Drawing pipes

Pipes are single member hang structures symbols that are displayed with thickness in 2D CAD Wireframe views and in associated paperwork views. In isometric views, pipes will be displayed in line representation. The default thickness of the pipe can be viewed and changed in the Hang Structure Settings tab in the Document Options window.

Pipes can be set to be drawn from the center or from the start. The first pipe drawing mode, Draw from Start, requires pipes to be drawn by specifying the start point and the end point (from one extremity of the pipe to the other).

The second pipe drawing mode, Draw from Center, requires that the pipe be drawn by specifying the center point and one end point or extremity of the pipe. Although it is only necessary to enter all points when drawing in interactive mode, the pipe drawing mode will affect the insertion point of the pipe when drawing using the pipe dialog box. The drawing mode will also affect how the fixtures are hung when using pipe snap, how the fixture offset distance is measured, and how pipe tape prints are labeled.

Note: Only Pipe objects inserted in the drawing from the Library will be displayed in Truss Manager. Pipes drawn in CAD Wireframe will not be displayed in Truss Manager.

To set the pipe drawing mode

1. From the Options menu, choose Document Options.
2. Click the Hang Structure Settings tab. 
3. In the Pipe Drawing Mode section, select Draw from Center or Draw from Start.

Tips:

• You can change the default setting for a pipe in mid-command by right-clicking and choosing the drawing mode for that pipe just before inserting it into the drawing.
• You can change the pipe mode for a specific pipe at any time in the pipe’s properties. For more information, see Pipe properties.

To draw a pipe

1. From the Draw menu, choose Pipe.

The Pipe button.

Result: The New Pipe dialog box appears.

2. In the New Pipe dialog box, find the name of the pipe. If you need to create the name of the pipe, click the ellipsis button [...] to open the Position Manager. Click New, and then type the name of the pipe.
3. In the Length box, type the length of the pipe, if different from the default. The default value is 60’0”.
4. In the Trim Height box, type the desired trim height for the pipe. The default value is 20’0”.

Note: Pipes ignore the missing coordinate setting when drawn using this method.

5. To add a border to the pipe, under the Border And Legs section, in the Border subsection, select the Border checkbox.

1. Enter the height of the border in the Height field.

6. To add legs to the pipe, in the Legs subsection, select the Legs checkbox.

1. Enter the width of the legs in the Width field.
2. Enter the height of the legs in the Height field.
3. Enter the bottom elevation of the legs in the Bottom Elevation field.

7. Click OK.

Tip: You may also use the Pipe tool on the Draw toolbar.

To draw a pipe from center in interactive mode

1. From the Draw menu, choose Pipe.

The Pipe button.

Result: The New Pipe dialog box appears.

2. In the New Pipe dialog box, click Interactive.
3. Set the height of the pipe that you are about to draw by pressing the TAB key, and then entering a value for the missing coordinate, if applicable.
4. Right-click and select Pipe - Draw from center.
5. Click to place the center point of the pipe.
6. Drag it to the proper length, and then click to place the end point of the pipe. Notice that the pipe extends in both directions - mirrored at center.
7. Right-click on the pipe that you have just drawn, and then click Properties.
8. Click the Hang Structure tab.
9. From the Name drop-down list, select the name for this new pipe. If the name is not already in the list, use the Position Manager [...] to enter the new name.
10. Repeat to draw more pipes.

To draw a pipe from start in interactive mode

1. From the Draw menu, choose Pipe.

The Pipe button.

Result: The New Pipe dialog box appears.

2. In the New Pipe dialog box, click Interactive.
3. Set the height of the pipe that you are about to draw by pressing the TAB key, and then entering a value for the missing coordinate, if applicable.
4. Right-click and select Pipe - Draw from start.
5. Click to place the starting point of the pipe.
6. Drag it to the proper length, and then click to place the end point of the pipe. Notice that the pipe extends in one direction.
7. Right-click on the pipe that you have just drawn, and then click Properties.
8. Click the Hang Structure tab.
9. From the Name drop-down list, select the name for this new pipe. If the name is not already in the list, use the Position Manager [...] to enter the new name.
10. Repeat to draw more pipes.

Drawing curved pipes

In addition to drawing pipes linear in shape, pipes may be drawn curved in arcs.

To draw a curved pipe

1. From the Draw menu, choose Curved Pipe.

The Curved Pipe button.

Result: The New Curved Pipe dialog box appears.

2. In the New Curved Pipe dialog box, find the name of the pipe. If you need to create the name of the pipe, click the ellipsis button [...] to open the Position Manager. Click New, and then type the name of the pipe.
3. In the Horizontal Radius field, type how long the pipe radius will be horizontally, if different from the default. The default value is 30’0”.
4. In the Vertical Radius field, type how long the pipe radius will be vertically, if different from the default. The default value is 30’0”.
5. In the Start Angle field, type what angle the pipe orientation will start at, if different from the default. The default value is 0°.
6. In the End Angle field, type what angle the pipe orientation will end at, if different from the default. The default value is 180°.
7. In the Trim Height box, type the desired trim height for the pipe. The default value is 20’0”.

Note: Pipes ignore the missing coordinate setting when drawn using this method.

8. Click OK.

To draw a curved pipe from center in interactive mode

1. From the Draw menu, choose Curved Pipe.

The Curved Pipe button.

Result: The New Curved Pipe dialog box appears.

2. In the New Pipe dialog box, click Interactive.
3. Set the height of the pipe that you are about to draw by pressing the TAB key, and then entering a value for the missing coordinate, if applicable.
4. Right-click and select Pipe - Draw from center.
5. Click to place the first point of the horizontal axis.
6. Click to place the second point of the horizontal axis.
7. Click to set the vertical radius.
8. Click to place the center point of the pipe.
9. Drag it to the proper length, and then click to place the mid point of the pipe.
10. Click to place the start point of the pipe. Notice that the pipe extends in both directions - mirrored at center.
11. Right-click on the pipe that you have just drawn, and then click Properties.
12. Click the Hang Structure tab.
13. From the Position Name drop-down list, select the name for this new pipe. If the name is not already in the list, use the Position Manager [...] to enter the new name.
14. Repeat to draw more pipes.

To draw a curved pipe from start in interactive mode

1. From the Draw menu, choose Curved Pipe.

The Curved Pipe button.

Result: The New Curved Pipe dialog box appears.

2. In the New Pipe dialog box, click Interactive.
3. Set the height of the pipe that you are about to draw by pressing the TAB key, and then entering a value for the missing coordinate, if applicable.
4. Right-click and select Pipe - Draw from start.
5. Click to place the first point of the horizontal axis.
6. Click to place the second point of the horizontal axis.
7. Click to set the vertical radius.
8. Click to place the center point of the pipe.
9. Drag it to the proper length, and then click to place the mid point of the pipe.
10. Click to place the start point of the pipe. Notice that the pipe extends in both directions - mirrored at center.
11. Right-click on the pipe that you have just drawn, and then click Properties.
12. Click the Hang Structure tab.
13. From the Position Name drop-down list, select the name for this new pipe. If the name is not already in the list, use the Position Manager [...] to enter the new name.
14. Repeat to draw more pipes.

Mirroring pipes

Once a pipe is created, a mirror image of the pipe can be created. Mirroring duplicates and reverses the pipe, inserting it the same distance from an axis line as the original pipe. Both straight and curved pipes can be mirrored. A mirrored pipe will also include any fixtures attached to the original pipe, but aiming the fixtures at the new mirrored angle. For more information, see Mirroring.

Pipe properties

Options on the Pipe tab affect the mode, offset, and dimensions of a pipe.

• Length: Type new text to change the length of the selected pipe.
• Trim Height: Type new text to change the trim height. If the pipe is vertical, this value determines the lowest Z value of the pipe.

Pipe Mode

• Mode: Select the pipe mode for the specific pipe from the drop-down list.
• Start: If enabled, pipes are drawn from one end to the other. When start mode is used, offset is measured from the beginning of the pipe in a positive direction.
• Centre: If enabled, pipes are drawn from the center out to both ends at the same time. When center mode is used, offset values are either positive or negative, measured from the center of the pipe.

Offset Type

• Type: Offset is a fixture property that measures where a fixture is hung on a pipe. The value depends on the pipe mode selected.

Pipes can also base the Offset on a specified coordinate. In this case, a fixture’s offset value is calculated as the distance on the specified axis from the specified coordinate. This is handy if you have many small pipes grouped together to form one hang position, for example the Balcony Rail. If this is the case, choose all the pipes’ properties to have their Offset based about X=0. Fixtures on the Balcony Rail will then report where they are relative to the theatre, rather than the beginning of the pipe.

This offset methodology can be extended to box booms as well. For example, a boom in the first box (which is 10’ above the deck) can be drawn as a vertical pipe and have its offset to be based about Z=10’. A fixture’s offset will then tell you how high (from the bottom of the box) to hang it.

In WYSIWYG, set the offset mode that you want to use. The choices are:

• Normal, which indicates that the offset is based on the pipe mode.
• X, Y, and Z, which calculates the offset based on the specified coordinate.

If you have selected an X, Y, or Z offset type, then you must specify a coordinate on the axis from which offset values will be calculated.

Pipe Weight

• Specify by: Select how to specify the weight value.
• Weight by Unit: Type a weight value equivalent to a unit of measurement.
• User Defined: Type a custom weight value for the selected pipe object.
• Total Weight: Displays the sum total weight for the selected pipe object.

Pipe Thickness

• Use Document Defaults: Select this checkbox to reference the options selected on the Wireframe Details tab in Document Options. Clear the checkbox to make specific changes for the active view.
• Enable: Select this checkbox to display the selected pipe with thickness in 2D CAD Wireframe views and in associated paperwork views (Not in isometric views).
• The box displays the default thickness of the pipe. Type a new value to change the default thickness.
• Symbol Fill: Select the fill option None, or Percentage or Custom Color from this drop-down list.
• Percentage: Set the percentage from the drop-down list for the hue intensity of the fill.
• Custom Color: Click the color select box and select the custom color as the fill.

Border and Legs

• Border: Select this checkbox to change the Height of the added border.
• Legs: Select this checkbox to change the Width, Height and Bottom Elevation of the added legs.

Curtain

• Enable: Select this checkbox to add a curtain to the pipe.
• Style: Select from this drop-down list to change the pattern of the curtain.
• Depth: Type a new value to change the depth of the curtain pattern.
• Width: Type a new value to change the width of the curtain pattern.
• Segments: Type a new value to change the number of segments in the curtain pattern.
• Offset: Type a new value to change the distance measurement value between curtain and pipe.