pipe style to welded only, so it tries to join a welded pipe end to a flanged fitting.  I could then manually insert a flange over the end of the pipe.  I haven't tried this yet.

Thanks again for all the help - I really owe you guys a few beers.

[Anonymous]

Going back to posts 2 and 3 of this thread, to put a flange onto my equipment connection before I start routing, do I do this outside of T&P?  Just insert the flange as a normal component in the assembly?

Thanks again

[cbenner]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Going back to posts 2 and 3 of this thread, to put a flange onto my equipment connection before I start routing, do I do this outside of T&P?  Just insert the flange as a normal component in the assembly?

Thanks again

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I Insert the flange into the pipe Run, so that in my BOM it shows in that pipeline.  You can insert the flange ("Place", then "Connect"), and then start your route from the outlet of the flange.

On my last comment, do you not want the weld gap between the pipe and flange?  Is it a weldneck flange?

[Anonymous]

@cbenner thanks, I'll try that.

No, it's a slip on flange, so I want the pipe to go into the flange rather than stop 2 mm (that's what my weld gap is) before it reaches the flange.

Thanks again

[cbenner]

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henrijq wrote:

No, it's a slip on flange, so I want the pipe to go into the flange rather than stop 2 mm (that's what my weld gap is) before it reaches the flange.

Thanks again

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Ah, I see.  More challenging.  I've never done anything like that.  Here's your big chance to figure out something us guru's have never done.

As for the beers... come to AU2016 and you can buy me a free one.  😄

I might submit a proposal to teach my T&P class again, haven't decided yet.

[Mark.Lancaster]

Not sure if I'm too late to the party or not..  But if I remember correctly the way that slip on flanges are authored in CC is incorrect in my opinion.   Meaning I redid mine so that the pipe was inserted into the flange.

[Anonymous]

I'm quite pleased to hear it's not something obvious I'm failing to realise!

I'll have a go and see if my idea works....

As for inserting the flange into the run before starting the route, I understand what you're saying, but what do I actually connect it to?  I'm trying to snap it to a sketch (circle) in another part in the assembly, but it ignores the sketch - see screenshot below - the circle sketch is within the concrete base part.

Do I need to connect it to actual part geometry rather than a sketch?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster ah so I should redefine the connection point to be somewhere inside the flange rather than at the end face?

I'm not sure I can do that as I don't have write access to my CC, and you can set the flange within a style to be a flange stored outside CC can you?

[Mark.Lancaster]

If I remember when I first starting using slip ons, you have to change the engagement depth so the piping inserts into the flange.  As you can see the default engagement is at the back of the flange which in my opinion is not correct for a slip on flange.  However the actualy engagement requirement is show in the orange/brownish (yes I'm color blind ) defintion as shown in the below image.  To me that's too much work to figure out so I created new ones that set the point a certain amount of distance from the flange face.  Our rule was the distance from the flange face was equal to the wall thickness of the pipe (or pipe schedule).

To your other question..  The content center libraries that come with Inventor are read-only and you are unable to modify them.  However you can create your own read-library and modify the CC information as needed.   Both @cbenner and I have articles in how to accomplish that..  But (and don't tell cbenner) my articles are better than his..    (Just kidding).  Let us know if you want a peak at that information

[cbenner]

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@Mark.Lancaster wrote:

But (and don't tell cbenner) my articles are better than his..    (Just kidding). 

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@Mark.Lancaster I have no doubt that is true!

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster thanks for the explanation.

I think my problem is that I'm unable to create a read CC library as I don't have write access.  I'll investigate further though.

Is there any way to select a non-CC flange to be used within a style?

[Anonymous]

I've worked out how to create libraries now so will have a go at your suggestion.....

Cheers

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster @cbenner I've opened a flange from the CC, saved it as a part, authored it to change the connection details (as per your example @Mark.Lancaster ), published it into the CC into my user library, then edited the T&P style to reference the newly published flange.

However, I must be doing something wrong as when I insert a fitting I still get the gap between the pipe and the flange face, rather than between the pipe and the point I specified inside the flange.

Is there any way to view the connection points of the flange in my pipe run?  I.e. see the points that were defined in the authoring process, but without actually authoring it?

Thanks again!

[salariua]

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@Mark.Lancaster wrote:

Both @cbenner and I have articles in how to accomplish that..  But (and don't tell cbenner) my articles are better than his..    (Just kidding).  Let us know if you want a peak at that information

**** right we want to see your article. SHARE ... or we will hack your computer and get them on wikileaks.

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@Anonymous can you post a picture of the T&P style in use? I am trying to replicate and test on this end.

I have looked at the flange you posted and  weird or not should work, but it could be a bug as well, although I never heard of T&P bugs,.. just improvement oportunities.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@salariua

My articles center around the management of content center and  the creation/setup of the read/write library.  It doesn't really go into authoring for routed system.  But here they are if someone is interested in them:

https://www.synergis.com/2014/02/28/working-with-inventor-content-center-part-1-of-3/

https://www.synergis.com/2014/03/17/working-with-autodesk-inventor-content-center-part-2-of-3/

https://www.synergis.com/2014/03/28/working-with-autodesk-inventor-content-center-part-3-of-3/

And if you call within the next 10 mins I will throw this article in to at no additional charge..     Sorry its been a long day...

https://www.synergis.com/2014/04/14/component-replacement-on-a-content-center-part/

[Anonymous]

Yes, let's see it!

Screenshots of pipe style below.

Let me know if you want a pack and go or anything else.

Thanks very much again.