Preparing your model - shtirlitsDva/Revit-PCF-Exporter GitHub Wiki

General requirements

To achieve the best result exporting the PCF data, it is important to make sure that your model is modelled according to the following set of rules:

  1. All pipes must be placed correctly with no open ends or aligned exactly to the adjoining element's connectors in cases where connectivity is not possible.
  2. In-line pipe accessories such as valves must be placed correctly breaking in the pipes.
  3. All in-line parts must be modelled as pipe accessories.
  4. A pipeline is a system of pipes, fittings and accessories completely interconnected belonging to a single Piping System.

How the geometric data is obtained

The add-in reads the location of connectors (system (pipes) and family (pipe fittings and accessories)) and writes the project coordinates to the PCF file. The pipes are fairly straight forward, but fittings and accessories require a more elaborate approach. The following describes the chosen approach in detail.

Requirements for fittings and accessories

Marking a connector as primary and secondary

In the following, connectors of the elements will be required to be made primary or secondary (also called linking of connectors). The first connector in a family is always a primary connector. You can assign any connector to be primary, but to define a secondary connector, the primary needs to be connected to another connector. This is achieved in the family editor by following this procedure:

(1) Select the primary connector. The primary connector is marked by a cross. (2) Click the "Link Connectors" button. (3) Select the connector you want to become secondary. (4) Select one of those two connectors to verify that a line now connects them. This means that the two connectors now are linked and the second one has now become the secondary connector. For many elements this will already be the case, because the link between connectors is used to facilitate transfer of flow between them.

Elements with one connector

Scope: Caps, blind flanges, pressure and temperature instruments etc.

No special requirements for connectors. The first end point is populated by the connector. The second end or co-ords point is obtain by analysing the intersection of a reverse vector from the connector and the solid geometry of the family. So the family must contain a solid to enable this analysis.

Elements with two connectors

Scope: Any element with two connectors.

The two connectors must be linked.

  1. Specific for flanges:

Elements with three connectors

Scope: Tees, reducing tees

Connectors on the main line must be linked, the connector of the branch is left as is.

Elements with four or more connectors

Scope: Two main connectors and extra (usually small bore) connectors for pressure measurement and such.

The two connectors at the ends of the element must be linked. The extra connectors are left as is. They can be connected to piping by using the "tap" feature of the PCF format. Se Tap Connections.

Scope: Cross tee, any element with more main "legs" than 3.

Currently not implemented.