Creating an Automated Offset

You can add an automated offset when a route intersect another route, a plane, or a structure.

Note: In case of non circular shape, the automated offset is available only if the two routes are orthogonal.

Before you begin:
  • Optional: Assign the Automated Offset table to the resource set if you use a file-based table, or to a specification in a resource set if you use an Engineering Specification object. For more information, see Automated Offset.
  • Open a product with two routes that intersect.
  1. Double-click one of the routes.
    You switch to the HVAC 3D Part Design app and a yellow symbol appears on each node of the route.
  2. Click the middle of the segment where you want to apply the automated offset.
  3. In the context toolbar, click Automatic Offset .
  4. In the Automatic Offset panel, enter the values and select the options of your choice.
    OptionDescription
    Offset Distance between the skin of the two routes.
    Angle Value of the bends that will be created.
    Bend Mode

    One Bend Mode: allows you to create only one bend. This option is available only for offset angles with a value less than 45 degrees.

    Two Bends Mode: allows you to create two bends.

    Invert Orientation Switch between the two possible offset directions.
  5. Select the route, the plan, or the structure you want to bypass.
    A preview of the new route appears. If you change the value of the angle or the offset, the preview is updated in the same time.
    Note: If the route intersects:
    • A cylindrical structure: the behavior is the same as a route intersection. Select the structure and the route is modified with the defined offset.
    • A rectangular structure: select one of the surfaces of the structure. The route is modified and the offset is maintained between the surface and the route.
    • A complex structure: select two parallel lines of the structure using the CTRL key. The route is modified and the offset is maintained between the surface and the route.
  6. Click to validate the offset.

    If you have selected the Two Bends Mode option, four points are created and added to the route. A three points solution is provided with the following conditions:

    • The shape is circular.
    • The offset angle is smaller than 45°.
    • The straight length is equal to 0.
    • The bend radius value is higher than the sum of the 2 radius plus the offset value.

    If you have selected the One Bend Mode option, three points are created and added to the route.

    Notes:
    • There are no links between the two routes. To modify the offset, you need to delete the four points that have just been created and relaunch the Automatic Offset command.
    • If the two routes are orthogonal, the offset distance is maintained from the three segments of the modified route. If they are not orthogonal, any point of the offset segment is at least equal to the offset distance.
    The following image illustrates the three surfaces from which the offset is calculated. 1 refers to the route in edition mode, 2 is the offset angle, 3 is the selected route, 4 is the offset distance and 5 is the offset distance or the bend radius.