Create and Use Routing Points

Routing Points can be used to constrain a route, these points are points through which a branch will pass. You can define the coordinates of a point and the direction in which a branch arrives at and leaves a point.

You can add as many routing points as required but the points must be created at the correct position in the sequence of constraints.

Create a Routing Point

To create a routing point, select the required branch from the Pipe Router window, select Branch Detail. The Branch Detail window is displayed. From the Branch Detail window, select Create > Routing Point. The Create Routing Point window is displayed.

You can simply enter the coordinates on the Create Routing Point window or use the other options available on the menu, which are similar to the normal PDMS positioning options. Routing points can only be positioned after positionable or locked components.

By specifying a different arrive and leave direction, you will cause a bend or elbow to be inserted at the position of the routing point. If a change of direction is not required, select the Through Direction and specify the direction for the pipe to take at that point. If the direction is unset, Pipe Router will select the best direction to minimize the number of bends or elbows used.

Use DATUMs as Routing Points

There is an option on the Create Routing Point window which allows you to use an existing DATUM point as a routing point. Two branches should not use the same Datum point as a constraint since they would then clash.

If you wish to use a Datum where two branches meet, just one of the branches should have the point as a constraint. For example, Branch /P1/B1 ends at a Battery Limit and Branch P2/B1 connects to its Tail. Branch /P1/B1 should have the Datum as the last constraint and a Free Tail. The Head of Branch /P2/B1 will be positioned at the Tail of /P1/B1.

Moving a Routing Point

You can modify the position of a routing point at any time. From the Pipe Router window, select the branch to modify, click Branch Detail. The Branch Detail window is displayed.

Select the routing point to modify from the Components/Constraints list. Select Modify > Constraint. The Modify Routing Point window is displayed. Select one of the following options, depending on the type of modification:

Move > Distance

You can move a routing point a distance in a specified direction either from the current location, or relative to another element which you can identify using the cursor or another method.

Move > Towards

You can move the point a specified distance towards another element, which you can identify using the cursor, by specifying a named element or, which may be the head, tail or, the next element in the branch.

Note:
Make sure that the routing point is still in a sensible position in the list of constraints, otherwise a very convoluted route may be obtained.

If you have used a DATUM as a routing point, the standard PDMS positioning options can be used to modify its position.