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When importing a PCF file, the single line view looks ok, but actually all the pipe sizes are very large, how to resolve?
Imported file with Large pipe sizes:
Imported file with Small pipe sizes:
The application use to create the PCF file did not write the correct units. Example, open the PCF file in any text editor (i.e. Notepad, UltraEdit, ...). See the following component pipe size was found to be 25:
Note: Endpoint line format is actually the 3 coordinate locations (i.e. Dz, Dx, Dy) and pipe size. Units can only be mm or inches, but not both (i.e. coordinated and pipe size must be using the same form of units English or Metric not English coordinates and Metric Pipe).
The units are found at the beginning of the PCF file:
In this example, the units were found to be INCH. This created a pipe size 25.4x larger than the pipe should have been. To fix this issue, change "UNITS-BORE INCH" to "UNITS-BORE MM".
The application use to create the PCF file did not write the correct units. A clear indicator of the an issue look at a component like a valve. Notice that the valve length imported (ex. 242 inches long) was much excessive compared to the pipe size (ex. 8 inches) :
Why?
Start by looking at the actual PCF file that was imported. To do this first find the AutoPIPE coordinates of the component node points of interest (ex. 218).
Next open the PCF file in any text editor (i.e. Notepad, UltraEdit, ...)
Search for the coordinate location (note Endpoint line format is actually the 3 coordinate locations (i.e. Dz, Dx, Dy) and pipe size).
Once the component has been located in the PCF file, subtract the 2 end points coordinates to get a distance (ex. valve length = 242 in). Notice the pipe size at the end of each END-POINT line(ex. valve pipe size = 8 in)
See manufacture data on this component, which value was correct / incorrect: Valve Length or Valve Size. in this example, valve length was found to be incorrect, there are many 8 inch pipe valves manufacture, just not many that are 17 feet long.
Avoidance:
in this example above, AutoPIPE PCF translator is correctly importing the PCF file. However it is clear that one of the two values was found to be incorrect (i.e. Coordinates). AutoPIPE PCF translator cannot process a mixed unit PCF file. Both the Coordinates and PIPE size information in the PCF file must be in the same form of units, English or Metric.
Open the original application used to create the PCF file and make the necessary adjustments. In this case, the entire model was scaled down by 25.4 thus producing the correct coordinates to be exported to the PCF file.
Another solution would have been to increase all the pipe sizes from English to Metric values and then exported a new PCF file.
PCF Translator FAQ & troubleshooting
Bentley AutoPIPE