you dimension the pipe route, you use dimension markers to identify two keypoints on the model, such as the end of a length of pipe or the end or mid-point of a component. These keypoints, in turn, define the span of the overall dimension. When you place a pair of dimension markers, one of them is active (solid arrow point), and the other is inactive (hollow arrow point).
After you place a dimension marker, you can use X and Z on your keyboard to adjust, or move, it. To move the active marker ahead to the next available keypoint on the pipe route, press X. To move the marker back to the previous keypoint, press Z.
Use the Switch Marker toggle at the bottom of the Properties window to switch which marker is active and which is inactive. Alternatively, press S on your keyboard to switch which marker is active and which is inactive.
Shift Mode
The Shift Mode option in the Properties window controls the behavior of the dimension markers after a dimension is defined. Three options are available: Shift, Move Active, and Clear. The default mode is Shift.
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Shift
After you define a dimension, the inactive and the active markers move as a pair along the pipe according to the following:
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The inactive marker moves to the start of the next section of un-dimensioned pipe. In the case of a flange or intersection (such as a tee, branch, or elbow), the position of the inactive marker is then adjusted to the face of the flange or the center of the intersection.
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The active marker moves to the end of the next section of un-dimensioned pipe. In the case of a flange or intersection, the position of the active marker is then adjusted forward to the face of the flange or the center of the intersection.
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Move Active
The inactive marker becomes a fixed point, and its appearance updates as shown below:
After you define a dimension, the inactive marker remains at the same position while the active marker moves forward along the pipe according to the following:
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The active marker moves to the end of the next section of un dimensioned pipe so that you can continue to incrementally dimension the pipe. In the case of a flange or intersection, the position of the active marker is adjusted forward to the face of the flange or the center of the intersection.
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If the active marker is at the end of a straight, the software performs a Shift operation and moves both markers to the next un-dimensioned section of pipe.
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Clear
After you define a dimension, the software exits the Dimension Pipeline Command
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Track
When the Track option is set to True, the software updates the view of the pipeline model to ensure that both dimensioning markers remain visible in the Detail window as the pipeline is dimensioned.
You can re-dimension a defined section of pipe provided that only one variable length
of pipe is within the selected span. If there is more than one, or none, you can still
place dimension markers, but the span length is read-only.
Smart Dimensioning
One of the powerful features of the Smart Isometrics is its ability to automatically dimension lengths that it can calculate itself. The following illustrations of a bypass routed around a valve show a simple example of the smart dimensioning capabilities of the software.
Obviously, the left and right sides of the bypass must be the same distance, which means that the software will automatically apply the dimension value you define for one side of the bypass to the other side of the bypass.
The following example shows a more complicated instance of the software's smart dimensioning capabilities:
The Properties window displays key information about the scope of this dimension--the Start point is the center of the elbow, and the End point is the flange. Within that scope are three legs: the elbow, the section of pipe, and the flange. The Properties window also displays the known dimensions of the elbow and flange, .0238m and .0063m, respectively.
Because the software knows the dimensions of the elbow and the flange, it calculates
the minimum allowable length of the pipe section and displays that value in the Dimension box (0.0301m). The minimum allowable length for the selected pipe leg is also displayed
in the Length field of the Properties window.
The length of the selected pipe leg along the top of the bypass is constrained by the distance along the bottom of the bypass, meaning that it can be no longer than the distance along the bottom of the bypass. As a result, the software calculates that the maximum allowable length for the pipe leg is 1.3655m, as displayed in the Legs pane of the Properties window.
When you type a value for the overall dimension in the Dimension box and press ENTER, the software dimensions the section accordingly, and then automatically calculates and dimensions for the next section of pipe.
