Pipe-UCS Intersection

Version: ShipConstructor 2002
Module: Pipe

Pipe-UCS intersection is perfect for advanced 3D routing. It allows users to easily connect two pipes arbitrarily oriented in 3D-space.

Preparation:

• Enable the context sensitive right-click menu, as this command is only available from this menu. On the AutoCAD menu select TOOLS / OPTIONS and go to the PREFERENCES tab. ENABLE the right-click menu.
• Open the piping drawing.
• Set up a traverse-plane on which to run the connection. Often this will be a plane parallel to a frame, deck or bulkhead. For example load (XREF) the structural drawing of a frame, activate the construction or thickness UCS, and then move the Z by a desired amount to run the traverse pipe at the given distance from the frame.

In Figure 1 two pipes are in arbitrary orientation in 3D space. For each pipe we have indicated a representative plane. The connection for the two pipes will traverse along the XY plane of the UCS shown. The intersection of the representative pipe planes with the traverse-plane are indicated by dashed lines.

1. Without anything selected, right-click and select from the menu ShipConstructor2002 / Pipe-UCS Intersection / Add Pipe-UCS as shown in Figure 2.
2. Click the end of one pipe. A circle is created at the intersection of the pipe axis and the traverse-plane.
3. Repeat this procedure for the second pipe, Figure 3.
4. Without anything selected, right-click and select from the menu ShipConstructor2002 / Pipe-UCS Intersection / Highlight all Pipe - Intersections to get a better impression of the relationships. Dashed lines are now drawn from the end of the pipes to the points marked by the intersection circles.
5. Routing a bent traverse-pipe: Click the bent-pipe button, click on one of the two pipes, route to the traverse-plane intersection, route to the next intersection, and then to the second pipe. See Figure 4.
6. Routing using cut-back elbows: Click the Elbow button and select corner mode. Now click on the first pipe, then the intersection on the traverse-plane, then the other intersection on the traverse plane. A cut-back elbow is placed at the intersection. Repeat for the second elbow. Now stretch the pipes to the elbow connections and insert a straight pipe on the traverse-plane.

- Mr. Christian Zuger, Software Developer