Assembly Manager

A pipe assembly is a series of components and branches which are replica copies (in all aspects) of original components and branches. Or an assembly definition may be created to access existing macros or forms. Pipe assemblies are also used in Pipe Splitting, refer to Pipe Splitting for further information.

Assembly Hierarchy

To create pipe assemblies, a separate hierarchy must be created in the Model Explorer to provide a storage area for elements which are not part of the design model, called the Application Data World Hierarchy.

Create Pipe Assemblies

All the tasks performed that are associated with creating or modifying pipe assemblies are initiated from the Pipe Assembly Manager window, the window acts as a task hub.

Application Dataworld Hierarchy

As with the Design Hierarchy, new or existing assemblies are stored in a hierarchy the elements must be stored within a world element, followed by an assembly area and assembly elements. Once the assembly element is created an element called a Design Data Set is created below it, this stores the rules associated with the assembly and its individual components.

Create Assembly World Element

Use the Create Assembly World window to create an Assembly World element in the database hierarchy.

Input the attributes for the assembly world element, click OK to create the assembly world element or click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Create Assembly World window.

Create Assembly Area Element

Use the Create Assembly Area window to create an assembly area element in the database hierarchy.

Input the attributes for the assembly world element, click OK to create the assembly world element or click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Create Assembly Area window.

Create Assembly Element

Use the Create Assembly Area window to create an assembly element in the database hierarchy.

Input the attributes for the assembly world element, click OK to create the assembly world element or click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Create Assembly window.

The basic hierarchy has now been created is displayed in the Model Explorer and the Pipe Assembly Manager window which can now be populated with assemblies. The easiest way to create an assembly is to copy an existing assembly already created in the design, click Copy Design. The assembly displays in the Model Explorer and the Pipe Assembly Manager window.

Additional rules can now be added to the assembly and individual components within that assembly.

Non-Graphical Assemblies

To enable an assembly to perform a function or display a window, the function or form rule needs to be created for the assembly.

Display a Form

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to create a form rule.

In the Form Name field, enter the name of the form to display when the assembly is used, the form name must not contain !! or ().

Click OK, the Form Name is added to the Assembly Rules and stored in the Assembly Design Data Set so that it can be run each time the assembly is used.

Click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window.

Perform a Function

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to create a func rule.

In the Function Name field, enter the name of the function to be performed when the assembly is used, the function must not contain !! or ().

Click OK, the Function Name is added to the Assembly Rules and stored in the Assembly Design Data Set so that it can be run each time the assembly is used.

Click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window.

Primary and Secondary Origins

When an assembly is inserted into the design, the arrive point of the first component is used to position the assembly unless a primary origin is defined.

Note: Secondary origins are used in pipe splitting to derive correct spool lengths, refer to Spooling for further information.

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to set a primary origin.

The primary origin can be set by selecting the point in the 3D graphical view or the element name or reference number and the required PPOINT can be input.

To edit or delete any form, function or primary and secondary origin, from the Assembly Rules part of the Pipe Assembly Manager window, click Edit or Delete.

Assembly Component Rules

Component rules are necessary to add greater flexibility to assemblies in general use. The concept of copying an assembly instance has limitations where specifications have different STYPEs, because the selection fails. For example the STYPE for a gasket in one specification is RF where in another it is G. To solve this problem, two assemblies can be created to cater for both cases by having rules in the assembly rules.

Assembly rules multiple STYPEs, Positions, Orientation and restricting the STYPE to a particular SPEC/STYPE combination.

Each component in the assembly may have instances of all rule types associated with it. When the component is copied into the design, the rules are evaluated in place of the default actions. If no rules are present than a new item is created using the same relative position and relative and orientation as that of the original. The distinct actions for each component are:

• Selection (STYPE) - SEL WITH STYP RF

• Position - DIST 200 FROM PREV

• Orientation - ORI IS N WRT PREV

• Bore Selection - Use PL of PREV ELBO.

The addition of rules enables the default actions to be supplemented or overridden, refer to Component Rules for further information.

Component Rules

Use the Assembly Rules part of the Pipe Assembly window, to create addition rules or edit existing component rules, select the component to populate the Component Rules pane.

Stype

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to create a new STYPE rule or edit an existing one.

Note: The new or edited Stype rule overwrites the default Stype.

The name of the Design Data Set is named, in the Alternative STYPE part of the Pipe Assembly Rules window. Input or amend the Specification and Stype.

Click to select Apply to Similar Items check box to apply all similar items in the assembly.

Click to select Force this SPEC/STYPE check box forces the assembly to use a particular specification and stype regardless of the pipe specification where the assembly is being built.

Click OK to create or edit the Stype rule and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window.

Position

The position rule replaces the default position of the component and may be through command such as THRO PT or Dist 1000. These lines are executed as complete positioning commands in place of the default position derived from the relative position in the assembly.

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to create a new positioning command or edit an existing one.

The new or edited Positioning command overwrites the default Position.

The name of the Design Data Set is named, in the Positioning Command part of the Pipe Assembly Rules window. Input the Positioning Command.

Click OK to create or edit the Position rule and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window.

Orientation

Orientation rules can be in two forms, first as a single command in place of the default orientation, or as a trigger to prompt for orientation. For example ORI and P3 is D for a tee in a drain to always force it to point down. Or the command can be PROMPT, to ask for the orientation when the assembly is being built.

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to create a new Orientation Command or edit an existing one.

The new or edited orientation command overwrites the default orientation command.

The name of the Design Data Set is named, in the Orientation Command part of the Pipe Assembly Rules window. Input the Orientation Command.

Click OK to create or edit the Orientation rule and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window.

Bore Selection

The components which make up an assembly can often be of differing bore sizes, to reduce the amount of selection, bore selection rules can be put in place to use other components as a reference rather than prompting to select a bore size.

Use the Pipe Assembly Rules window to create a new Bore Selection rule or edit an existing one.

The new or edited Bore Selection rule overwrites the default bore selection.

The name of the Design Data Set is named, in the Bore Size part of the Pipe Assembly Rules window. From the Bore Type drop-down list, select the bore type to act as a reference.

In the Copy From field, identify the location of the existing assembly.

Select PICK, to select the component to act as a reference.

Click OK to create or edit the Bore Size rule and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Pipe Assembly Rules window.

Key Elements

A Key Element (of which there can be only one) is provided to allow an existing element in the design to directly replace an assembly such that the assembly is built around an existing design element as if it was part of the assembly. In effect a design component is used as a positioning and orientation component for the rest of the assembly.

Set a Key Element

To set a Key Element, right-click the component in the design hierarchy of the Pipe Assembly Manager window to display the Key Element drop-down menu.

Select Set Key Element from the drop-down list to display the key element in the design database.

Remove Key Element

To remove a Key Element, right-click the component in the design hierarchy of the Pipe Assembly Manager window to display the Key Element drop-down menu.

Select Remove Key Element from the drop-down list, the key element is removed from the design database.