Routing a Run

This task shows you how to create a run.

 

 You can begin routing a run from:
  • Space.
  • An object, such as a tube.
  • The end of a run or middle of a run.
  • A point.
  • Connectors.
  • Item reservation face.

Design rules affect the way runs are routed. For instance, the turn radius of a run of a given nominal size is determined by the design rules. A sample set of design rules is included with this application, but most users (administrators, not individual users) will add to or modify them. Some ways in which rules affect run creation are explained below. See Rules Overview to find out which rules affected run creation. Also see Customizing - Standards and Design Rules - Modifying Design Rules for more information.

When you route, by default the run is created on the XY (Z=0) plane. If you want to route a run on a specific surface or another plane, then you need to place the compass on the plane or surface on which you want to create the run. In the image below, if the compass had not been placed on the surface, routing would take place at the XY plane. If the user wants to route on the surface of the object, he has to place the compass on it (as shown). The run will be created on the base plane of the compass, as shown below.
1.

 

 

 Click the Route a Run button .

The Run dialog box is displayed.

If the Schematic Driven option is set then the Schematic Browser will also display. This option is controlled from the Design Criteria tab - click Tools - Options, select Equipment & Systems, and select the Design Criteria tab. A Multiple Rule dialog box may also display. This is explained below and in the Design Rules section.

Select a Line ID in the Line ID menubar before you begin routing. Runs inherit some attribute values from the Line ID under which they are created. See Using the Line ID Menubar for more information.
2. Define the routing mode for the run:

Point-to-point: routing will be directly between two points indicated by clicking.

Orthogonal: routing between two points will proceed first in the X direction, then in the Y direction.

Slope routing: see Slope Routing.

Directional routing: see Routing with a Compass. 

Edgeline: see Edgeline Routing.

Branch at Center: see Branching a Run.

In addition, if you place the compass on an object the Use Compass Origin button will display. If you click the button and start to route the route will start from the compass origin. If you are in the middle of routing, the compass origin will serve as a routing point.

Click one of the Select Mode buttons - the default is No Filter. The Select Mode buttons allow you to define where you can start routing from.

No Filter: No filters are applied and you can route from any routable object or in space.

In Space: Routing will be in space. This is useful when you have a large object in the background, such as a ship structure, and you want to be able to route in space. You must select this option when you are routing in cache mode and you want to route in space with an object in the background. When you are in design mode you do not need to select this option. You can also de-select the option Allow selection of objects in cache mode during routing. If the option (Tools - Options - Equipment & Systems - Design Criteria) is NOT selected then you will not need to click the In Space button.

Only Part Connectors: Select this to be able to route from part or equipment connectors only.

Select part to display connector list: This button allows you to use a dialog box to select the connector on which to place a part, and is useful in busy documents. Click this button if you want to select the connector on which to place your part by using a dialog box, instead of selecting the connector in the viewer. With your document open, select the part you want to place, click the Select part to display connector list button and choose the part on which you want to place your part. A Selected Part dialog box will display, showing all the connectors on your selected part. The selected connector will be highlighted, and will be orange in the viewer. Select the connector on which you want to place your part and click OK.

Import Node Points: This allows you to route using predefined node points. See Routing with Defined Nodes for more information.
Section dimensions, Turn radius and Minimum length fields display the values given to the Line ID being used. Click the Section icon. The Display buttons allow you to select a display mode of Line/Curve or Solid. Click the Display Centerline button to show the centerline of the run. This will appear as a dashed yellow line. In addition a blue line will appear to display the Set Point setting. This feature works in both the Line/Curve and Solid display modes.
When defining Section parameters the section Types that are available depend on the workbench you are in.  For example, Piping Design, Tubing Design and Conduit Design use only the round section while Systems Routing (shown below) offers all section types.
3. Define the Section parameters:

a. Select the Section Type button.

The Section dialog box is displayed.

b. Define the section type and corresponding parameters for each of them:

No Section

Rectangular. Enter or select the: 

  • Set Point
  • Envelope Height
  • Envelope Width
  • Display

Circular. Enter or select the: 

  • Set Point
  • Envelope Diameter
  • Display

Flat Oval: Enter or select the:

  • Set Point
  • Envelope Height
  • Envelope Width
  • Display

Radius Corner: Enter or select the:

  • Set Point
  • Envelope Height
  • Envelope Width
  • Radius Corner
  • Display

Double Ridge: Enter or select the:

  • Set Point
  • Envelope Height
  • Envelope Width
  • Display

The Envelope field refers to the total work area needed. The section diameter is obtained from the line ID and equals the size of the pipe or tube you will place in the run. The envelope diameter includes additional space need for pipe insulation, etc. In the case of a round section the value is obtained from the Outside Diameter column of the XXXDimension design table. 

c.  Select OK on the Section dialog box.
Instead of entering the type of run, the set point and the height, width or diameter in the Section dialog box, you can select an existing run in your document. Once selected, the Section dialog box will display the values for that run. To select, click on the Run button and then click on the run whose values you want as the default. Make sure the entire run is selected - not just a segment or a node. It will be easier to select the run in the specifications tree.
4. Click the Press to use rule button if you want to use the intelligent design capabilities incorporated in the application. When you do this the  turn radius and minimum length are governed by the nominal size you select - you will not be able to enter a different value. The nominal size is displayed in the menu bar, along with the Line ID to which the run will belong and the Specification. The turn radius and minimum length for that nominal size are in turn governed by the rules tables. If there is more than one attribute, such as turn radius, associated with that nominal size then you will be prompted to select one and the Multiple Rule dialog box will display. In the example below you can select from four possible options to define the bend radius of a run. You will still be able to override the bend definition on a specific node of a run.

If the nominal size you select does not exist in the turn rule table then an elbow will be placed at the turns.

NominalSize: This is the nominal size you selected in the menubar.

BendRadius: Also known as turn radius. This is the turn radius of the run and the different values displayed are taken from the Turn Rules design table. If the value is 0 then the application will calculate it as explained below.

DiameterFactor: The diameter factor is a value used to calculate the turn radius of the run if no value for the Bend Radius attribute for a given nominal size is entered in the Turn Rules design table. The diameter factor multiplied by the Bend Diameter provides the turn radius of the run. (The Bend Diameter value is obtained from the Tube Dimension design table.) It is this calculated figure that will show in the Run dialog box. The application first determines if there is a value for a given nominal size in the Bend Radius column of the Turn Rules design table. If there is a value it will use that value. If there is no value then it will calculate it as explained above. 

NumberofMiterCuts: If the value is other than 0 then your elbows will be mitered. The number of miters will equal the value shown in the column plus 1.

See Modifying Design Rules and Creating a Line ID for more information.
5. If you decide not to use the rules then enter values for the minimum length and turn radius.
If you enter a minimum length or turn radius you will not be able to route correctly unless these values are satisfied. For instance, if you enter a minimum length of 10 feet, you will not be able to complete a segment that is 5 feet. In the illustration below, the green line shows the minimum segment length that will be created, even if you try to make a shorter segment, because the minimum length you entered is longer than the segment you are now trying to create. Similarly, if you enter a value for the turn radius, your run will automatically be adjusted to satisfy the defined turn radius.

 
6. Click in the drawing to define the routing points. If you want the application to show you possible paths between two objects, then select your beginning and end points and click the Display Alternate Path button . The first click displays a field showing the number of possible paths: . Subsequent clicks show the actual paths. You have a choice of three: shortest distance; orthogonal from start to end and orthogonal from end to start. The minimum length of any segment will be equal to or more than the Minimum Length value in the Run dialog box. See Displaying Alternate Paths for more information about this option.
7 Once you have a route you want to accept, click OK or the Create the Run button and the run will be created. If you click the Create the Run button to create a run, the Run dialog box does not close, and you can create another run. If you click OK in the Run dialog box you will exit the command. Click Cancel to abort your routing and exit the command.

You can also double-click on the last point to stop routing. In this case you will not be able to display alternative paths.

8. Click on the Close Loop symbol that shows at the beginning of the run if you want to create a closed loop run. In a closed loop run the ends of the run are joined.
9. When starting a run from a part, a run that is a continuation of an existing run, or if branching from an existing run use the following buttons as needed:

Get Line ID from Selection: gets the line ID from the run or part you are routing from.

Get Line Size from Selection: gets the size from the run or part you are routing from.

Get Line Spec from Selection: gets the line specification from the run or part you are routing from.

NOTE: The above three buttons are dependent upon settings in the project resource management file. Certain settings in that file will mean these buttons are always grayed out. In the task List of PRM Resources and Flags, see entries for the resources: AlwaysUseSpecFromLine; GetLineFromSelection; GetSizeFromSelection; GetSpecFromSelection.
  10.   The Change to Schematic Mode button lets you toggle between schematic and non-schematic mode. You will exit the command when you click this button and need to click the Route Run command again.