rhinopiping walkthrough tutorial - forum...

RhinoPiping walkthrough tutorial

RhinoPiping offers a full range of tools for piping design. In this tutorial, we will walk through most of

these tools and commands.

/ 31 Last time edited : 10/21/2016

I. Guide Contents

I. Guide Contents ................................................................................................................................ 2

II. Generalities ..................................................................................................................................... 4

A. Documentation ............................................................................................................................ 4

B. Command names ......................................................................................................................... 4

C. Capabilities .................................................................................................................................. 4

D. Connection circles ....................................................................................................................... 4

E. Options ........................................................................................................................................ 5

F. Layers ........................................................................................................................................... 5

G. RhinoPiping protection ................................................................................................................ 5

H. Additional attributes integration................................................................................................. 6

III. RhinoPiping catalog customization ................................................................................................. 7

A. Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 7

B. Custom Attribute Specification ................................................................................................... 7

C. Nominal Sizes ............................................................................................................................ 10

D. Custom Pipe and elbow classes ................................................................................................. 10

1. Pipe classes ............................................................................................................................ 10

2. Elbow classes ......................................................................................................................... 13

E. Creating components ................................................................................................................ 15

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 15

3. Preparing a Rhino3D model .................................................................................................. 15

4. Creating a component ........................................................................................................... 16

5. Creating a “dressed component” (Pro feature) .................................................................... 18

6. Other catalog-related commands ......................................................................................... 18

IV. Designing a piping system with RhinoPiping ................................................................................. 19

A. Commands available in RhinoPiping free LT edition ................................................................. 19

1. Command RP_CreatePipeline ..................................................................................... 19

2. Command RP_AddComponent ................................................................................... 21

3. Command RP_Slide ................................................................................................. 22

4. Command RP_Connect ................................................................................................ 22

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_Slide.png


5. Command RP_Disconnect ........................................................................................... 22

6. Command RP_Cut ........................................................................................................ 23

7. Command RP_Replace ................................................................................................ 23

8. Command RP_Rotate .............................................................................................. 23

9. Command RP_TurnAround ..................................................................................... 24

10. How to remove a component with the free LT edition? ................................................... 24

11. How to replace an elbow with the free LT edition? .......................................................... 24

B. Commands available only with a RhinoPiping Pro License ....................................................... 25

1. Command RP_ChangeElbows ..................................................................................... 25

2. Command RP_ReplaceDiameters ................................................................................ 25

3. Command RP_Stretch .................................................................................................. 25

4. Command RP_Mirror .............................................................................................. 25

5. Command RP_Avoidance ........................................................................................ 26

6. Command RP_RemoveComponent ........................................................................ 27

C. Special commands for attributes .............................................................................................. 27

1. AA_Get Value ........................................................................................................................ 27

2. AA_SetValue .......................................................................................................................... 27

V. RhinoPiping design outputs and analysis ...................................................................................... 28

A. Outputting a “3D Isometric” drawing ....................................................................................... 28

B. Generating a Bill-Of-Material .................................................................................................... 29

1. Creation of a template .......................................................................................................... 29

2. Export as csv .......................................................................................................................... 30

3. Inserting the table in a drawing sheet ................................................................................... 31

C. Using the analysis tool ............................................................................................................... 31

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_Stretch.png

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_RemoveComponent.png


II. Generalities

A. Documentation

You can get some help with RhinoPiping in many ways:

As for most rhino3D commands, you can get some help by pressing “F1” while executing a

RhinoPiping command. (Flash player for internet explorer required)

You may also find interesting to have a look at these online tutorials:

http://www.rhinopiping.com/support/tutorials/

And finally you are welcome to ask for some help in our forum:

In English: http://www.rhinopiping.com/Forums/forum/english/

In French: http://www.rhinopiping.com/Forums/forum/french/

The command RP_About will give your RhinoPiping’s current version

B. Command names

RhinoPiping command names follow these general rules:

The RhinoPiping commands begin with “RP_” (e.g. RP_CreatePipeline)

The Catalog Configuration commands begin with “RP_CC_” (e.g. RP_CC_CreateItem)

The Additional Attribute commands begin with “AA_” (e.g. AA_Report)

Since Rhino3D has an auto-completion feature, it can be really useful to remember these.

C. Capabilities

RhinoPiping let you flawlessly design a piping system made of any kind of rigid pipes as long as its

section is a circle. Our engine, mainly based on connection circles can handle any number of

components, each of them having up to eight connection circles.

This system also means that RhinoPiping could be used to design any other system using circular

section elements, such as some electrical wiring or sometimes HVAC systems.

D. Connection circles

When a connection circle is green, it means it is not

connected. While adding a piping element to your pipe line,

the closest disconnected connection circle is highlighted in

yellow, while the selected pipe line is highlighted in white.

When two connection circles are connected, they become

blue colored. In the example, the butterfly valve is connected

to the pipe.

http://www.rhinopiping.com/support/tutorials/

http://www.rhinopiping.com/Forums/forum/english/

http://www.rhinopiping.com/Forums/forum/french/

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_About.png


E. Options

RhinoPiping adds a tab in the rhino options where you can select:

The nominal size display. Each connection circle has a nominal size and

can be only connected with a piping element of the same nominal size.

RhinoPiping handles two different display modes. One is named “DN”,

it is the International standard notation in mm, and the other is named

“NPS”, it is the Anglo-Saxon equivalent. (For example DN: 32 is equivalent to NPS: 1 ¼)

The license information and activation. This part will be

removed after RhinoPiping-1.0.9.

The RP_Iso3D options, which are specific

to the command RP_Iso3D

F. Layers

Every piping element created with RhinoPiping must be located in the layer named “Piping network”,

or its sub-layers. If the piping layer “Piping network” does not exist, it will be created.

G. RhinoPiping protection

Some modifications of a pipeline created by RhinoPiping with a rhino3D command are forbidden to

protect the piping data, for example:

If you try to scale a piping element, you will get this message:


If you try to delete/move/rotate (etc.) a piping element alone when its connection circles are

connected, it will also be forbidden, and you will get this message:

These modifications would have been alright it the piping element hadn’t been connected

(Try using the command “RP_Disconnect” if needed), or if your selection contains all the

connected piping elements.

WARNING: If you open a file with RhinoPiping elements with RhinoPiping uninstalled, it will works

but you mustn’t modify any element belonging to the “Piping network” layer. (If you do, it can result

in file corruptions, and make RhinoPiping crash later)

H. Additional attributes integration

RhinoPiping is deeply integrated with a free rhino plugin named

AdditionalAttribute. As its name suggest, AdditionalAttribute adds a

special tab in rhino3D properties for attributes.

These attributes can be defined in RhinoPiping’s catalog (specific to a pipe class for example),

calculated, read-only (or not), and a lot more. Special internal attributes will also be displayed, like

the nominal diameter of the selected element, its type and family, etc…


III. RhinoPiping catalog customization

A. Overview

While this step is not absolutely necessary to use and try RhinoPiping, we recommend customizing as

much as possible your catalog before starting an actual project.

Since October 2016, we provide a free configuration tool for RhinoPiping; we will use it to create the

catalog we need for our project. First of all, you need to download our tool named RP Configurator. It

requires a windows computer with at least the .NET framework 4.5 installed.

B. Custom Attribute Specification

There are two ways to add a custom attribute in the specification:

It can be part of the catalog itself, as part of a pipe class or an elbow class definition. For example

the standard catalog classes contain an attribute named lineic-mass. Its values are listed in the

pipe class definition. (See Pipe Classes)

It can be defined in the attribute spec file. We are now going to see this last case:

1. In our RP Configurator tool, open the Attributes Specification menu:


2. This is the Attribute Specification panel:

The left column is the list of existing attributes.

The compute mode is a method for calculated attributes. When “compute mode” is

True, the “Formula” text box is enabled. A formula can be a multiplication, a division, an

addition or a subtraction. (See example below)

The “default value” is the value automatically given to any component as default

(mandatory but recommended). It is disabled for calculated attributes.

The “read-only” option states if the attribute can be modified in the rhino properties

panel.

The “Category” option is where the custom attribute will exist in Rhino3D. It can be only

for pipes, only for elbows, only for components, for every piping element or for every

Rhino elements.

The “type” option defines what kind of value the Additional Attribute plugin should

expect. Select Double for numbers, string for texts, or one of the enumerations when

the used should select a value on a list.

The right side of this windows let you create or remove enumerations. An enumeration is

a fixed list of possible values.


EXAMPLE

If you have an attribute lineic-mass defined in your pipe classes, you could use the internal attribute

rhinopiping:length to calculate the pipes’ mass.

We would create an attribute named for example “CUSTOM:Mass”, then we should set compute mode as

true, and the formula “lineic_mass * rhinopiping:length”. We will select the category “Pipe” because the

other elements don’t have a lineic_mass attribute for the calculation. Then we apply the modifications and

close the window.

After restarting Rhino3D, the result will be visible when you will select a Pipe:


C. Nominal Sizes

The file “nominal-sizes.xml” is used to make the translation between DN and NPS. Every piping

component is bound to be linked to this list of existing sizes, but you can add some if you follow

these rules:

Both DN and NPS must be in ascending order

The NPS is supposed to be written as integer and half, quarter, or eight fractions.

(e.g. “3 1/4”)

The NPS is supposed to be written as integer only

Please note that the value doesn’t give the actual size of a pipe class, for example a pipe class

might be DN50, with a thickness of 1.7mm and an outside diameter of 51mm.

The default path is: "C:\ProgramData\Navinn\catalogs\nominal-sizes.xml"

D. Custom Pipe and elbow classes

1. Pipe classes

a) Introduction

The pipe classes can be defined in xml files or/and csv files. In our RP Configurator tool, we mainly

focus on using the csv system because it is a lot more user friendly.

Let’s open the pipe classes’ editor:

EXAMPLE

As an example, let’s say we need to add a non-standard pipe class with a DN85.

If we check the xml file, we can see it does not exist:

To create this nominal size while following the rules above, we should add the following line:


b) The pipe classes editor panel

This panel gives you all the info concerning your pipe classes. The left column contains the list of pipe

classes, and the right side let you perform some actions and gives you some information regarding to

the selected pipe class:

The highlighted text ① indicates whether the selected pipe class is defined in a csv file. If

that is not the case, the button on the right can convert it back into a csv. Since the pipe

classes defined without a csv are mostly the result of automatic import, we don’t save them

when closing this editor. (We recommend to always save the pipe classes as csv files)

You have got a button to edit the values in your favorite csv file viewer, such as MS Excel or

LibreOffice calc.

The editing rules will be reminded, including the column order for each specific class:

The highlighted text ② gives you the current pipe class’ category name. Each category can

contain several pipe classes, and each category has usually its own xml file definition given in

the text box below.


The button ③ lets you remove a pipe class. If there is an elbow class attached to this pipe

class, you will be also asked if you want to remove it (recommended)

The button ④ opens the pipe class creation panel.

c) The pipe class creation panel

The pipe class creation panel let you create a new pipe class:

The category section:

Here you can create a new category, or reuse an existing one. If you create a new category, you will

also have to select the outside diameter unit and the thickness (or inside diameter) unit. You can also

change the category xml path, but it’s generally better to leave the default value.

The pipe class section:

This is where you will name your new pipe class. Use a simple name, without spaces. You normally

don’t need to change the csv path and the csv separator.

The category section:

In this category, you can create custom attributes specific to this pipe class. There are always three

mandatory attributes which can be:

DN, OD, thickness

NPS, OD, thickness

DN, OD, ID

NPS, OD, ID


NPS (Nominal Piping Size) and DN (Diameter Nominal) refer to the nominal size correspondence

file seen above.

OD stands for Outside Diameter.

ID stands for Inside Diameter.

To switch between DN and NPS, remove the one in place and the other will appear instead. The

same goes for ID and thickness.

The attributes order doesn’t change anything when using RhinoPiping, but it is important because

the csv column order will have to be the same.

2. Elbow classes

a) Introduction

There are three different kinds of elbows in RhinoPiping:

Components elbows: they are components characterized as elbows. When you create a

component that could be an elbow, RhinoPiping asks you if you want to consider it as an

elbow.

Since they are basically components, you can give them any shape, which could be a great

advantage. The only drawback is that you need to design it for every size and shape needed.

Another particularity might be an advantage as well as a drawback: this kind of elbow is not

linked to a pipe class. If you want to make sure to use the right one, you will have to be

careful while naming your component. On the other side, it might sometimes be really useful

to be able to use these nicely designed components with several pipe classes.

Curvature factor elbows classes: these automatic elbows can be use instead of component

elbows for a faster design, or instead of bending. (Note: bending technically does not exist

yet in RhinoPiping: a pipe is always straight)

These kinds of elbow classes are the quickest to create and the most flexible. Since these are

automatic, every angle exists from the start. They are linked to one specific pipe class.

Their definition only uses the associated pipe class, and a curvature factor.

Tabulated curvature elbows classes: these automatic elbows can be use instead of

component elbows for a faster design, or instead of bending. (Note: bending technically does

not exist yet in RhinoPiping: a pipe is always straight)

These kinds of elbow classes are quick to create and flexible. Since these are automatic,

every angle exists from the start. They are linked to one specific pipe class.

Their definition uses the associated pipe class and a curvature value (mm) for each needed

pipe size.


b) The elbow classes panel

The automatic elbows classes are defined in an xml file. Our RP Configurator tool helps you to

create/edit elbow classes easily. Let’s open the elbow classes’ editor:

The upper part of this panel is for the Curvature Factor elbows, while the lower part for the

Tabulated Curvature Elbows.

The curvature factor creation panel

When you create a curvature factor elbow class, you just have to select a pipe class and input a

curvature factor. You can also change the key (the curvature factor name), but the default value is

interesting since it contains the curvature factor value.


The tabulated curvature creation panel

When you create a tabulated curvature elbow class, you will choose the associated pipe class, the

Elbows class name, and the standard. (The standard is some kind of category for the pipe class. In the

default catalog we use the supplier’s name VALLOUREC as a standard.)

Then you will need to add at least one curvature value (in mm) in the table.

E. Creating components

1. Introduction

The creation of piping components for RhinoPiping is highly flexible and quite fast. You can create as

many components as you want, even with the free RhinoPiping LT license. The main characteristics of

a component will be:

From one up to eight connection circles. Each of them can have a different diameter.

No limitation concerning the shape. The component can contain curves, surfaces, solids or

meshes.

3. Preparing a Rhino3D model

Before it could be imported as a RhinoPiping component, you should add to your Rhino model a

closed circle for each future pipe connection point. They will become the basis to generate the actual

piping connection circle.

If your design allows it, the fastest way would be

to use the Rhino command: _dupedge

Else the command: _circle would obviously do

the job.


Tip for using an existing component as a basis:

Insert the component with the command RP_AddComponent (don’t connect it to a pipeline)

Use the command _explode: it won’t be anymore a piping component (No connection circles)

Remodel it as needed, and then create a new component from it.

4. Creating a component

1. Select every elements:

2. Launch the command: RP_CC_CreateItem

3. Name you component:

The name shall not contain special characters and blank spaces, except “-” and/or “_”.

Don’t use the diameter in the component’s name. All identical components with different

diameters should have the same name, because RhinoPiping will automatically use the right

DN/NPS.

The character “/” let you define the hierarchy in the component tree.

For example: “Provider/Class/ValveButterfly1” will appear later as:

4. Select your connection circles. (If you followed this guide you created them before)

For each of them, RhinoPiping will try to detect the corresponding nominal size and ask you

for confirmation:

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_CC_CreateItem.png


If you select no, you will be asked to choose the right nominal size:

5. Check the connection circles’ orientation. Each of them should have the arrow pointed

outward. Click near a circle to reverse its orientation.

6. In some cases, the command will ask you if you want to confirm if you want to apply a

stereotype (A special rule for this component).

The most common stereotype is ‘invariant under rotation’. If you validate this one your

component will ignore the rotation requests later. In most cases you wouldn’t want that.

7. Another stereotype is quite important; it is the ‘elbow’ stereotype. By allowing this one you

will be able to use a component as an elbow.


5. Creating a “dressed component” (Pro feature)

The dressed components are special piping components, made of several components each.

(Available for RhinoPiping Pro only) The dressed component has its own attributes, but it is possible

to “undress” it and make it back to the original components.

For example you could group together a valve with its two flanges and joints, which would make it

really faster to use when designing a pipeline.

The commands are:

RP_CC_CreateDressedItem (Create a dressed component)

RP_ExplodeDressedComponent (Explode a dressed component)

6. Other catalog-related commands

There are several other catalog related commands:

RP_CC_RenameItem : let you rename a component’s family

RP_CC_DeleteItem : let you delete a component’s family

RP_CC_SetStereotypes : let you update the stereotypes for a component’s family

!!! Please keep in mind that it is not recommended to rename/delete a component during a project:

when you open a file with its former name, it will be re-imported, resulting in duplicates. !!!

EXAMPLE

From left to right:

1. The first on is a ball valve alone.

2. The second one is a small portion of line, including a ball valve, two joints and two

flanges. It is fine but it would be 5 components to insert every time.

3. The last one is a dressed component, made from all the components mentioned

above. It is a lot faster to insert in a pipeline (two clicks), and it avoids making mistake

while choosing the matching elements.

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_CC_CreateDressedItem.png

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_ExplodeDressedComponent.png


IV. Designing a piping system with RhinoPiping

A. Commands available in RhinoPiping free LT edition

1. Command RP_CreatePipeline

This one is RhinoPiping most important command, since it is the one which you are going to draw

your pipe lines with.

a) Usage

1. Run the command RP_CreatePipeline

2. Pick the vertices of the polyline which will be pipeline's axis,

3. Hit Enter (or right-click) to end the pipeline.

b) Snaps

If the Rhinoceros® snap “Point” is enabled, the command can:

Extend an existing pipeline.

Connect to an existing pipeline (these snaps are only defined after the second vertex picking)

Start from a tapping into an existing pipeline ( these snaps disappear after the first vertex is

picked)

End with a tapping into an existing pipeline.

If may occur that RhinoPiping has difficulties to connect to an existing pipe line if too many snaps are

enabled. Depending on the case, you may need to temporary disable every snap except “Point”.

c) Pre-selection

If pipelines are pre-selected when the command starts, the snaps for connection or tapping are built

only for the pre-selected elements.

d) Consistency

RhinoPiping always make sure every piping element is compatible with the others in the same pipe

line. When you change an option, it might change others. For example, if you switch from DN40 to

DN50: if the current pipe class doesn’t have DN50, the pipe class should change automatically.

A pipe line can only contain one pipe class with compatible elbow classes. (You won’t be able to

change the pipe class if you try to connect to an existing pipe line). The components are not

associated with a specific pipe class. (You may use them with every pipe classes).

e) Options

Offset

When this option is enabled, the pipe will be drawn with an offset. Through the OffsetParam menu,

you can choose its axis (X, Y, Z) and gap (Distance between the picked points and the pipe’s side).

Angle

This option let you define if the pipeline’s angles should be locked to a list of specific angles or free.


AngleValues

Let you register a list of allowed angles in degrees. This option is active only when Angle=Locked.

Warning:

When using ortho mode, if you removed 90 from the parameter AngleValues, it may happen that no

angle proposed by the component family satisfies the constraints induced by the ortho mode. In that

case, Rhino Piping won't propose any elbow.

Draw

This option configures the dynamic display of future pipeline during the vertices picking. You can

choose between:

Display axes (value Axes),

Display pipes and elbows geometric forms (value PipesAndBents).

Elbows

This option let you to change the elbows class of the pipeline. It can be changed after several vertices

are picked.

Warning:

When using ortho mode, if the elbows class is based on a component family, it may happen that no

angle proposed by the component family satisfies the constraints induced by the ortho mode. In that

case, Rhino Piping won't propose any elbow.

Guide

If the value is Keep, the axis polyline of the pipeline is kept after the command. The default value is

Destroy.

Nominal Diameter

This option let you choose the nominal diameter of the pipeline. This option is disabled when the

pipeline starts with a continuation or a tapping.

Pipes

This option let you change the pipes class of the pipeline. The pipes class can still be changed after

several vertices are picked. This option is disabled when the pipeline starts with a continuation or a

tapping.

Snap

This option let you configure specific piping snaps. You can allow or forbid:

Free points,

Continuations: connections at pipeline start or end,

Tappings (at pipeline start or end),

Bypasses: double tapping linking two pipes.

Tappings

This option let you change the tapping class of the pipeline.


2. Command RP_AddComponent

a) Presentation

This command adds a component into the model. The component can be inserted:

At any position

At a pipeline's end

Into a pipe (if the component owns two coaxial connection circles).

The component is chosen among the catalog. The choice is limited to the components compatible

with the context (selected pipeline…).

b) Usage

1. Run the command RP_AddComponent

2. Choose the pipeline into which you want to insert the component (right click if you don't

want to choose a pipeline)

3. Choose the family of the component you want to insert

4. (If no pipeline has been chosen at step 2.) Choose which version you want to insert

5. Click to insert the component.

c) Pre-selection

If a pipeline is selected before running the command, it will be used as command context (the step of

pipeline's choice is skipped).

d) Options

ChangeComponent

This option allows changing the component to add. It is proposed when several components of the

same family can be added. (For example when inserting tees)

Please note that the current component’s diameter(s) is displayed in

the state bar.

ShiftCircle

Permutes the connection circles to choose which circle on the new

component is connected to the end of pipeline. This option is not

considered when inserting the component into a pipe.

Swap

Permutes the connection circles to choose which circle is placed at

the mouse cursor. This option applies when inserting a component into a pipe, not when connecting

to the end of line.

TurnOver

This option turns the component over.


3. Command RP_Slide

This command slides a component along its pipeline.

a) Usage

1. Run the command RP_Slide

2. Choose the component you want to slide

3. Pick the new position.

b) Pre-selection

If a component is pre-selected, this component will be transformed.

c) Options

Swap

Permutes the connection circles to choose which circle is placed at the mouse cursor. This option

applies when inserting a component into a pipe, not when connecting to the end of line.

4. Command RP_Connect

This command connects two pipelines or two piping elements

a) Usage

1. Run the command RP_Connect

2. Choose the first end to connect,

3. Choose the second end to connect.

4. If the two connection circles were identical, they are just connected and become highlighted

in blue. If not, then first selected will be moved with all its piping line, and then connected.

b) Pre-selection

Pre-selection is ignored.

c) Options

ConnectAllMatchingCircles

When selected, Rhino Piping will check every circle on the active document, and connect them

automatically if they are matching.

5. Command RP_Disconnect

This command disconnects the selected piping element from its pipeline. The pre-selection is

canceled if several piping elements were selected.

http://support.rhinopiping.com/trac/UserDoc-en/wiki/Glossary#Connectioncircle

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_Slide.png


6. Command RP_Cut

This command lets you cut a pipe. It becomes then two different pipes, with a green (disconnected)

connection circle between them.

7. Command RP_Replace

This command replaces a component with any other one compatible in shape and size.

If components are pre-selected, the command will replace, among these components, the ones of

the chosen family. (RhinoPiping will then propose to select which family should be replaced)

8. Command RP_Rotate

This command rotates an element around the axis of one of its connection circles. It can also be used

to rotate a larger part of a pipeline.

a) Usage

1. Run the command RP_Rotate

2. Choose the element to rotate (The highlighted circle defines the rotation's axis.)

3. Pick reference point or type the rotation's angle (The angle value must be expressed in

degrees. If you type the angle value, the following step is skipped.)

4. Pick reference point's new position.

5. The rotation is applied to the element. If the new position of a previously connected circle is

no longer compatible with the connection, the connection circle is disconnected.

b) Pre-selection

By default, you choose among all elements of the model. If elements are pre-selected, you choose

among the selection.

c) Options

RotateNeighbours

If the value is “True”, the transformation is also applied to the neighbors of the transformed

element. This option is disabled if the neighbors cannot follow the transformation. (It's the case

when the transformed element is on a loop.)


9. Command RP_TurnAround

This command turns a component around an axis while keeping the connections. You just

have to run the command, choose the component and pick the symmetry’s axis.

10. How to remove a component with the free LT edition?

As you may have noticed, the command RP_RemoveComponent is not available for RhinoPiping LT

free licenses. You can still remove a component with one more step:

1. Disconnect the component with the command: RP_Disconnect

2. Delete the component with the command: _Delete

3. Re-draw the missing pipe portion with the command: RP_CreatePipeline

11. How to replace an elbow with the free LT edition?

As you may have noticed, the command RP_ChangeElbows is not available for RhinoPiping LT free

licenses. You can still remove a component with one more step:

1. Disconnect the elbow with the command: RP_Disconnect

2. Delete the component with the command: _Delete

3. Re-draw the missing pipe portion with the command RP_CreatePipeline. While using the

command select the new elbow class.


B. Commands available only with a RhinoPiping Pro License

1. Command RP_ChangeElbows

This command replaces an elbow (or several) with any other compatible elbow.

2. Command RP_ReplaceDiameters

This command changes the diameter of a pipe line. Every piping element of the selected pipe line,

including components, will be replaced. You will only be able to select compatible diameters. (For

example, if a valve included in the selected pipeline only exists for DN40 and DN50, you will only be

able to choose between these two sizes.)

3. Command RP_Stretch

This command lets you stretch/shorten one pipe or several parallel pipes.

a) Usage

1. Run the command RP_Stretch

2. Choose the pipe to stretch

3. (optionally) Choose other parallel pipes (In some cases (loop), this step is mandatory.)

4. Pick a reference point

5. Pick the new position of reference point, or type translation value

b) Options

Roll

Switch the unchanged and transformed ends.

4. Command RP_Mirror

This command creates the symmetry of a pipe line portion. The created components are the same as

the original ones, only their position is symmetry. The pre-selection is taken in account.

c) Usage

1. Run the command RP_Mirror

2. Select a pipe line or part of it (The completion

option might help)

3. Choose the mirror plane.

4. Validate

d) Options

Copy

This option is available only if you selected the whole pipeline. If you select yes, the original line is

kept, else it is removed.

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_Stretch.png


Completion

This option helps with the selection:

NoCompletion (Default): you will select components and pipes one by one

CoaxialSection: you will select coaxial sections of your pipeline one by one

SameDNsection: Your selection will be extended across the pipeline until there is a change of

nominal diameter

WholePipeline: The whole pipeline will be selected

Mirror plane

You have several ways to select the Mirror Plane:

Default: Select two points within the current CPlane

3points: Define a custom plane

XAxis: Symmetry based on X axe

YAxis: Symmetry based on Y axe

5. Command RP_Avoidance

This command builds an avoidance on a pipe, in order to avoid an obstacle for example.

a) Usage

1. Run the command RP_Avoidance

2. Choose the pipe on which the avoidance is to be built. This step also determines avoidance's

orientation: when the “Pick” option is not set to Middle, the first elbow will be on same side

as the closest connection circle of chosen point.

3. Pick the first point on the pipe's axis. Depending on the “Pick” Option, it can be the Middle

point or the first elbow position (vertex).

4. Pick the end point.

b) Options

Elbows

This option lets you change the elbow class of the pipeline. The elbows class can be changed after

several vertices are picked.

Warning: When using ortho mode, if the elbows class is based on a component family, it may

happen that no angle proposed by the component family satisfies the constraints induced by the

ortho mode. In that case, Rhino Piping doesn’t propose any elbow.

Angle

This option let you define if the pipeline’s angles should be locked to a list of specific angles or free.


AngleValues

Let you register a list of allowed angles in degrees. This option is active only if Angle=Locked.

Warning:

When using ortho mode, if you removed 90 from the parameter ‘AngleValues’, it may happen that

no angle proposed by the component family satisfies the constraints induced by the ortho mode. In

that case, Rhino Piping won't propose any elbow.

Depth

This option let you enter on keyboard the avoidance's depth.

Length

This option let you enter on keyboard the avoidance's length.

Pick

This option let you choose if the first selected point will be the middle or the side vertex of the

avoidance.

6. Command RP_RemoveComponent

This command deletes a component and tries to redraw a pipeline instead. Just launch the

command, select the component and validate to remove it. Pre-selection is taken in account.

Known issue:

An error will occur if the pipes connected to the removed components are not from the same pipe

class. This is due to a limitation of the components: as their class is not checked, you may connect

them with several non-compatible pipe classes. In this case, the RP_RemoveComponent command

would try to connect two pipe classes which are not supposed to be compatible.

C. Special commands for attributes

1. AA_Get Value

This command let you read an attribute value for the selected rhino or RhinoPiping element (s), and

display it in the command results. If the attribute path is left empty, every attribute will be read.

2. AA_SetValue

This command let you set the value for a specific attribute. Several elements may be changed at

once.

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/RP_RemoveComponent.png


V. RhinoPiping design outputs and analysis

A. Outputting a “3D Isometric” drawing

RhinoPiping helps you to create a “3D isometric” drawing with the command RP_Iso3D.

a) Usage

1. Select the pipe line

2. Launch the command RP_Iso3D

3. Use the ‘UpAxis’, ‘ViewPoint’, and ‘Layout’ options to set the output orientation and layout.

(Optional)

4. Enter the section number. The section is the part of the pipe line you want to create a 3D ISO

drawing from. This value is optional, as default it will be an automatic incremental number.

5. Enter the version letter. This value is optional, as default it will be an automatic incremental

letter.

6. Validate

b) Result

The command RP_Iso3D does several things to help you creating an ISO 3D drawing:

The drawing sheet is created, named as ‘SectionNumber’_’VersionLetter’ (for example

“001_A”)

A layer is created with the same name, for the drawing content

In the drawing view, end-of-line coordinates are created. These

automatic texts can be customized through RhinoPiping panel in

rhino3D options:

(The character “%” will be replaced by the actual value)

Each different piping element will be given a unique number,

saved as a custom attribute named label_ISO. Piping Elements

exactly identical will be given the same label_ISO.

As you can see in the illustrations, the label_ISO are also

inserted in the drawing as circled texts.

The pipe line axes are inserted in the 3D, as well as 3D points.

This is made so the 3D dimensions will be easier to create. For

example, these red element would be added:


c) The dimensions

At the moment, the command RP_Iso3D is not able to draw the dimensions, but it is really fast to do

it since snap elements were created automatically. We use to create the dimensions in the 3D space

instead of the drawing sheet:

B. Generating a Bill-Of-Material

We are now going to see how to export an automatic BOM (Bill Of material) as csv with the

command AA_Report, and then insert it as a table in Rhino3D.

1. Creation of a template

The command AA_Report needs a template to run. This is some kind of blueprint of what should be

included in the reports. The template file is formatted like a kind of .csv with a .tpl extension. It can

be opened with a text editor like notepad.

When you create your template file, you must follow those rules:

The separator must be ;

If you are using a spreadsheet program like Excel for edition, check it won’t add double

quotes.

Make sure all the attributes you are referring to have a default value. If they don’t, the

command AA_Report will stop when meeting an attribute with no value.

Warning: Please remember that despite the attribute ‘Label_ISO’ being created in the

selected items when you run the command RP_Iso3D it is not included in the default

attribute spec. Find the file `default-attribute-spec.xml` and add an entry point for the


attribute ‘Label_ISO’ with a default value to guarantee it will always have a value for the Bill

of Materials. (For example: )

A “cell” can contain text, attribute values, or both

EXAMPLE:

Let’s build a typical example of template file to generate a BOM (Bill of Materials). Create a text file

and rename it for example “BillOfMaterials.tpl”. The template file will be read from top to bottom

when `AA_Report` is running. So you may wish to begin with a simple line of texts for columns titles:

The attributes values will be called like this (example with Label_ISO):

We can look for different attributes for each kind of population. This is nearly always necessary, since

all piping elements don’t have the same attributes (for example only the elbows have a `curvature`

attribute). To separate the population, we use the filters. The most common way would be to

separate pipes, elbows and components:

As you can see, the line begins with the filter, and there is no separator before the first column

definition. (We take the following line to end the filter.) The population:Elbow stands for the

automatic elbows (not the components). If you leave nothing between two separators, it will leave a

blank cell in the BOM. In the example above, `AA_Report` will create a CSV file with only the labels in

the first column. Now we can complete it and add the line for column titles:

2. Export as csv

The AA_Report command export the selected elements’ attributes values, following the rules defined

in a template file (.tpl).

a) Usage

1. Select the items you want to see in your Bill of Material. (You can select a whole pipeline

in Rhino Piping with the command RP_SelectWholePipeline)

2. Run the command AA_Report

3. Open the template file (.tpl) created earlier

4. Select where you want to save the Bill of Materials.

5. The Bill of Materials is saved as .csv file, you can open it with excel for example or any other

text/table editor.

http://www.rhinopiping.com/images/icon/command/32x32/AA_Report.png


b) Pre-selection

The pre-selection is mandatory. If there is no pre-selection, the .csv file will be generated but empty.

3. Inserting the table in a drawing sheet

Since Rhino3D does not come with a tool for tables, we provide a free plugin to import/edit/create

tables. The plugin is named _Table, downloadable at:

http://www.rhinopiping.com/_table-plugin-for-rhinoceros/

You just have to run the command _Table, then enter the text size and select the insertion point.

C. Using the analysis tool

We also provide a free attributes analysis tool. The plugin is named AA_Analysis, downloadable at:

http://www.rhinopiping.com/attribute-analysis-plugin/

AA_Analysis is designed to give you a fast Analysis of your model’s attributes. When you select an

attribute, all your objects will be colorized automatically and a color key table will be displayed. You

will also be able to select objects by attribute values. When the command ends, all your color

settings will be restored.

MAIN FEATURES:

Analyze the attributes existing in the model (Including attributes from our plugin Additional

Attribute (RhinoPiping)). The total number of objects for each different attribute value is

displayed, as well as a percentage (relative to the model’s object quantity)

Keep colors after ending the command, or return to original colors

Let you select objects with one or several attribute values in the color chart

You can change the colors in the chart

Special feature to analyze the pipe lengths (RhinoPiping needed)

http://www.rhinopiping.com/_table-plugin-for-rhinoceros/

http://www.rhinopiping.com/attribute-analysis-plugin/

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