Connected Fittings and Components

Use the Connect Fittings command to connect two components relative to one another in a tube and pipe assembly. You can:

• Connect a fitting, a conduit part, or a normal Autodesk Inventor part that exists in the assembly to another base component.
• Connect fittings before placing them in the graphics window.
• Insert and connect a collinear fitting between existing fittings.

The dialog box changes depending on the operation you have selected.

To complete the connection, you must have one free fitting and a base fitting or fittings. You also specify the engagement type, as well as the engagement distance when User Defined is selected from the Engagement list.

Free Fittings

A free fitting can be a fitting or a normal Autodesk Inventor part in the active pipe run assembly. The fitting or part cannot be driven by a node in a route or by any other fitting. When inserting a fitting between an existing fitting connection, the fitting must be collinear. Once the free fitting is connected to the base component, it is always positioned relative to the base fitting during updates and other operations.

Base Fittings

Can be a fitting, a conduit part, or a normal Inventor part that is located anywhere within the assembly. When inserting a fitting, the base fittings are restricted to connected collinear fittings. In both cases, the base fitting specifies the connection that constrains the position and routing of the free fitting.

Engagement

Available only when you select a connection between two fittings or between a component and a fitting that was inserted using Connect Fitting. It includes three engagement types:

• Free Fitting: Uses the free fitting engagement type for the selected connection.
• Base Fitting: Uses the base fitting engagement type for the selected connection.
• User Defined: A positive number moves the free fitting or component away from the connected base fitting or component. A negative number moves the free fitting or component toward the connected base fitting or component.

Distance

Indicates the engagement distance used for the connection between fittings and components. Read-write only when the User Defined engagement type is used.