Automatic creation of piping/conduits on a floorplan

[darkcobra]

Maybe somewhere here knows how I can make AutoCAD generate a line to represent a conduit or pipe on a floorplan between two device symbos. The line must be drawn from one place to the next without going through walls or such.

I have heard there is software that can do this.. Maybe someone here can tell me the basic theory or know a lisp routine that can help me incorporate this type of feature on our drawings..

The Details:

1. I want to place blocks on the floorplan to are to be the devices we install

2. After I place all the blocks on the floorplan, I want to be able to choose a block to start a line at and then choose another block to stop drawing the line at.

3. I then want autocad to draw the line(s) needed to connect the chosen devices.

4. The lines to be created must follow the hallways (geometry) without passing through the walls.

Thanks

-Joe

 

[hendie]

It can certainly be done but it could be a complex process.
If you wanted it completely automatic, then the blocks would need to be within an enclosed area that could be defined. i.e. closed polyline on specific layer.
The coding for such a program would be quite complex as it would need to test for intersections on every line segment and change route accordingly.
A simpler appproach would be to pick the start and end blocks, then pick a series of points between the two (defining any point of change of direction). The routine would then create the appropriate path between the objects with fillets as required (and setting object properties etc).
Of course, the second approach is not fully automated but would still cut your time considerably.

http://www.resourcecad.com

~ for your CAD solutions

 

[darkcobra]

Thanks fo the info Hendie.. Can ytou tell me more about the second approach involving selection of the path to run the conduit..