About the Tube and Pipe Browser

The Model browser graphically illustrates the primary runs assembly along with the assembly component hierarchy. It also organizes and manipulates tube and pipe data, shows and hides selected components, and controls and provides alternate access to functions from the context menu.

Tube and pipe design typically has a single primary runs assembly primary occurrence, and occasionally multiple primary runs assembly secondary occurrences. The primary runs assembly comprises all tube and pipe runs. The run is placed in the browser with other placed components and is arranged in the order it was added to the assembly.

You can expand the primary runs assembly to display the runs that make up the routed system. Each run contains one or more associated routes, sketched route points, auto route regions, conduit segments , and fittings that make up that run. The Origin folder for each run contains the run's origin information.

The browser filters, design views, and browser views, operate the same as in regular assemblies. It is available when a tube and pipe assembly file is open and active. You can display or hide the browser using View tab Windows panel User Interface Browser.

Browser display names for tube and pipe components

File names of primary runs assembly, runs, routes, and hose assemblies can be determined upon creation. By default, tube and pipe files use the following naming convention to display the container structure in the Model browser:

Primary runs assembly: Tube and Pipe Runs
Runs: Run <n>
Routes: Route <n>
Flexible hose assemblies: Flexible Hose <n>. Each hose assembly contains only one hose route.
Hose routes: Hose <n>.ipt
where <n> is the index number that automatically increments to indicate a unique file name by default.

Conduit parts hold a custom length so each conduit part corresponds to one file in your workspace, for instance, each pipe segment relates to a file even if pipe segments have the same length and other manufacturing information. Fittings are standard library parts in the Content Center so all occurrences in the same library standard refer to the only local file.

When conduit parts are placed into a tube and pipe assembly from the Content Center using AutoDrop, they are stored in the corresponding pipe run folder and the Content Center file name schema is used. When used to populate routes, the system always uses the Tube & Pipe specific naming convention of .<13-digit number> where <13-digit number> is automatically assigned based on the current time of your computer and indicates pipe, tube sweeping, or hose.

When fittings are placed from the Content Center using AutoDrop or used to populate routes with tube and pipe styles, they are always stored in the Content Center Files location in your workspace and the Content Center file name schema is always used, by default, <nominal_size>.ipt. Use the File Open dialog box to verify the fitting file location:

In the Open dialog box, click Projects. On the Project pane, expand Folder Options and verify the Content Center Files location. To see the default location, pause the cursor over the item.
In the Open dialog box, click Open. On the Locations pane, expand Content Center Files and double-click Content Center Files to navigate through the part family folders.

Note: File naming convention of library fitting and conduit part families can be customized from within the Content Center to meet your design needs.

Browser symbols in tube and pipe runs assemblies

	Indicates that a primary runs assembly, run, route, or a flexible hose subassembly is adaptive.
	Indicates that the route is comatose because it contains errors, such as violations against the minimum and maximum segment lengths defined in the style or has one or more angle violations in the self draining route.
	Indicates that pipe runs contain one or more routes in the sick condition, for instance, adaptivity of tube and pipe components is not correctly solved or a self draining route segment does not satisfy the self draining style rule.
	Phantom pipe runs and flexible hose subassemblies. Phantom parts are not calculated into the bill of materials (BOM) structure.
	Fittings.
	Pipe segments.
	Tube or hose segments.
	Auto route regions that contain a series of continuous auto route segments that are automatically generated between selected geometry.
	Route points that are manually created or automatically generated in auto route regions.
	Routes.
	Derived routes

Note: If the primary runs assembly, runs, routes, hose assemblies, or tube and pipe parts are suppressed, the associated browser symbols become gray.

Context menus

The context menu (right-click) accesses functions for operations on the selected component or feature in the browser. Depending on the browser edit context and the selected item, all options may not be available.

The same context menu options, plus viewing options, are available when you select the item in the graphics window.

Commands	Description
3D Move/Rotate	Interactively positions intermediate route points in piping, tubing, or hosing routes by dragging the triad in a planar mode, axial move or rotate, free movement, or entering values along X, Y, or Z axes. It is a way of repositioning the associated fitting that is placed in the run environment.
3D Move/Rotate Fitting	Interactively positions free fittings that have no associations in a run by dragging the triad in a planar mode, axial move or rotate, free movement, or entering values along X, Y, or Z axes. It does not apply to conduit parts.
Auto-Dimension	Automatically adds normal sketched dimensions to linear, angular, and radial route elements during forward creation. Available in the route environment when the 3D Orthogonal Route tool is created.
Bend Radius	Check: Verifies whether the hose route violates the minimum bend radius defined in the style. Clear: Removes the violation against the minimum bend radius on the hose route from the dialog box. Violations on the hose route are not deleted automatically.
BOM Structure	Determines whether the primary runs assembly, run, route, hose assembly, or tube and pipe parts is normal BOM structure or reference BOM structure. It is typically used to export specific routes and runs in BOM views. Note: When a component has a BOM Structure of Reference, the BOM treats the component and all its direct and indirect children as if they do not exist. All components, that are a part of a reference component, are excluded from quantity, mass, or volume calculations, regardless of their own BOM structure value. Reference components also have special treatment in drawing views.
Break Link	For normal routes, makes the associated route points independent of referenced geometry, for instance, route points that reference the selecting geometry when the Route command is applied to circular edge. For derived routes, breaks the link between the derived route and the base sketch .
Change Fitting Diameter	Changes the diameter for one or more placed fittings and default fittings that are used by a style to populate routes and runs. The system finds the diameters that are common to all selected fittings and displays them in a list.
Connect Fittings	Connects two components relative to one another in a tube and pipe assembly. You can connect a fitting, a conduit part , or a normal Inventor part that already exists in the assembly to another base component. You can also connect fittings when placing or dropping them in the graphics window.
Create Constraint	Manually applies geometric constraints between route points, segments, and included reference geometry such as Perpendicular, Parallel, Tangent, Coincident, Collinear, and Fix.
Create Pipe Run	Creates new pipe runs in the primary runs assembly. For the first pipe run, the system automatically creates and names the primary runs assembly along with an individual run.
Custom Bend	In the piping route environment, displays the 3D Orthogonal route tool with tubing elements for defining a custom bend.
Delete Route	Removes the route, plus fittings and segments, or segments only in the selected route.
Delete Run	Removes the selected pipe run from the browser and the graphics window. All routes and components in the pipe run are deleted.
Derived Route	Uses base sketches in other part files (except for route part files) to create derived routes.
Display/Update Settings	Prevents or allows automatic populating of tube and pipe components in an individual route, pipe run, or primary runs assembly by selecting Route Objects Only or All Tube & Pipe Objects.
Edit Base Sketch	Activates the base sketch to accommodate new constrained sketch elements or correct violations for the associated derived route.
Edit Fitting Connections	Deletes or edits the engagement for fitting connections between two fittings or between a tube, pipe, or hose part or a standard Inventor part and a fitting that was inserted using the Connect Fittings command.
Edit Fitting Orientation	Activates the selected fitting and provides the 3D Orthogonal Route Tool for rotational changes. Available for placed fittings in rigid routes, and start and end fittings in hose routes
Edit Position	Activates the 3D Orthogonal Route tool and reposition the intermediate route point that is associated with the default coupling fitting.
Enter Angle	Enters a precise angular value, especially used to define bend radius.
Enter Distance	Enters a precise distance value, especially used to define route segments.
Finish Edit	Ends the current edit operation for the selected route, run, and primary runs assembly.
Fitting	Turns the appearance of a fitting (coupling) on and off for fittings associated to geometry. When not selected, the fitting is not created, the pipe remains a single segment, and the nodes remain associative.
General Dimension	Activates the environment of placing dimensions and places dimensions on the selected route element. If an existing dimension is clicked, enters a new value in the Edit Dimension dialog box.
Hose Length	Edits the hose and adjusts the length by changing the tension of the hose segment.
Insert Node	Inserts a route point in the selected route. By default, this new node adds a coupling at the selected route location. Available on the Route tab or in the context menu of the graphics window when a route is activated.
Move Node	Moves the intermediate route point that is associated with the default coupling fitting to a new position. The system recalculates auto route segments based on the new position of the selected route point.
Move Segment	Moves route segments in an auto route region when adjacent route segments are on a planar face to a new position. The system recalculates auto route segments based on the new position of the selected segment.
New Route	Activates the Route environment and adds a route to the active run. Available on the Pipe Run tab or in the context menu of the graphics window when a pipe run is activated.
Parameters	Views and edits parameters in the Parameters table, create user-defined parameters, and links to a spreadsheet containing parameter values for tube and pipe design models.
Parallel With Edge	Reorients the direction axis of the 3D Orthogonal Route tool parallel with existing linear geometry and places the parallel geometry constraint on the next segment accordingly.
Perpendicular To Face	Reorients the direction axis of the 3D Orthogonal Route tool perpendicular to existing planar geometry and places the perpendicular geometry constraint on the next segment accordingly.
Place Fitting	Places fittings from the work space of the active project. Available when a pipe run is activated.
Place from Content Center	Displays the Content Center dialog box to place library components using AutoDrop.
Point Snap	Creates route points by snapping to faces, edges, or work points that exist within the tube and pipe assembly. Available in the rigid route environment when the 3D Orthogonal Route tool is activated.
Rotation Snap	Controls the route direction by snapping the direction axis of the 3D Orthogonal Route tool to available edges and faces. It is available in the rigid route environment when the 3D Orthogonal Route tool is activated and works together with rotation handles on the 3D Orthogonal Route tool.
Populate Route	Populates a single route in the pipe run.
Redefine	Changes the position of the selected route point, such as intermediate route points in hose routes, at a specified offset distance from a surface or a plane.
Replace from Content Center	Displays the Content Center dialog box to replace library components. You must first select an appropriate component, typically fitting from the Model browser or graphics window.
Restore Fitting	Replaces a placed fitting with the default fitting (elbow or coupling) for the set style or replaces a placed fitting with a coupling no matter how many connection points the original placed fitting has.
Route	Continues adding route points to the specified route. Available for start and end route points in a route that are not used in any other routes or fittings.
Show Components	With a run active, highlights the tube and pipe components in a populated route in the graphics window and browser.
Show All Constraints	In the route environment, displays all geometric constraints that are manually placed and automatically created in the route.
Show Violations	Displays the Show Violations dialog box to show the violations on a route that contains errors.
Slope Angle Snap	Controls the placement of fittings by limiting the Rotate command to snapping only to angles that are compatible with the slope angle of the route. It is available in the rigid route environment on the context menu, when placing a fitting or when editing the orientation of a fitting.
Trim/Extend Pipe	Trims or extends the free pipe ends at a specified length to get the correct engagement for pipes with adjacent fittings. Available for free route points at the end of route segments.
Tube & Pipe Settings	Displays the Tube & Pipe Settings dialog box for global settings on a primary runs assembly, such as Defer all Tube & Pipe Updates and Use R9 Bill of Materials. Available for Tube and pipe runs assemblies.
Tube & Pipe Styles	Displays the Tube & Pipe Styles dialog box for setting and selecting route styles.