topic Re: Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements in Collaboration with other software

Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:15:47 GMT

Is there any addon available that will allow me to hang MEP elements either from the slab above and along vertical walls? It will be good if we would be able to specify the distance from the slab/wall, slope (of pipes) etc. Right now all these elements are just hanging in the air.

I did try to use a library part from ACE library, but it is too much work to keep it "synched" to the elements especially when they need to be re routed or moved.

BTW, Vico claims to have this in their MEP module and that, I believe, is based on Archicad!

Re: Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements

Erika Epstein — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:46:12 GMT

If I understand you correctly, there is no way when placing and/or routing MEP elements and systems for them to be associated with another AC element such as a vertical wall. However, as when placing any element in AC you can be setting distances from another element. You can also be changing slope on the fly etc. Have you reviewed the MEP tutorials ?here?

Re: Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:48:43 GMT

Thanks for your reply Erika. I understand the logic about associating with other AC element. However, it would be nice to be able to have this functionality.

Thanks

Re: Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements

Laszlo Nagy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:46:59 GMT

Just to reflect on your "wish": yes, it would be nice, even more so since this intelligence is there within ArchiCAD.
Currently one could do it in a workaround way by making the subtype of these elements to be a Door or Window type since you can place a Door or Window only into a Wall.
I am only saying this to illustrate that ArchiCAD already has the intelligence to be able to find and snap to surfaces of other elements.

The other example of this is the Gravity feature where you can place elements to the top surface of Slabs, Roofs and Meshes.
Why not have an "anti-gravity" feature which snaps elements to the bottom surface of Slabs or Roofs or Beams or any surface for that matter.

So maybe the solution would be the extension of the Gravity feature, only you would not call it gravity. Certain element types could only be placed onto Walls or onto bottom surfaces of Slabs or whatever.
I would love to see such a feature in a future version.

Re: Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements

Erika Epstein — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:30:03 GMT

Laszlo,
"anti-gravity" I love it. Why don't you start a wish?

Re: Hanger tool/add-on for MEP elements

Laszlo Nagy — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:46:45 GMT

Here it is:

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=30907

Someone already voted Essential.
Maybe it was me.