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Author and publish a custom elbow to use in a self-draining lines style.

Self-draining lines maintain a slope, or fall, so that gravity drains the run. For example, the portions of a route that would otherwise be horizontal are sloped two degrees relative to horizontal.

To create a self-draining run, you first create a self-draining lines style, then create the run with that style active. Self-draining lines utilize fittings with bend or junction angles greater than 45 degrees, but less than 90, such as 88 degrees.

This tutorial is created for a single user environment with libraries stored in a Desktop Content location. If you are a member of a workgroup that shares libraries, you must be a library administrator and have editor permissions to perform library editing tasks. Also method for creating user libraries on the server is different than presented in this tutorial.

The examples in this tutorial use content based on several different standards. If your Content Center configuration does not contain the same library, read along without performing the steps, or use a similar part from a different library. For example, if the tutorial calls for a machine screw from the ISO standard, and your library contains only ANSI parts, substitute a similar screw from your ANSI library.

Objectives

• Create a self-draining lines style.
• Create a self-draining lines route.
• Populate the self-draining lines route.
• Create a read/write library in Content Center.

Prerequisites

• Know how to set the active project and navigate the model space with the various view tools.
• See the Help topic “Getting Started” for further information.

Navigation Tips

• Use Next or Previous at the bottom-left to advance to the next page or return to the previous one.

Next

A standard Content Center library and a read/write library must be available to perform this exercise. You review your current Content Center configuration and create a user library.

1. Click ManageProjects.
2. In the Projects dialog box, double-click the tutorial_files project in the projects list to set it as the active project.
3. In the lower-right corner of the Projects dialog box, click Configure Content Center Libraries.
4. In the Configure Libraries dialog box, verify that the Inventor ANSI library is available and that the In Use box is selected.
   NoteTo perform the tutorial steps, at least one standard Content Center library must be available for use. A standard library is available if it is identified as In Use and its status is listed as Read Only in the Access column.
   Tip If no libraries are available, set up Content Center libraries first. See the Help for more details or contact your CAD Administrator.
5. In the Configure Libraries dialog box, click Create Library.
6. Enter RW Temp in the Display Name field. The File Name uses the same string automatically.
7. Click OK. The Tutorial Library is created in the Desktop Content folder.
8. A new library is automatically added to the Content Center configuration. Verify that the In Use box is selected for the Tutorial Library, and the library status is Read/Write.
9. Click OK to close the Configure Libraries dialog box.
10. Click Save in the Projects dialog box, and then click Done.

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The custom fitting is the definitive component in a self-draining style. The custom fitting determines the slope angle and is the functional difference between a self-draining style and a style that is not self-draining.

Authoring prepares a part for publishing to the Content Center by adding specific data to the model. Use Tube and Pipe Authoring to complete the authoring process before publishing to Content Center.

1. Open self-drain_elbow.ipt, located in the Tube & Pipe directory.
   

   This elbow was created so that there are 88 degrees between connection axes. The elbow is ready for authoring and publishing. No further design work is needed.

2. On the ribbon, click Manage tab Author panel Tube and Pipe .
3. To set the connection point for the first connection, select the circular edge.
   
4. Click the Axis selector.
   
5. Select the circular edge again.
   
6. Set the Nominal Size to 3/4.
7. Change your selection to Connection Number 2 .
   
8. Select the other circular edge to set this connection point.
   
9. Click the Axis selector.
10. Select the circular edge again.
    

    Flip the direction of the connection vector so that it points out and away from the elbow. Both connection vectors point out and away from the fitting.

    

    The Angle field shows the angle between the two axes. In this example, 88 degrees is used.

11. Set the Nominal Size to 3/4.
12. In the Engagement area, select Distance from the Max pull-down menu, and enter 1 as the value.
13. Ensure that the Min value is set to 70 (for % of Max.).
14. Click OK.

    A message indicates that the authoring was successful.

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Publishing the part adds it to the Content Center. Publishing parts requires a read/write library which we configured earlier in the tutorial.

1. On the ribbon, click Manage tab Content Center panel Publish Part.
2. Select RW Temp (or your read/write library) from the library menu.
3. Click Next.
4. Ensure that Elbows is specified in the category menu.
5. Click Next.
6. Click Next again.
7. In the Table Columns field, select the NominalSize parameter, then click Add to add this parameter to the Key Columns field.
8. Click Next.

   The part name is entered in the Family Name field by default. Leave this field unchanged.

9. Click Next.
10. Click Publish.

    A message indicates that the publish operation was successful.

11. Close self-drain_elbow.ipt. Do not save changes.

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Open an assembly from the tutorials files and save a copy to work on.

1. Open Accumulator.iam, located in \Tutorial Files\Tube & Pipe\Accumulator.
   
2. Select Save As, and use Accumulator_SDLine.iam for the file name.

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We now create a self-draining style using the elbow we authored and published.

1. On the ribbon, click Environments tab Begin panel Tube and Pipe.
2. In the Run Assembly File Name field of the Create Run dialog box, type SD Run.
3. Click OK.
4. Click Pipe Run tab Manage panel Tube and Pipe Styles.
5. In the style browser of the Tube & Pipe Styles dialog box, expand the Rigid Pipe with Fittings node.
6. Right-click the ASME B36.10M-ASME B16.11 – Steel Threaded Pipe style, and select Copy. You modify this copy to create the self-draining style.
7. Right-click ASME B36.10M-ASME B16.11 – Steel Threaded Pipe_Copy(1), and select Active to make the copied style active.
8. Right-click the style, and select Edit.
   NoteInstead of using the context menu, you can use the commands at the top of the dialog box to manipulate the style.
9. On the General tab, select the Self Draining option. When you select the Self Draining style type, the Elbow Custom component is added to the component list. The icon indicates that the component is required and has not yet been specified from the Content Center.
10. Because the elbow you published earlier is not an iPart, it is available in one size only. In the Diameter box, set the Nominal Diameter to 3/4 in.
11. Right-click Elbow Custom, and select Browse. It accesses components in the Content Center. It can take a few moments.
12. When the Library Browser dialog box activates, select the elbow (self-draining_elbow) you published earlier.
13. Click OK.
14. In the Name field of the Tube & Pipe Styles dialog box, replace the _Copy(1) portion of the default style name with SD Temp.
15. Click Save.
16. Before you close the Tube & Pipe Styles dialog box, ensure that this self-draining style is active. (It is highlighted in bold in the style browser.)

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Next, you specify a direction for gravity. The Gravity command is located at the master Tube & Pipe Runs level.

1. Double-click the Tube & Pipe Runs node.
2. On the ribbon, click Tube and Pipe tab Run panel Define Gravity.
3. Select the edge to set the gravity vector.
   
4. In the Gravity dialog box, click Invert Normal as needed, so that the vector points down.
   
5. Click OK.

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To continue defining the self-draining line, we must return to the self-draining run level of the assembly.

1. Double-click SD Run to reactivate the run.

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1. On the ribbon, click Pipe Run tab Route panel New Route.
2. In the Route Part File Name field of the Create Route dialog box, type SD Route.
3. Click OK.
4. Click Route tab Create panel Route.
5. Orbit the model, approximately per the following image.
   
6. Pause the cursor over the circular edge.
   
7. Press the spacebar to flip the route vector.
   
8. Select the circular edge.
   
9. Select the route vector, as shown in the following image.
   

   Notice that the green and blue vectors are not at right angles to the red vector. Relative to the red vector, the angle is 88 or 92 degrees, depending on how you measure. The custom fitting you specified in the self-draining style determines this angle.

10. Select the green route vector, as shown.
    
11. Right-click, and select Done.
12. Right-click, and select Finish Edit to return to SD Run.
    

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1. On the ribbon, click Pipe Run tab Route panel Populate Route.
   
   

The components specified in the self-draining style are added to the route. Congratulations! You finished the workflow portion of the tutorial.

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Assume that the route must begin from the outlet located on the side of the tank - not from the outlet on the bottom of the tank.

Since this outlet axis is horizontal, the first segment of a self-draining route created directly from this outlet would not be sloped. This positioning would contradict the logic of a self-draining run and the route would be listed as Sick in the browser. First you add a fitting that provides a transition from the horizontal outlet axis to the route slope. For example, if the route slope angle is three degrees, first place a custom fitting with a bend of 177 degrees, like the following image.

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In this tutorial, you learned how to:

• Create and access a read/write library.
• Author and publish a custom fitting to use in a self-draining style.
• Create a self-draining style.
• Create and populate a self-draining route.

Please remember to check the Self-draining lines Help topics for further information.

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