The H-Factor

Diagnosing AutoCalc/AutoList Errors Part 1 - Unknown Fittings

This is the first in a series of posts on how to self-diagnose errors you may encounter while elevating your drawing to 3D or while running AutoCalc or AutoList. HydraCAD includes a number of tools to assist you with the diagnosis and correction of these errors, and these post will review some of them.

The first error I will discuss is Unknown Fittings:

This is caused by a fitting that cannot be recognized by HydraCAD. It may be due to two pipes drawn on top of each other, or just an unusual arrangement.

1.Notice it says 'Type in SME to open the Show Model Errors'. Pick OK and do so.

2. You probably have more than one error or type of error. To find the unknown fitting, delete some of the messages (for now) by picking the large button at top UNTIL it says 'Delete All Unknown Fitting'.

3. Check the Zoom to Error box and pick Next. This will zoom to your error, which should have a red circle around it. By looking at the error circle, you can usually figure out what the problem is. Here we have a four pipe connected by 1" tees - the user connected too many things here.

 

Note: Checkups would have caught this. You should always run checkups before your first calc or list on any job. It could save you hours of aggravation.

Inserting a Head or Riser Nipple on a Line or Main

A feature added to both HydraCAD V50.4 and V51.4 allows you to break a head or riser nipple into a branch line automatically.

Note the prompts when you pick Insert Head or Insert Riser Nipple: "Pick insertion point. Pick any point besides endpoint to break into pipe". Try it out using the NEAR Osnap or the TRACKING command.

TRACKING

The TRACKING command is probably the most underused command in AutoCAD. It allows you to reference a point and 'steer' to a new point. Try the following for inserting a Riser Nipple:

1. Pick Insert Riser Nipple

2. When prompted to pick a line or main, instead pick the TRACKING button on the HydraCAD Utilities toolbar or type in TRACKING in response to the prompt

3. Using the ENDPOINT Osnap, pick the end of a line or main

4. With ORTHO on, drag your crosshairs down the line or main and type in 1' (foot)

5. Press ENTER to end TRACKING and select the higher or lower pipe, depending on your settings

Your head or riser nipple will be inserted 1 foot away from the end of the pipe. The pipe will be broken and re-dimensioned if it already has sizes on it.

Viewing Revit Files Without Buying Revit

Q: How do you view Revit files without buying Revit? 

A: From Autodesk - Download the Revit program and run it in Demo mode. Demo install can function as a viewer with no expiration. Demo mode allows all features of Revit, but you cannot save, plot or export
your project after changes are made. Demo mode serves as a no-cost viewer for yourself or team members who need to view, plot, and export projects without changing them.

--
Jeff Hanson
Autodesk - AEC Technical Publications
Manchester, NH

You can download Revit at Revit MEP Download