Connection nodes

Some CADMATIC objects can have connection nodes. GDL contains a statement which is used to define these nodes. The syntax is:

node_name = NODE(id, loc, dir, [l_x,] v1, v2, type, flow [, v3]);

where optional arguments are enclosed in square brackets []. The meanings of the arguments are as follows:

  • id integer value defining the node number (1...255)

  • loc point specifying the location of the node

  • dir direction that defines the connection direction from the node

  • [l_x] direction that specifies the direction of local x-axis in the node. If not given then it is assumed to be parallel to the intersection line of plane (loc, dir) and global x-y plane. This direction is used to determine the direction of bolt hole symmetry axis in flange connections. For air ducts it defines the direction of width side of the cross-section.

  • v1 normally this gives the nominal size of the connection. If the node defines an air duct, then this value is the width of the section.

  • v2 normally nominal pressure. For air ducts height of the section.

  • type integer value specifying the primary type and the subtype of the node as follows:

    100 * primary_type + sub_type

    The primary_type and sub_type are numbers derived from the respective connection face codes: 0 through 9 are used unchanged; A = 10, B = 11, C = 12, etc.

  • flow integer value specifying the direction of flow as follows:

         0 don't care

         1 in

         2 out

  • [v3] defines the distance that the opposite part comes inside the node. This is used to visualize pipes properly in these connections.

The maximum number of connection nodes depends on the object type. With standard components the local origin should be at the first node point.