| Applies To | |
| Product(s): | AutoPIPE |
| Version(s): | ALL; |
| Area: | Import |
| Date Logged & Current Version |
Jan. 2019 12.00.00.14 |
Problem:
Parts of my PCF translated file into AutoPIPE have piping that is not connected, why?
Examples of disconnected piping:
Solution:
The initial guess for issues like this would be to review both the original model in the application that created the PCF file an the exported PCF file looking for disconnects.
Review the Original Model
After importing the file into AutoPIPE, the user can easily identify locations were piping was not correctly connected (see examples of pipe disconnects above). Knowing these locations, now open the original model in the application that generated the given PCF file, and review the same locations for potential connection issue. Confirm that the piping and components are correctly configured. After confirming the original model is correct, export a new PCF file and try to open in AutoPIPE. If problems persist, see next section on how to review the PCF file.
Review the PCF file
Again, after importing the PCF into AutoPIPE, go back to the PCF translator dialog and press the "View Logs" button. This log will provide details about what AutoPIPE mapped for materials and unknown components that were not mapped correctly. Review this file by opening in any Text editing application (ex. Notepad++. Ultra edit, etc..)
In addition, open the same folder where the PCF file is located. AutoPIPE also generated 2 more log files for review (*.PCFLOG, and *.LOG):
After reviewing all of the log files one should now integrate the PCF file for potential formatting issues.
Steps to repeat:
1. As shown above, Node Point 5 is disconnected, why?
2. Review the log files mentioned above.
3. In AutoPIPE select the node points (ex. 5) adjacent to the location of interest.
4. Using the "Point" tab on AutoPIPE's input grids, identify the global X, Y, and Z coordinate values of the current node point:
Note: typically the PCF coordinates units are English - Inches or Metric - mm, recommend to change the General Model Options Input Unit file as needed.
5. Next Now, open the PCF file in any text editor program and search for the coordinate location (ex. Global X = 116500.00, just search for the whole number only with out the decimals)
Note: Recall the PCF file coordinate format:
6. Searching the PCF file located a number of occurrences,
7. Go to each line that starts with End-Point and confirm the Y and Z coordinates are a close match (note - do not be concerned about an exact match, ignore decimal values)
8. Once the Line number has been identified, go to that point in the PCF file (ex. line 82), Note that the coordinates are a very close match.
9. A PCF file Components are connected based on the exact coordinates in the file.
| Example #1 |
Most components in a PCF file have 2 end points, Pipe in image above on line 80. Highlight all the End-Point coordinate values (58045.7223 116500.0113 62052.9687), and search for this text string. In this example the search only found one occurrence, meaning that nothing else in this file is connected in this direction of the pipe. Try going the other direction on the pipe. Again, highlight End-Point coordinates on line 81 of the pipe element (58164.5176 116342.3645 62052.9687) and search the entire file for all occurrences of this text string.
This search turned up 4 connected components
Go to each line to see what they are:
Progress through the PCF file search for coordinate text strings as needed to see how the components are connected. Again, if the search returns only 1 occurrence, then that is the End of connected segments in that direction. One may need to go back to the AutoPIPE model to get a new coordinate value to use in searching the PCF file.
Let us consider the other side of the break location, back In AutoPIPE, select node point (ex. 6, from image above), use Global X coordinate value (ex. 116505) to search the PCF file.
This search string only occurred 2x in this file.
Review each occurrence to determine which one is correct:
In this case, the components are a End-Position-Null and Bend
Once more, highlight the coordinate values ( 58041.2693 116505.9206 62051.2295) and search the entire file for all occurrences
This search only found 2 hits:
These are the same as image above. Consequently, there are no more connected components in this direction.
Conclusion:
By reviewing the PCF file, log files, and AutoPIPE translated model, one can clearly see that the components are not connected:
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- AutoPIPE Node point: 5 & 6
- PCF file Line numbers: 80 & 128
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Possible causes:
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- Original Modeling in the program that generated the PCF file
- The translator in the original application used to generate the PCF file has bugs.
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AutoPIPE will import components exactly as they are formatted in the PCF file. If there are missing components or pipe breaks in the PCF file then that is exactly what will be replicated into AutoPIPE. If the PCF file was found to have problems, users are then urged to contact technical support from the original application to work with in order to write a properly PCF file.
AutoPIPE offers a potential solution by allowing users to adjust the tolerance factor (PCF translator> Component tab> Tolerance) for joining disconnected elements through the PCF translator. However, it is important to note that this adjustment will impact the entire model and may result in joining node points that should remain separate. In some cases, manual fixes within AutoPIPE may be more effective than relying on the tolerance factor, while in other instances, using the tolerance factor may be preferable. It is recommended to thoroughly review the model after importing the file to ensure that node points have been correctly joined based on the specified tolerance factor.
| Example #2 |
The following were found in a PCF file:
Log file contain the following:
Why is the piping not completely connected?
Narrowed down the model to a small portion of the original model that could be managed:
Searched PCF file for 650 found the related line numbers.
Traced the PCF file starting at one node point using the coordinate search as mentioned above:
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- Start - Line 17 - 18 - 41 - 40 - 104 - 105 - Stop (Note 42 - Center of bend)
- Start - line 29 - 30 - Stop
- Start - Line 54 - 55 - 67 - 68 - Stop (Note 69 - Center of bend)
- Start - Line 81 - 82 - 93 - 94 - Stop
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There are 4 individual segments that are not connected. as can be seen in the PCF file trace performed above.
Next, measure average distance between breaks in piping.
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- 0.2 inches
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In PCF translator, increase tolerance to 0.1 inches.
Convert the model again using the new tolerance setting
Conclusion:
It is recommended to address issues in the source program generating the PCF file as the best solution. Nevertheless, certain PCF elements can be manually mapped in the PCFIN.map file. Moreover, the PCF translator in AutoPIPE includes a tolerance feature for connecting node points that are not continuously connected. Caution must be taken not to raise the tolerance too high, as this may result in incorrect node points being combined.