EPLAN Fluid allows checking of the schematic documentation of your fluid projects from a purely fluid power point of view, to find inconsistencies and/or logical errors in the schematic and thus avoid faulty reports.
The message management module includes the separate "Fluid power" message class with the class number 024 for this purpose.
Properties are checked with regard to their connection point logic, the trade and the subtrade.
Checking of the connection dimension of connections
Two further check runs with which the connection dimensions of fluid power connections can be checked in the "Connections" message class with the class number 005:
- P005086: Different connection dimension '<x>' / '<y>'
- P005087: Direct connection: Different connection dimension '<x>' / '<y>'
The first check run is used to determine whether the connection dimensions at the two ends of fluid power connections or hose lines match the connection dimensions of the functions connected to the source and target ends.
The second check run checks the connection dimensions of direct connections. These are connections to which the "Direct connection" function definition has been assigned. (Such connections are used, for example in the pneumatics in a fluid power schematic for connections that run between a valve and a silencer.) During this check the values of the connection dimensions at the functions connected to the source and target ends are compared directly with each other.
In the case of an error the following information is output in the placeholders <x> and <y> of both messages:
|
Check project |
Placeholder |
Information |
|---|---|---|
|
P005086 |
<x> |
Source- or target-end connection dimension of the connection or hose line |
|
P005087 |
<x> |
Connection dimension of the source function |
The check runs obtain the values of the connection dimensions from the following properties:
- Connection dimension (all) (ID 20375):
This property is available to you at "normal" functions. If the function disposes of several connection points, the respective connection dimensions of the connection points have to be separated by paragraph marks ("ΒΆ"). - Connection dimension source (ID 31096) / Connection dimension target (ID 31097):
These properties are available to you at connection definition points. - Connection dimension source (ID 20378) / Connection dimension target (ID 20379):
These properties are available to you at conduits / lines. Both properties are relevant when you design connections by means of hose lines.
Connection dimension in the parts management
Manual entry of the connection dimension in the properties of connection definition points, conduits / lines or "normal" functions is not required if you have stored the data about the connection dimension at the corresponding parts in the parts management. In this case the data for the connection dimension are transferred from the part to the respective function / connection at a part or device selection. The following points must be taken into consideration with regard to entering the connection dimension in the parts management:
- Parts for functions: The connection dimension is defined via the function templates at "normal" parts such as filters, valves, cylinders, etc. The value for the connection dimension therefore has to be entered in the parts management in the Connection dimension table column in the Function templates tab. EPLAN Fluid transfers the value to the Connection dimension (all) property of the function after the part or device selection.
- Connection parts: The connection dimension has to be entered in the External diameter field of the Connection data tab for parts of the Fluid power connections product group such as hoses or pipes. After the device or part selection the external diameter of the first part selected is transferred both to the Connection dimension source property and the Connection dimension target property of the connection definition point. The external diameter is relevant, for example, at the selection of pneumatic hose parts that are planned for push-in fittings. The transfer of the external diameter to the previously named properties of the connection definition point is only possible if the function definition "Pipe", "Hose" or "Process engineering" is assigned to it.
- Hose line parts: Hose line parts are managed in the Lines / conduits product group. The source- and target-end connection dimension for the hose line part has to be stored in the Lines / conduits tab. The Connection dimension source and Connection dimension target fields are available there. During a device or part selection the values from the two fields are transferred to the properties of the same name, Connection dimension source and Connection dimension target, of the hose line in the schematic.
Connection dimension and hose line configurator
In addition to the possibility of using series-production hose line parts, you can also define hose lines in EPLAN Fluid by using the hose line configurator (EPLAN Fluid Hose Configurator). For each configured hose line the program generates four individual parts at the conduit / line. These are assigned to the fitting left, the fitting right, the hydraulics hose and the complete hose line.
The connection dimension is stored in the parts management at the left-hand and right-hand fitting that you have to select when configuring a hose line. To this purpose you first branch into the tree view of the parts management to the Accessories product group of the fluid power parts. For the respective fittings you bring the Function templates tab to the front, select the Fitting / screw connection, 2 connection points function definition in Row 1 of the table and assign the desired value of the connection dimension in the column with the same name.
When defining the hose line the hose line configurator transfers the respective connection dimensions to the Connection dimension source and Connection dimension target properties of the hose line in the schematic.
Notes:
- The Fitting / screw connection, 2 connection points function definition is located in the dialog Function definitions, in the Fluid power > Connection splicer / line connector, accessories > Fitting / screw connection branch of the tree structure.
- If you have subsequently modified one or both of the used fittings in the parts management, you have to update the type code in the hose line configurator so that the modification in the connection dimension also becomes effective in the schematic.
Correct specification of the connection dimension
The two check runs for the connection dimension check that the entered values are the same. You must therefore ensure that the upper-case / lower case usage is the same when assigning the connection dimension to connections and functions. Blanks are ignored during checking. An exception is formed by blanks between digits of thread dimensions that are specified in the form of a mixed fraction. These blanks are combined internally into a blank for the check.
Example:The following figure shows the same section of a pneumatic scheme with connection dimensions three times:
In the left-hand schematic section the connection dimensions are entered without blanks at the functions and at the connection definition point (hose) and in the middle schematic section with blanks. Both entry versions are permissible.
In the right-hand schematic section the "G" in the Connection dimension source property at the connection definition point "1" is entered as a lower-case character, in the Connection dimension (all) property at the "P1.1" function by contrast as an upper-case character. The differing characters are evaluated as an error during the connection dimension check and result in the message P006086 "Different connection dimension 'g3/4' / 'G3/4' ". being output.
See also