The 2009.2 release of PipeDesigner 3D® offered several new reroute tools to help with modifying or changing current runs of pipe and fittings. When I offered what's new webinars for our 2010 version, I found that a lot of customers were still unaware of those reroute tools and the power behind them. I hope that you find them useful!

With these new tools, you can do the following:

• Apply RouterLine to an existing run of pipe and fittings.
• Optimize long runs of pipe to eliminate short pieces. 
• Replace run of pipe and fittings for those from another spec or simply replace certain fittings with others from your current spec.

Applying a RouterLine to existing runs of pipe and fittings:
There are many reasons to go back to an existing run of pipe and fittings and repopulate a RouterLine. One example would be to copy the routing for rack piping.

Step 1: Select the new button called  "Build Route From Fittings"

Step 2: Select the starting fitting in your run of pipe, connected fittings will highlight.

Step 3: Select that last fitting on the run of pipe. Once you select the last possible highlighted fitting, the  RouterLine should populate.  *Note, cannot currently select through tees or reducers as it processes those "Routes" seperately, but the command can be restarted to pick those seperate "Routes" up.

This command could also be used in conjunction with the new command line option for Auto Route to replace fittings. While running the Auto Route command, notice the new ignore or replace option at the command line. By default, Auto Route is set to ignore fittings that already exist on a router line, but the replace option will remove those existing fittings before routing new fittings.

Optimizing a run of pipe and fittings to eliminate wasteful short pieces:

This new routine can be used to reroute an existing set of pipe and fittings. The example below shows how the tool can be used to eliminate short pieces, but a more common use of this tool would be to reroute the pipe and fittings with a different spec/part list. To use this tool, use the steps below:

Step 1: Select the new button called "Reroute From Fittings"

Step 2: Like with the Build Route From Fittings tool, choose the first and last fitting on the route.

Step 3: You will noticed that it has generated a router line, removed the previous fittings and now using Auto Route to redraw the fittings. This will work through tees and wyes, but you need to choose which fitting you want to use as you do with Auto Route.

The finished result is a new route of pipe and fittings using the current spec, size and layer. All extra cut pieces were automatically removed and replaced with full joints of pipe.

Well, I hope that these tips have helped! If you have suggestions for the CAD blogs, please let me know by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .