Tube and pipe style - use of second key in custom-built pipe style

[Dulli_D]

Hello.

I made a Complete custom built tube and pipe style from scratch and in principle everything is working i.e. I can put pipe, elbows 90/45 and tee together to a style and even use when modelling. I defined key1 as the nominal size and key2 to the wall thickness. If I edit the nominal size and the wall thickness of the pipe style (from the drop-down menu in the tube and pipe style window) the nominal size updates as it should for the pipe and the fittings, but the wall thickness does only update for the pipe.

A work-around is browsing to the wanted size of the fittings, but it should exist a better way of managing this.

Anyone who can explain in detail the procdure how to use the second key of custom-built fittings?

[A.Acheson]

@Dulli_D 

Congrats on creating custom content it is no easy task. I found myself just copying the standard library family to my library and modify the tables from there. Works for most content but not all.

I have attached a method to check the content of the active style. The pdf with screenshots shows how to check the 90 degree elbow for the correct schedule, material and part number. You can do that with the other content in the style. 

 While testing the workflow I actually, I noticed I had wrong components mapped in my own style whoops. 

Here is a link that walks you through style creation. 

https://cadtipstricks.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/inventor-tube-pipe-styles-a-walkthrough/

Hope this helps

[Dulli_D]

Thank you for thre reply. 

I manage to choose the right part by all keys when adding it from content center. I get a selecting window similar to yours related to my keys. So, it seems to be set up correctly.

The only missing thing is when I edit the pipe style (see Figure 8 in your pdf) and lets say I change the diameter and the thickness/schedule of the pipe. Then I need to manually pick the right elbows from the Library browser. It takes the elbows with correct nominal size automatically, but not with correct thickness/schedule. It applies the first part that fits to the nominal size and does not take into account the thickness.

[CGBenner · Accepted solution]

@Dulli_D 

Hi, if I am understanding what you are saying, there is no way for the elbow to automatically change to the correct wall thickness, you will always have to specify that manually after you change keys on the pipe in your style.  For reasons that I don't fully understand, T&P actually allows you to use fittings in your styles that technically meet all of the criteria, but in real world scenarios would not work.  If you choose, you could even over-ride the end treatments and create a style that uses butt weld elbows with threded pipe.  Because of this, the style will not make any assumptions regarding the elbows when something on the pipe is changed, unless it does violate one of the rules.  For example, if the change you made DID cause an end treatment discrepency, it would warn you of that.  When you change the wall thickness of the pipe, the style doesn't care about the thickness of the elbow... it works and doesn't violate anything, so it just lets it stay there.  That's a long winded response, but I hope it helps!

[Dulli_D]

@CGBennerYes, that is exactly what I am talking about and what I am wondering about. Then I will take it as it as for now. Thanks.