Topic: New to AMEP Learning to run Pipe

[DIW_CADtech]

I'm having some issues with the autolayout function, and by issues, i mean it doesn't work at all.  To be more specific.. I have a bit of 3" pipe running southeast towards a floor drain at a 1/4" slope the pipe is a couple feet away.  I pick the pluss on the pipe, type PCON, and click the connection on the drain.  A new straight piece of pipe extends from the existing.  No "Accept" or "Next".   When I do get it to auto generate some pipe, it seems to repell the drain, shooting off in alternate directions. 

  Starting to think I need to bring my PC flowers, chocolates, and an open ended apology.

Is there a best practices method to laying pipe to minimize these mishaps? 
Am I just doing this wrong?
Possible software install issue?

[Matt__W]

You don't want to autolayout ANYTHING!!  Don't let the software try to control your design.  In the real world you will have ducts, pipes, steel, etc... to avoid.  Autolayout works fine as long as you don't use it in a real-world situation.

[DIW_CADtech]

You don't want to autolayout ANYTHING!! 

This seems a bit extreem... At the moment I'm simply trying to route to a drain from a sloped piece of pipe.  If I have to get out a calculator to figure out the exact slope, coppensate for the distance from the face of the bell and throw in deflection, for every single pipe run, or  manually align pipe from fitting to fitting there is no advantage to MEP. 

I'm not designing the runs.  I am working to produce shop drawigns and dozens of points along the layout are usually designated on the engineering plans.  Those points I have to adhere too, but the smaller pipe runs are schematic only, and placing all the fittings manually will be unefficient. 

I understand your knee-jerk reaction, but lets get serious here, this tool was designed as that, a tool to assist.  Not a replacement for engineering.  This is a tool I want in my tool belt, as a way to save time on tedious work.  Not to ultimatly solve my routing problems.  Again, doing shop drawings, not designing.  I need to be accurate, efficient, and timely. 

Going your route of "NO AUTOLAYOUT" will accomplish the accurate, but fails on the efficient, and timely.

I

[Matt__W]

Have you checked your routing preferences?

[DIW_CADtech]

I know how to look at the routing preferences, but not sure what to look for as far as "CHECKING" them..

When I click to add Pipe, the properties show that the routing preference is set to "Cast Iron Soil Pipe - Bell x Spigot.

opening up the Style Manager and looking at the preferences themselves i find

Size Range 1
Descripton       Service Weight Cast Iron
Size Upper Limit   2" to 8"
Joints         Bell - Service Weight - Coupling          2" to 15"
Cross         Spigot x Bell x Bell - Service Weight          2" to 8"
Elbow         Spigot x Bell - Service Weight - Bend         2" to 15"
Flex Pipe      *NONE*
Lateral         Spigot x Bell - Service Weight - Wye          2" to 15"
Pipe         Cast Iron Service Weight Pipe         2" to 15"
Take Off      *NONE*
Tee         Spigot x Bell x Bell - Service Weight -Sanitary Tee    2" to 15"
Transition -Concentric   Spigot x Bell - Service Weight - Reducer      2" to 15"
Transition -Concentric   *NONE*


General
Name: Cast Iron Soil Pipe - Bell x Spigot
Descripton: Service Weight Cast Iron Pipe
2" thru 8" Bell x Spigot



Version History Tab

[ ] Ignore durring project standards synchronization
Version Information
   Date Modified 2/8/2010
   Modified By: Autodesk
   Version identifier: {F15E2345-D35B-9D22-D0A4DB906132}
   Comment: Aecb Model (US Imperial Ctb) - 2011

nothing in the modified list window below that

[Matt__W]

What version are you using?

[DIW_CADtech]

AutoDesk AutoCAD MEP 2011, and started wokring in the file by clicking the US Imperial Shortcut

[Matt__W]

Can you post a small sample drawing with the drain and pipes?  I'll see if I can connect them or reproduce the errors you're getting.

[DIW_CADtech]

I sure can.. just give me a second or few....

[DIW_CADtech]

Link to the project directory zipped
I believe everyting is linked relative so you shouldn't have a headach
the file in question is 01 Plumbing.dwg  under the Constructs -> Plumbing folder
I manually added the components in the 01
           01 Plumbing - Manually aligned fittings.dwg

I have it in an isometric view, but trying to connect the pipe at the left to the drain on the right...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20790817/MAMEP_Commercial.zip

[DIW_CADtech]

Have you taken a look at the file?

I have posted this to an other forum, and they could not see a problem at their end.  I am wondering at this point if there is an issue with my install of AMEP.  As an experienced new software addapter, I tend to believe in oporator error over botched software install, but I just can't see what I am doing wrong. I've redone the tutorial like a half a dozen times, and it just won't connect.  Wondering if anyone else running Win 7 32bit has this issue.

Again I understand your "No Autolayout polocy" and for 99% of what I will be doing.. I will follow that policy.  BUt for simple pipe runs this tool is a "tool" to save time.

I thank you in advance for your time.

[Matt__W]

Have you taken a look at the file?

Nope, not yet.