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Pipe up your pipe creation skills.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Transcript
00:03
There are many ways to create piping layouts in AutoCAD MEP.
00:07
In this tutorial, you can try two techniques: placing a sloped pipe and creating connections using routing solutions.
00:16
To add a sloped pipe, start a new pipe run.
00:19
Hover the cursor over the right end of the top pipe in the example, and then click the plus sign grip.
00:26
In the Properties palette, on the Design tab, click Preferences.
00:32
In the Pipe Layout Preferences dialog, on the General tab,
00:36
disable Automatically create riser at new elevation so that you can draw a sloped pipe.
00:42
Click OK.
00:44
Back on the Design tab, under Routing, set the Slope format to Fractional rise, and the Slope to 1/8".
00:52
Under Placement, set the Elevation to 3'.
00:56
Back to the pipe, add a distance value of 10', press TAB to lock the value, and then click to place the section of pipe.
01:04
This creates a sloped section.
01:07
Press ENTER to complete the run.
01:10
Change the viewpoint to a SW Isometric 3D view and review the pipe.
01:17
You can also change the view from 2D Wireframe to Conceptual.
01:23
It is a good idea to use two viewports to see what you are creating in both the plan view and the model view.
01:32
On the Command line, type “vports” and press ENTER.
01:36
In the Viewports dialog, New Viewports tab, select Two: Vertical.
01:41
Click OK.
01:44
Set the viewing options for the two viewports.
01:47
Leave the right view as SW Isometric Conceptual.
01:52
Set the left view to a Top view with a 2D Wireframe drawing style.
01:59
Next, start a pipe run horizontal to the run you just placed.
02:04
From the ribbon, Home tab, Build panel, select Pipe.
02:09
Place a starting point to the right of the pipe you created earlier.
02:14
In the Properties palette, on the Design tab, change the Elevation to 22".
02:22
Complete the pipe run by clicking on the original pipe.
02:27
This creates a pipe run that meets the criteria for a 1/8" slope.
02:33
In the right viewport, change the view to a Front view.
02:37
Zoom in to see that the slope has been forced to adjust to make the connection.
02:42
Press ENTER to accept the pipe run.
02:46
Press ESC and return the view to SW Isometric.
02:50
You should try to avoid substantial elevation changes when using this solution.
02:56
Instead, try the routing solutions to create another form of sloped pipe.
03:01
In the left viewport, pick the plus sign grip on the lower right pipe,
03:07
and then use the end connector to snap to the end of the pipe to the left.
03:12
You are presented with a number of routing solutions.
03:15
Type N and press ENTER to cycle through the options.
03:21
When you see the 22.5-degree option, type A for Accept, and then press ENTER.
03:29
As long as you have room to make the fittings, it will create the run.
Video transcript
00:03
There are many ways to create piping layouts in AutoCAD MEP.
00:07
In this tutorial, you can try two techniques: placing a sloped pipe and creating connections using routing solutions.
00:16
To add a sloped pipe, start a new pipe run.
00:19
Hover the cursor over the right end of the top pipe in the example, and then click the plus sign grip.
00:26
In the Properties palette, on the Design tab, click Preferences.
00:32
In the Pipe Layout Preferences dialog, on the General tab,
00:36
disable Automatically create riser at new elevation so that you can draw a sloped pipe.
00:42
Click OK.
00:44
Back on the Design tab, under Routing, set the Slope format to Fractional rise, and the Slope to 1/8".
00:52
Under Placement, set the Elevation to 3'.
00:56
Back to the pipe, add a distance value of 10', press TAB to lock the value, and then click to place the section of pipe.
01:04
This creates a sloped section.
01:07
Press ENTER to complete the run.
01:10
Change the viewpoint to a SW Isometric 3D view and review the pipe.
01:17
You can also change the view from 2D Wireframe to Conceptual.
01:23
It is a good idea to use two viewports to see what you are creating in both the plan view and the model view.
01:32
On the Command line, type “vports” and press ENTER.
01:36
In the Viewports dialog, New Viewports tab, select Two: Vertical.
01:41
Click OK.
01:44
Set the viewing options for the two viewports.
01:47
Leave the right view as SW Isometric Conceptual.
01:52
Set the left view to a Top view with a 2D Wireframe drawing style.
01:59
Next, start a pipe run horizontal to the run you just placed.
02:04
From the ribbon, Home tab, Build panel, select Pipe.
02:09
Place a starting point to the right of the pipe you created earlier.
02:14
In the Properties palette, on the Design tab, change the Elevation to 22".
02:22
Complete the pipe run by clicking on the original pipe.
02:27
This creates a pipe run that meets the criteria for a 1/8" slope.
02:33
In the right viewport, change the view to a Front view.
02:37
Zoom in to see that the slope has been forced to adjust to make the connection.
02:42
Press ENTER to accept the pipe run.
02:46
Press ESC and return the view to SW Isometric.
02:50
You should try to avoid substantial elevation changes when using this solution.
02:56
Instead, try the routing solutions to create another form of sloped pipe.
03:01
In the left viewport, pick the plus sign grip on the lower right pipe,
03:07
and then use the end connector to snap to the end of the pipe to the left.
03:12
You are presented with a number of routing solutions.
03:15
Type N and press ENTER to cycle through the options.
03:21
When you see the 22.5-degree option, type A for Accept, and then press ENTER.
03:29
As long as you have room to make the fittings, it will create the run.
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