Connection Rules for the AutoCAD Plant 3D HDPE End Types

If you download or create polyethylene content like the HDPE ISCO catalog found in Autodesk’s App Store your Plant 3D Piping Connection Settings within Project Setup will need to be modified so that your project knows what to do with the end types defined in your catalog and spec.

Plant 3D is setup to automatically add the mating flange, gasket and bolt sets required for the connections of typical steel pipes. However, the connection rules required for a flange adapter and backup ring are not pre-defined. 

When creating a spec from your catalog make sure that you have a Flange Adapter, gasket, Bolt Set and Pipe with the following end codes:

Backup Ring:

Gasket:

Flange:

Pipe:

Bolt Set:

Note: Any inline assets such as valves would require the same port conditions as the bolt set and gasket. Pressure class 150 was used for this example.

The next steps are to setup the joint rules required for the end types we are using in Spec Editor.

1. Open the project these rules need to be setup in and then right-click on the top level of you Project Manager tree and select Project Setup.  

2. When Project Setup opens expand the Plant 3D Drawing Settings node and select Piping Connection Settings.
3. In order for Plant 3D to know that our new end types go together we need to create 2 simple joints. To do this click on the Add button in the Simple Joint area.

4. When the Add Joint window opens, create a connection for the LAP and PPL end type by entering in the following information

• Joint Name: LAPtoPPL
• Display Name: LAP to PPL Joint
• End 1: Check LAP
• End 2: Check PPL
• Click Add Property… and select Nominal Diameter
• Fastener: Stub End
• Click Add to add and close your new simple joint.

Note: if you need to make changes to this rule the Add button is replaced with a Modify as shown above

5. To create the simple joint rule required for connection for the FL and PPL end types repeat the same steps as before but enter the following information.

• Joint Name: FLtoPPL
• Display Name FL to PPL Joint
• End 1: Check FL
• End 2: Check PPL
• Click Add Property and select Nominal Diameter
• Fastener: Stub End
• Click Add to add and close your new simple joint.

Note: if you need to make changes to this rule the Add button is replaced with a Modify as shown above

6. The last step is to edit automatic flange compound joint rule so that this feature will work. To do this select the existing Auto flange joint under Compound Joint and select Modify.

7. Add the PPL end type to the End 2 column and select modify to set and exit. 

8. Close project setup and save your changes by pressing OK in the bottom right corner of the Project Setup window.

Now when we place flanged components from our new HDPE specs we should the flange adapter and backing ring automatically place as shown.