Problem

How can I lay out a bend in a pipe when working in the Standalone, AutoCAD integrated mode or MicroStation integrated mode? (instead of inserting extra junctions or manholes)

Solution

Standalone

In standalone, while laying out a pipe, press and hold the CTRL (Control) key and left click in the drawing to insert a bend.

To insert a bend in an existing pipe, right click on the pipe > Bend > Add Bend.

AutoCAD

When laying out a pipe (or other link element) in the AutoCAD integrated mode, start laying out the pipe, right click, choose Bend, then left click to place the bend. Right click again and select the desired end node, then left click to place that end node.

To insert a bend in an existing pipe, select the pipe, right click > Bend > Add Bend, then click on the pipe at the location where you want to insert the bend. Note that you may need to adjust your OSNAP settings to prevent it from trying to select the end node.

MicroStation

When laying out a pipe (or other link element), start laying out the pipe/gutter/channel. Select <bend> from the "current node" dropdown in the layout dialog box (which appears when you start laying out the link), then click where you want to place the bend.

Under the Tools menu of MicroStation, go to Toolboxes. Scroll to the "Modify" Toolbox, check it and click ok. On the Modify toolbox, select the Insert Vertex tool. Identify the pipe segment where you would like to insert the bend. This will now enable you to stretch the pipe at that vertex point to create the bend.

Inserting Multiple Bends

To insert multiple bends at once use ModelBuilder to build or update your pipes from a shapefile, .DXF file, or other file type.

See Also

Will the minor losses associated with pipe bends be automatically accounted for?