Pipe Connector

This command draws the geometry of the connector pipe between two points in the current drawing, and outputs the connector pipe geometry to an IFC file.

Set Flange 1 & 2:
Allows you to select groups of points representing the first and second (start and end) points to be connected. Groups of points are expected to be laid out in a pattern resembling a circle. The best estimate of the center of this group of points will be the first or second connection point respectively¹. Using Set Flange 1 or 2 will also set flange direction 1 and 2 such that the first point is "facing" the second point and the second point is "facing" the first point.

Flange 1 & 2 Position:
Position of the first and second point that the connector pipe will join.

Flange 1 & 2 Direction:
Direction from which the beginning and end of the connector pipe will emanate.

Elbow 1 Radius:
Radius of the 1st elbow in the connector pipe geometry. This will be -1 if no pipe geometry is feasible².

Elbow 2 Radius:
Radius of the 2nd elbow in the connector pipe geometry. This will be -1 if only 1 elbow is needed to connect the start and end points of the connector pipe, or if no pipe geometry is feasible².

Pipe Diameter:
Diameter of connector pipe².

Pipe Thickness:
Thickness of the connector pipe².

Output IFC Path:
Output file path for the IFC file. Can be set using the "Select" button.

1. Pipe Connector performs various calculations when determining the geometry of the connector pipe. Because of this, the actual point that is determined by Set Flange 1 & 2 may not be the center of the group of points selected by the user. For example, if the two points can be joined by a pipe with only one elbow if one of the points is altered "slightly" Pipe Connector will alter the two points to simplify the pipe connector geometry in this way.

2. The feasibility of the connector pipe geometry depends on many variables. The two most common:
A) set flange 1 and 2 will attempt to set the the direction of the first and second point such that they face each other. However as the direction is editable, it is possible to set the point and direction of the first and second points of the connector geometry that cannot be connected.
B) Given a pipe Diameter and thickness it may be impossible to curve a pipe such that it connects the first point of the connector pipe to the second point of the connector point. If a larger radius is feasible, Pipe Connector will automatically compute this value, otherwise radius 1 and 2 will be set to -1.

Example

In this drawing the points (1, 2, 3, 4) and (5, 6, 7) will be used to specify the start and end point of the connector pipe. After being selected by Set Flange 1 and Set Flange 2 respectively and pressing okay, an ifc file will be written to the output IFC path and the connector geometry will be drawn in the drawing "demo3." (see below).

Pulldown Menu Location: BIM
Keyboard Command: pipe_connector
Prerequisite: Points on connections