Automatic Part Rules

This section describes the Automatic Part Rules tables and how you can customize them.

This page discusses:

Overview

This section provides a brief overview of the Automatic Part Rules tables.

The automatic part rules define how parts are automatically placed in the Piping & Tubing 3D Design app when you select Modify > Edit > Insert Automatic Part in the context toolbar. For more information, see Generative Fluid 3D Design User's Guide: Inserting Automatic Parts.

The Automatic Part Rules table will place one or more parts automatically between two connected parts, such as a tube next to a valve. The table contains data related to the attribute Endstyle. An example is a scenario where there is a flared tube next to a valve. The app places a B-nut, a union and a sleeve between them.

During the automatic parts placement process, the app first examines the compatibility table to select the best connector match. The automatic part rules take over following this step and the app then:

  • Looks at the automatic part rules table to determine if a part should be placed between those two parts. If an entry for the two parts exists in the table then it takes note of the part type. If there is no entry in the table then it decides that no part needs to be placed.
  • It uses the part type defined in the table to retrieve parts from the catalog, and examines the compatibility table to determine the best match for the connectors. The part is then placed.
  • The app will again examine the automatic part rules table to determine if any part should be placed between the new part it just determined should be placed, and any of the existing parts. If another part is needed it will again check the compatibility table for best connector match. The app repeats this process until it determines that no more parts need to be placed.

No more than ten parts can be placed using this process. This is to prevent the app going into a loop if the rules table is incorrect.

Note: During implementation of the Piping & Tubing Design apps, this table is typically left undefined. The system user will therefore be obliged to place all components one by one. With experience, the user will be able to describe the combination of fittings that are often placed together. These combinations can then be defined in the table and thereafter these components will be placed automatically.

In Data Setup, this definition table should be assigned to:

  • when using file-based tables, the Automatic Part Rules item in the resource table of Piping/Tubing Design Resources.
  • when using Engineering Specification object, a specification in the resource table of Piping/Tubing Specification Resources.

Table Description

This section describes the customization options of the Automatic Part Rules.

Two special symbols can be used in both tables:

  • Equal sign (=): When entered in the Standard / End 1 or Standard column, it means both main parts must have the same standard.
  • Asterisk (*): When entered in a column, the meaning is similar to that of a wild card, meaning "all".

File-Based Table

A typical Automatic Part Rules file-based table is shown below:

Flag (String) PartType (String) Standard/End 1 (String) Endstyle/End 2 Picture
#
# V5 had standards SSTL and SSTLMM in the auto part table. Both had the same data so "=" is used here for standard to indicate the rules work as long as the standards are equal.
#
#Threaded male flared connects to flared tube with sleeve and nut.
ID TmfToTube
MAIN * = THREADED MALE FLARED
AUTO B-Nut Sleeve FLARED SLEEVE NUT STOP SF SLEEVE
AUTO Nut SINGLE FLARED/B-NUT
MAIN * = FLARED TUBE
#
#Threaded female requires an adaptor before connecting to flared tube with sleeve and B-nut.
ID TfAdapterTube TfAdapterTube_picture
MAIN * = THREADED FEMALE
AUTO Adaptor THREADED MALE THREADED MALE FLARED
AUTO B-Nut Sleeve SINGLE FLARED/B-NUT SINGLE FLARED/B-NUT
AUTO Nut B-NUT
MAIN * = FLARED TUBE
#
Flareless male connects to straight tube with sleeve and nut.
ID FlsToTube
MAIN * = FLARELESS MALE
AUTO B-Nut Sleeve FLARELESS SLEEVE NUT STOP FLS SLEEVE
AUTO Nut B-NUT
MAIN * = STRAIGHT TUBE

The Automatic Part Rules table can contain one or many rules.

A rule defines two main parts, and one or more automatic parts that will go between them.

Flag: Identifies the two main parts and one or more automatic parts. The first entry (ID) in each rule set defines a title to help users. This is the ID shown to the user in case there are multiple rule sets found in the table for the same end style combinations.

PartType: The part type of the main and automatic parts.

Standard / End 1: For main parts, enter the standard. For automatic parts, enter Endstyle 1. Endstyle 1 will connect to the first main part defined in the rule set.

Endstyle / End 2: For main parts enter the end style. For automatic parts, enter Endstyle 2. Endstyle 2 will connect to the second main part, or the next automatic part if more than one is defined in the rule set.

Picture: Name of the Engineering Document document shown in the dialog box

  • If no end styles are entered for an automatic part then the flip direction will be arbitrary. If one end style is entered then the flip direction will be taken into account.
  • If none is entered as the value for one of the end styles, the part only has one end style. This may be useful for filtering nuts.

Engineering Specification Table

A typical Automatic Part Rules Engineering Specification table is shown below:

This table contains the same information than the file-based table but has more columns to have only one type per column.

Flag Name Standard Part Subtype End Style 1 End Style 2 Picture Comment DS_Usage
ID TfAdapterTube TfAdapterTube_picture Threaded female requires an adaptor before connecting to flared tube with sleeve and b-nut. Multiple
MAIN = * THREADED FEMALE - - -
AUTO Adaptor THREADED MALE THREADED MALE FLARED - - -
AUTO B-Nut Sleeve SINGLE FLARED/B-NUT SINGLE FLARED/B-NUT - - -
AUTO Nut B-NUT - - -
MAIN = * - - -

The columns definitions are as follow:

Column Name Column Type Link to Table Link to Column Description
Flag String - -
Name String - -
Standard String Standard Standard
Part Subtype String Physical Part Subtype Part Subtype
End Style 1 String End Style End Style
End Style 2 String End Style End Style
Picture String - -
Comment String - -
DS_Usage String - -

When the DS_Usage is defined as Single, the rule is accessible in manual only.

When the DS_Usage is defined as Multiple, the rule is accessible in manual and SDAD.

The table has the following attributes:

  • Standard
  • Max temperature
  • Min temperature
  • Max pressure
  • Min pressure
  • Fluid
  • Fluid Category

Example

The meaning of the rule set with the ID TfAdapterTube for both file-based and Engineering Specification tables is explained below.

The comment indicates that when a part with a raised face end style is placed next to a part with a butt weld end style, then the following automatic parts will be placed between them when the automatic parts command is executed: gasket, flange, inline weld (in that order).

The rule set ID is TfAdapterTube.

The entries in the rule set are:

  • Main parts can have any part type, and should have the same standard. The first main part has the threaded female end style, and the second main part has the flared tube end style.

Automatic parts are:

  • Adaptor part type, with threaded male as Endstyle 1 and threaded male flared as Endstyle 2.
  • B-Nut Sleeve part type, with single flared/B-Nut as Endstyle 1 and Endstyle 2.
  • Nut part type, with B-Nut as Endstyle 1.

Sample Resource File

This section explains where to find the sample resource file.

The default location of XXX_AutomaticPartRule.xls is:

..\startup\EquipmentAndSystems\Piping\Specification\

and then the relevant specification, such as SS150R.

Note: The app optional content is not automatically installed along with the code. Contact your administrator if you must install the files you need. For more information, see Install Optional Content. You can also see Installation and Setup:Install: 3DEXPERIENCE Platform: Installing 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Services for the First Time: Installing Services One-by-One: Native Apps: Installing Native Apps: Installing a Native App.

Where Used

Used in this app When Is seen as
Piping & Tubing 3D Design Placing parts using Insert Automatic Part Automatic Part Rule Sets dialog box