3. Place the pipeline UDF

The process for placing a pipeline UDF can be performed within or outside the Pro/PIPING module. This capability is useful to designers who would like to create pipelines, but are not familiar with the Pro/PIPING menus. It also allows experienced Pro/PIPING users to leverage Standard assembly functions—e.g., Simplified Reps and Family Tables—without having to tog-gle between applications. Of course, you’ll still need to enter Pro/PIPING to make pipes solid and perform other important functions. To place a pipeline UDF into a target assembly:

1. Choose Feature, Create, User Defined.

2. Pick the desired pipeline UDF from the Open dialog box. Choose Open.

3. Specify the pipeline UDF instance if built with the Fam Table option.

4. Determine whether the local group will be dependent or independent of the UDF file (.gph file). Choose UDF Driven, Done if you want it dependent, or Independent, Done if you want it free.

5. Specify the scaling option.

• If the units of the pipeline UDF differ from those of the target model, the option Same Size will be available. This option converts dimension values to maintain the original pipeline’s size.

• Same Dims retains the original dimensions. If the units are different, this option will increase or decrease the size of the UDF.

• User Scale allows you to enter a scale factor.

Choose Done to continue.

6. Enter values for any variable dimensions defined during UDF creation.

7. Determine the display for invariable dimensions.

• If the UDF is being placed as independent, the Normal option will be available. Normal makes all invariable dimensions modifiable in the target model.

• Read Only makes invariable dimensions visible, but they cannot be modified.

• Blank eliminates the display of all invariable dimensions.

Choose Done to continue.

8. Select local references on the screen as prompted. In this example, you should pick a port on the pressure vessel and the motor.

9. Specify values for any variable elements defined within the UDF.

10. Choose Done to place the pipeline UDF (Fig. 4).

4. Tweak the pipeline UDF

Once placed into the assembly, the UDF is ready for tweaking. Tweaks usually involve such operations as changing the pipeline name or parameters, the referenced line stock, dimension values, or corner types.

To complete the pipeline, make the segments solid. When you choose Make Solid, the system displays the dialog box shown in Figure 5. Be sure to change the names of pipe solids to their appropriate production names, and remember to copy in pipe/hose start parts.