esapro 3d piping

ESApro 3D PIPING

Release V7

USER MANUAL (rev. 7.0)

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INDEX

ESApro - Piping 3D

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 4 2. BASE CONCEPTS ............................................................................................................ 5

2.1. TRIDIMENSIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT ............................................ 5 2.2. VISUALIZATION MANAGEMENT ........................................................................... 7 2.3. WORK PLANE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................ 11 2.4. PIPE-SNAP FUNCTION........................................................................................ 12 2.5. THE LAYOUT ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................ 14 2.6. EXTERNAL REFERENCES MANAGEMENT........................................................ 17 2.7. PARAMETER TABLES ......................................................................................... 18 2.8. PIPING CLASS DEFINITION ................................................................................ 19 2.9. CHOOSING THE WORKING DIAMETER ............................................................. 19 2.10. COMMANDS ARRANGEMENT AND USE............................................................ 20

3. TUTORIAL ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.1. START-UP ............................................................................................................ 22 3.2. PIPING CLASS GENERATION ............................................................................. 22 3.3. CHOOSING THE PIPING CLASS ......................................................................... 23 3.4. VESSEL POSITIONING ........................................................................................ 24 3.5. PUMPS INSERTION ............................................................................................. 27 3.6. PIPELINE LAY-OUT ............................................................................................. 28 3.7. COMPONENT PLACEMENT ................................................................................ 32 3.8. LAY-OUT .............................................................................................................. 37 3.9. DIMENSIONING AND ANNOTATIONS ................................................................ 40 3.10. BILL OF MATERIAL EXTRACTION ...................................................................... 42 3.11. EXPORT TO THE ISO ENVIRONMENT ............................................................... 43

4. COMMAND REFERENCE ............................................................................................... 45 4.1. LINE ...................................................................................................................... 45 4.2 LINE MANAGER ................................................................................................... 56 4.3. FOLLOW LINE ...................................................................................................... 62 4.4. AUTOMATIC LINE DRESSING............................................................................. 62 4.5. CIRCULARS PIPES .............................................................................................. 63 4.6. SINGLE PIPE........................................................................................................ 66 4.7. COMPOSITE PIPE ............................................................................................... 68 4.8. ELBOWS .............................................................................................................. 71 4.9. MITER ELBOWS .................................................................................................. 74 4.10. BRANCHES .......................................................................................................... 75 4.11. STRAIGHT COMPONENTS ................................................................................. 77 4.12. ANGLE COMPONENTS ....................................................................................... 87 4.13. BOLTS AND NUTS ............................................................................................... 87 4.14. EQUIPMENT AND NOZZLES ............................................................................... 89 4.15. SUPPORTS .......................................................................................................... 96 4.16. STEELWORK AND STAIRS ............................................................................... 103 4.17. 2D DRAWINGS GENERATION .......................................................................... 115 4.18. WORKING TOOLS ............................................................................................. 122 4.19. CONTROLS ........................................................................................................ 125 4.20. WORKING OPTIONS ......................................................................................... 130 4.21. OBJECT PROPERTIES ...................................................................................... 136 4.22. COMPONENTS EDITING ................................................................................... 142 4.23. SPECS AND DATA MANAGEMENT .................................................................. 143 4.24. DATA EXTRACTION .......................................................................................... 143 4.25. NORTH SYMBOL INSERTION ........................................................................... 144 4.26. ISOMETRIC DRAWINGS GENERATION ........................................................... 145 4.27. DIMENSIONING ................................................................................................. 150 4.28. LINE TAGGING AND ANNOTATIONS ................................................................ 155

INDEX

ESApro - Piping 3D

5. CUSTOMIZATION ......................................................................................................... 160 5.1. COMPONENT GENERATION ............................................................................ 160

6. SPECS AND DATA MANAGEMENT .............................................................................. 163 6.1. PARAMETER TABLES ....................................................................................... 163 6.2. CREATING NEW TYPOLOGIES ........................................................................ 165 6.3. MODIFYING TYPOLOGIES ................................................................................ 167 6.4. DELETING TYPOLOGIES .................................................................................. 167 6.5. CREATING DATA TABLES ................................................................................ 167 6.6. ENTERING DETAIL DATA .................................................................................. 168 6.7. REMARKS ON SPECIAL TABLES ..................................................................... 171 6.8. IMPLICIT MATERIALS ........................................................................................ 172 6.9. COPY / PASTE FUNCTIONS ............................................................................. 172 6.10. MODIFYING TABLES ......................................................................................... 173 6.11. DELETING TABLES ........................................................................................... 173 6.12. TABLES, WHERE USED AND LOG ................................................................... 173 6.13. FILLING IN PIPING CLASSES ........................................................................... 174 6.14. PROJECTS MANAGEMENT .............................................................................. 180 6.15. BILLS OF MATERIALS ....................................................................................... 191 6.16. MODELS FOR COMPONENTS AND LINE LISTS .............................................. 192 6.17. LIBRARIES ......................................................................................................... 194 6.18. UTILITIES ........................................................................................................... 203

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ESApro – Piping 3DP Pag.4

1. INTRODUCTION

ESApro PIPING 3D is an all inclusive tool for 3D plant modelling. Modelling is made with standard AutoCAD solids offering high speed performances, for complex shapes also, and accuracy in the graphic representation of models and views. This program has been designed in order to facilitate operations and simplify the 3D modelling procedures.

o While designing you can see the plant as it will be, from whichever point of view. No interpretation of views and sections is necessary. Interference check between plant components can be performed.

o All representations derive from the unique 3D model. In the printing environment views and sections can be freely set up, and will be updated at every model modification. Aided procedures help the user in annotating and dimensioning views.

o The plant consistency is ensured by the Piping Spec supervision. 3D entities univocally contain all the technical and geometrical information required to identify the related objects.

o Total or partial customized bills of materials can quickly be generated.

o Lines can be exported to ESApro-Isometrics where sketches are automatically generated. Bill of materials and other significant information are immediately extracted.

o Realistic shaded views and walkthrough movies can be created for exhibition or checking purpose.

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2. BASE CONCEPTS

This chapter deals with the preliminary information needed for the correct use of the program. In spite of the previously described benefits and the aid given by ESApro Piping 3D, 3D modelling involves a certain degree of difficulties. For the benefit of not so skilled people, in this chapter we will discuss about difficulties and methods offered by AutoCAD and ESApro Piping 3D so to overcome them. This chapter is not a solid modelling treatise, therefore we suggest people interested in deepening this subject to examine the AutoCAD manuals.

2.1. TRIDIMENSIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

When using a CAD system for 3D modelling two limitations have to be kept in mind:

1. The representation is performed by a 2D device (the monitor screen) where the model spatial depth is simulated through bi-dimensional entities that are organized in axonometric views (the perspective ones, though available, are not suitable for the model construction but for the final representation only). Furthermore every object is normally represented by a wire-frame, i.e. the surface is visualized by its edges and some other reference lines constituting a sort of a cage through which even the objects behind can be seen. This causes perception difficulties as:

o There is plenty of lines

o You cannot decide whether an object is behind another one or vice versa.

o You cannot establish whether you see the front of an object or its back.



As an example you can look at the wire-frame of the pump in the center. At the same time it could represent the right one, seen from the bottom, or the left one seen from the top. Another example of ambiguity is represented by 45° sloping pipes which in the standard axonometric view are mistaken with vertical ones.

But you can notice how the removal of the hidden lines makes the view immediately clear. Of course the knowledge of the model topology and the practise of looking at it from preset points of view aids the operator in correctly interpreting it even in case of such ambiguities. What we would like to underline is that you don’t always have to trust what you see and in case of doubt the AutoCAD and ESApro tools are needed in order to clarify whichever situation.

2. Also the input of points in the 3D environment is performed by a 2D device (mouse) which therefore is not suitable for entering the third coordinate. The numerical input of the three coordinates X, Y, Z through the keyboard, even if possible and sometimes necessary, is neither handy nor quick and therefore the specific tools provided by AutoCAD and ESApro Piping 3D are required.



2.2. VISUALIZATION MANAGEMENT

When working out a complex model it is very useful to look at it from a direction suitable for the specific operation in progress. Over the years AutoCAD has provided several commands for setting the viewpoint in a 3D model. But we will focus now on just two of them: View and 3Dorbit.

View, beside other functions that we are not interested to in this context, gives the chance of quickly picking up the standard views from the proper toolbar.

We point out that standard orthographic views (top, prospect and side) are not suitable for 3D modelling. They are partial views and do not allow the full visual control during operations. Consider for example how to establish the position of a valve on a vertical pipe looking at a top view. Therefore isometric views are the most suitable.

It is often necessary to set whichever viewpoint in space different from the four isometric ones. To this purpose the 3Dorbit command is used. It shows a circle with four symbols at its quadrants and representing a sphere containing the model in its center. When dragging the sphere by the symbols it rotates (and so does the model within) exactly around the horizontal or vertical axis. Instead when dragging by points between two symbols the rotation occurs around sloping axes. At last when dragging by points outside the rotation occurs around an axis perpendicular to the screen.



The model can also be observed from more viewpoints contemporarily. In fact the AutoCAD command Vports gives the possibility of splitting the screen in two or more windows where the viewpoints can be set independently from each other.

Other fundamental visualization commands are the well known Zoom and Pan, here mentioned in order to underline that they can be used in dynamic and transparent way through the mouse center wheel (Zoom) and the wheel button (Pan). Therefore the drawing can be moved and enlarged in real time and these functions can be launched when executing whichever command without the interruption of the command itself. We also remind that a double click on the wheel causes the drawing Zoom Extension. Furthermore ESApro Piping 3D provides the Zoom function within the modelling commands by simply pushing the Z key (Zoom) and the P key (Zoom Previous).



In the wire-frame visualization of an object two types of lines exist: real edges and isolines. Real edges are always displayed but usually together with a certain number of auxiliary lines, called isolines. They are necessary when edges are insufficient for a clear model representation as they are partially or totally missing like in cylinders, spheres, tori and in general objects with bent surfaces. Their visualization can be removed and the silhouette can appear, getting a finer and not so full of lines representation but with the consequence of an even strong drop in the system performances especially for middle or large size models. In the figure a cylinder can be seen where, beside the edges of the bases, at left there are four isolines and no silhouette while at right no isoline and the silhouette.

Both isolines and profiles (silhouette) are suitable for the object selection. On the contrary the usual AutoCAD Osnaps are not capable of getting reference points either from an isoline or a profile but only from the real edges. The reason is that a profile is just a fictitious line depending on the viewpoint.

The above described visualization modes are controlled by the system variables Isolines e Dispsilh but we suggest setting them through the Working Options Dialogue Window (see further on in this chapter).



In complex models the wire-frame visualization may involve considerable troubles in interpreting the geometry. In these cases different representation systems are necessary. The Shademode command allows operating with the model permanently shaded also when using Zoom, Pan and 3Dorbit. The figure highlights the difference between the two representation modes.

The information given below is valid for AutoCAD 2006. For AutoCAD

2007 and 2008 refer to the related user manuals.. SHADE displays seven shading options but we suggest using the following ones only:

o 2D Wire-frame (not 3D), when this type of representation is required.

o Realistic for shaded views

The other view modes offer lower quality and no performance enhancement.



2.3. WORK PLANE MANAGEMENT

Among the graphic entities, lines and points are 3D primitives, that is they accept and respect the third coordinate (Z) independently of the current coordinate system. All other entities, circles, arcs, texts, dimensions etc., ignore the Z coordinate and are drawn on the XY plane of the current UCS (User Coordinate System). Therefore it is evident that in order to position these entities in space the plane must be defined first. Through this plane AutoCAD overcomes the mouse limitation in entering the third coordinate and UCS is the command for its management. The plane is visualized by an icon showing the three axes X, Y, Z positioned on the physical origin of the axis system. The icon is shown in the low left corner when said physical origin of the axis system is out of screen.

The absolute coordinate system is called World. Its XY plane coincides with that normally used by people operating in two dimensions; it can be recognized from a small square appearing on the UCS icon at the axis intersection. The endless variants of the coordinate system are obtained by translating and rotating the axis origin around X, Y and Z. On the XY plane thus obtained any entity can be drawn in the same way as in 2D but the objects will result oriented in the space. If a point is entered through the mouse it will necessarily lay on the current XY plane and its Z coordinate will have zero value. But if a point is captured through the mouse and an Osnap (End, Center…) pointing at a pre-existing entity, we will get a 3D point. For example if that point is used as the center of a circle, this will be drawn parallel to the current XY plane but with the Z coordinates of the specified point.

We point out that when modelling a plant, beside the traditional primitives, solids are used in large quantity; they are 3D entities created from plane sketches through processes of extrusion, revolution etc.. It results clear that, in order to model an object within the 3D space, it would be necessary to continuously reposition the work-plane in the suitable arrangement, draw the suitable sketches and then generate a solid. In this operation ESApro 3DP gives an important aid.



This program provides three types of assistance when modelling a plant within the 3D environment:

o Utilities for managing the coordinate systems and routing pipelines in space

o Automatic drawing of components having the dimensions provided by the Piping Class.

o Automatic positioning of pipes, components, dimensions, notes etc. onto the lines.

Therefore you can route a pipeline with the aid of a lot of tools. Then the program provides to automatically model the components on it; you will have only to choose the position options such as rotation, reversal or the distance form a reference point.

Furthermore a standalone command for just positioning the coordinate system in the space is provided; it allows the translation of the system origin, the rotation around X, Y, Z axes or the hooking to a component and therefore effectively incorporating all the AutoCAD UCS commands. Once positioned the system on a given point with a given direction, you can use all the commands available from the standard two dimensional environment.

2.4. PIPE-SNAP STRU-SNAP FUNCTIONS

ESApro Piping 3D provides two functions for capturing the reference points of the piping components laying on a pipeline and of steelworks laying in a drawing. By the way we remind that piping components are built with AutoCAD standard solids and that profiles and isolines representing them are not suitable for specifying a point with the AutoCAD Osnaps (while real edges are). Therefore it would be impossible to get the center point of a pipe (cylinder) or a valve (a complex solid made combining basic solids) or the center of a square pipe. In fact the vertex of an elbow, intersection of two axes, or its center are not points inherent to the solid representing the elbow itself. Furthermore AutoCAD Osnaps are difficult to be read when the working area is full of lines, arcs and circles. On the contrary the Pipe-Snap



function extracts from the selected component, which is highlighted, the reference point nearest to the point used for selecting it.

Each object defined in ESApro Piping 3D has at least three reference points, two ends and the center. In general for elbows and angle objects the ends are located on the branches of the axes defining them. For tees or three-ways valves a fourth point is defined which lays on the branch line. For crosses or four-way valves a fifth point lays on the further branch. In figure the reference points of the most common objects are shown.

Take note that socket-welding, threaded components and in general those requiring to be assembled with an overlap have their end points at the bottom of the socket, thread or overlap, that is where the pipe will be actually cut. In fact these points can be thought as the actual connection points with their adjacent component.

The red snaps are visualized on the beam ends , even when cut slantways and on the section middle point Other snaps are positioned on other elements of the structure as plates and supports.

A “PSnap” and a “SSnap” are positioned at the centre of the

reference plane icon also

In order to try this function, press PS (Pipe-Snap) or SS (Stru-Snap); the cursor typical of the object selection will display. Any pipeline component is highlighted whenever you roll over it and, if the selected point is distant less than a prefixed distance from a reference point, this last one will be signed by a yellow or red dot. Clicking the pointer button



the process ends and the point absolute coordinates are returned. This is just an exercise for getting used to this command but not useful in practice. In fact the Pipe-Snap and Stru-Snap function is nested into the modelling commands where the returned point is used for the specific current operation. Mainly two aspects differentiate Pipe-Snap and Stru-Snap from AutoCAD Osnap:

o The first is that the component which the point is taken from is highlighted. In particularly crowded areas this ensures that the selected object is the expected one.

o The second is that the point is not highlighted if it is out of the provided range (five times the diameter). Since a component is automatically placed on the point found by Pipe-Snap, in case of a considerably long pipe this prevents from snapping without control toward the pipe end that could be out of screen.

The practical use of this function will be widely described in the tutorial and in the chapter dedicated to the command reference.

2.5. THE LAYOUT ENVIRONMENT

The 2D layout, that is the arrangement on paper of the traditional views got from the 3D model, is made in the Layout environment. We remind the user of the basic concepts related to this environment; for further information see the AutoCAD manual.

The layout (or Paper Space) is a 2D environment, separated from the better known Model Space, for the arrangement of table printing. It is accessible by clicking on the tabs shown in figure.

A different triangle shaped coordinate system icon points out that in this environment only the normal 2D drawing can be performed. Every



object built in the usual Model environment will not be visible but there is the possibility of opening windows (VPORTS) where the model can be seen. Visualization parameters can be independently set on each View Port so to look at the model from different points of view and with different zoom factors.

In the Paper Space mode (triangle shaped icon) viewports are considered as standard AutoCAD entities and their boundary, if visible, is the only part suitable for selecting it. The standard Move, Stretch, Scale commands allow the repositioning and handling of the viewport. To this purpose also the grips at the window boundary angles are very handy. On the contrary the model contained within the windows is inaccessible. It is possible to switch from Paper to Model by double clicking within the window or pressing the suitable button on the AutoCAD status bar. The selected window is highlighted and you can normally work on it as in traditional modelling space but we suggest not doing so.

ESApro 3D Piping exploits this environment and offers several opportunities for its management. It positions the title block in the Layout, assists in defining the viewpoint and the scale of the windows



containing the model representation, generates the model views on Paper Space and at last helps to insert notes and dimensions.



2.6. EXTERNAL REFERENCES MANAGEMENT

Large plant models can be subdivided in more files through the external references concept (XREF AutoCAD command).

The model could be subdivided in Steels, Equipment and Pipelines. Otherwise specific plant areas could be separated. Then drawings produced by the various users can be imported under the form of XREFs into anyone’s specific drawing so to be looked at but impossible to modify. Drawings imported as XREF always reflect the latest update and their size do not affect the current drawing size which still remains limited.

This approach offers several benefits:

o More people can work on different parts of the project at the same time.

o Anyone can import models built by other people as XREF and view them.

o An assembly drawing can be created made out of the XREFs only of all the various parts of the plant.

o The overall 2D table is created in the assembly drawing so that, in case a part is modified, the assembly will reflect the modification.

o External references do not contribute to bills of materials therefore anybody can carry out bills referring only to his own part, still holding that an all inclusive bill can be anyhow generated.

Furthermore interference check as well as data inquiry can be performed on parts of the plant contained in XREFs.



2.7. PARAMETER TABLES

As said in the introduction, the drawing of components is ruled by parameters. They are nothing else but a collection of geometric as well as descriptive data, necessary for the full component definition. Parameters, stored in the database described further on, are used in order to generate the component model, recognize it and generate bills of materials.

Without the parameter table the program cannot model and identify an object. Vice versa it is enough to fill in a suitable data table in order to model a component with different dimensions. Let us consider for instance an elbow. Beside the bent radius and the outside diameter, which are necessary geometrical parameters, a series of descriptive information such as standard, material and description are required in order to identify the object and generate bills of materials. That information is normally found in the international standards (ASME, ISO, DIN, UNI) or in the manufacturer tables. ESApro 3D Piping is equipped with the above mentioned standards and allows the creation of new tables and the modifications of existing ones anyhow.



2.8. PIPING CLASS DEFINITION

Parameter tables contained inside the database have first to be organized in Piping Classes and then the program will be entitled to use them. A Piping Class is a well defined collection of material tables, or parts of them, answering to a standard or a project criterion. It is clear that just a small subset of components available from the database will be contained within a specific Class and only those will be suitable for being inserted into a pipeline characterized by that Class. Stored Classes can be recalled and used at any time. More Classes can be used in a drawing as each line can get a specific Class independent one from each other.

2.9. CHOOSING THE WORKING DIAMETER

When creating a pipeline, graphically represented by the line axis, its Class as well as its Nominal Diameter must be defined. Through these values the program will be able to get data for modelling pipes and components. By the way in the Nominal Diameter pull down menu of the line creation mask only the pipe diameters provided for the Class are available.

Afterwards, when inserting a component into the line, no Class and Nominal Diameter specification is required as they are picked up from the line itself. If, for a given diameter, a component is not provided into the Class, when trying to insert it an error message will be displayed.



2.10. COMMANDS ARRANGEMENT AND USE

Commands are accessible in five different ways through the Menu, the keyboard shortcut, the Tool Bars, Ribbon or Toolpallet.

The installation program creates two different working environments, one called “ESApro 3DP V7” and the other “ESApro 3DP V7 Classic”, in the first case the interface being Ribbon.

In the second case the ESApro 3 DP interface is the Pull Down Menu and the Tool Bar. In all cases is coupled by AutoCAD which is not modified.



All program functions are available in the pull down menus. Details are discussed in chapter “Command Reference”. Furthermore at the side of each command are inserted characters or numbers representing the keyboard shortcuts. A command can then call for suitable dialogue windows.

The 3D Piping pull down menu also provides commands to access the Data Tables and the Classes management procedure (shortcut SP).

It is available a dedicated toolpallet.

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3. TUTORIAL

This chapter introduces to the main program functions with an example that will be explained step by step. We suggest performing this exercise before reading chapter “Command Reference”. Here we will discuss procedures and concepts and will give advice for the solution of various problems. This will be very useful in order to understand the rest of the manual. The file TUTORIAL.DWG, containing the complete model for this exercise, is found on the program installation directory. The plant is meaningless from an operational point of view being its only purpose the explanation of the program commands. For clearness purpose the model shown here is in wire-frame but you can operate in shaded mode as previously described, if you like .

3.1. START-UP

We assume that ESApro Piping 3D is correctly configured. Launch the program with the icon on the desktop and check the messages confirming the program has been loaded.

3.2. PIPING CLASS GENERATION

This paragraph explains how to generate a Piping Class. Skip to the next paragraph if you like and use a Class provided by the program. We remind that Piping Class contains a subset of the database components, those required by the present project. The Class mechanism will avoid the insertion of components not provided and will get the dimensional and descriptive data of the suitable ones. The command for the line creation provides a pull down list for the choice of the desired Class.

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Type in SP in order to access the data and specification management environment. Choose Database and then Classes in the application menu or click on the related button. Then click on New Class Creation, type in PROVA in the Name field and confirm; other data can be left blank. Click on Add and select in the typology list “Pipes”, “Butt Weld Elbows”, “Equal Tees”, “Reducing Tees”, “Welding Neck Flanges”, “Flat Gaskets”, “Standard Bolts and Nuts”, and “Gate Valves Flanged”. Typologies will be in colour red that means they are still lacking of details. Select “Pipes” and click “Modify” or directly double click on the typology. An empty table displays. By clicking “Add”, the list of tables of pipes available in the database will show up. Select ASME Standard, then the range of diameters from ND 15 to ND 200 and press OK. Class will be fed with the selected pipes. Press “Add” again, select ASME Extra Strong, the range of diameters from ND 250 to ND 400 and press OK. The result is that the pipe schedule changes from ND 200 upwards. Repeat the operation in order to insert “Butt Weld Elbows”, “Equal Tees”, “Reducing Tees”, “Welding Neck Flanges”, “Flat Gaskets”, “Standard Bolts and Nuts”, and “Gate Valves Flanged”. Note that the diameters for which the pipe has been defined are already selected.

3.3. CHOOSING THE PIPING CLASS

Launch the “Create Line” command and make sure that Class Tutorial, containing those components needed for the exercise, is selected in the dialogue window. Note the presence of Class Prova created in the previous paragraph. Undo the command.

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3.4. VESSEL POSITIONING

Make sure the coordinate system is the absolute one, otherwise use the command “Set UCS” (keyboard shortcut “X”) and select W (World). Choose Vessels in the 3D Piping / Equipment menu. Set elliptic convex in the dialogue window and 400 for the outer diameter and 2000 for the total length. Accept the bent radiuses computed by the program. Press OK and specify 0,0,0 for the first point of the vessel axis. With Ortho ON select whichever point along the positive X axis; it is used just to specify the axis direction. The vessel is drawn and a mask appears for entering its characteristic data. Specify S1 for the tag and press OK. Repeat the operation for a second vessel having outer diameter 1000 and length 2.000. Position the first point of the axis in the absolute coordinate 1686,2995,734. Press S and Enter in order to set the coordinate system vertical and specify any point along the positive Y axis. Type in S2 for the tag of the new vessel.

As you have seen, the S key causes the XY plane of the coordinate system to coincide with the left side of an ideal isometric cube whose edges are parallel to the World coordinate system axes. The same effect is obtained with the D key (right side) and the E key (top side).

In order to position the second vessel try the following alternative method which uses the command for setting a new UCS position, keyboard shortcut “X”. The command default is the setting of the new origin. Point the left end of the horizontal vessel S1. As the Snap “End” is preset, the coordinate system is hooked exactly at the end of the vessel axis. Press E and Enter in order to set the UCS horizontal and keeping the cursor along the positive Y axis, type in 2995. The system is positioned on the new origin. Now move the cursor along the positive X axis and type in 1686. Press S or D in order to specify an upwards direction and keeping the cursor along the positive Y axis, type in 734. The coordinate system is now exactly at the low end of the vertical vessel S2. Alternatively this method can be used to position the system beforehand and then build the vessel specifying origin 0,0,0 as first point of its axis.

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In order to put nozzles on the first vessel, first of all zoom in. In the 3D Piping / Equipment menu select the Nozzle command or point the icon Nozzles of the 3DMiscellanea toolbar. Choose the flanged nozzle, then set the Class to Tutorial and ND to 80 in the dialogue window. Press F and Enter in order to set the option to Reference and specify the left end of the vessel S1 through the Snap End. If the system is not already horizontal, press E in order to set it so, and with the cursor along the positive X axis, type in 300. The nozzle line starts from this point. Press D in order to set the Y axis of the coordinate system vertical and keeping the cursor along the positive Y axis, type in 300. Press Enter to end. The program positions the flange and asks for the specification of the equipment component the nozzle belongs to; point at vessel S1. The command ends with the cutting of the pipe. Repeat the operation setting in advance the main ND to 50, the reference distance from the same end of the vessel to 1000 and, once set the coordinate system horizontal by the key E, specify 300 in the direction shown in figure. Press Enter to terminate the command (after having specified the vessel for the pipe cutting).

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In order to build the nozzles on the vessel S2 set ND to 80. With reference to the low end of the vessel axis (command option F) and with the coordinate system on the left side of the isometric cube specify 1000 upwards. From this reference point with the cursor along the positive X axis, type in 600 and terminate the command as usual. In order to position the last nozzle below the vessel S2 you can use first the command “Set UCS” (keyboard shortcut X). For the origin specify the low axis end through the Snap “End”. Press S in order to position the coordinate system onto the left side of the isometric cube. With the cursor along the positive Y axis, type in 500. From the new origin, with the cursor along the positive X axis, type in 300. terminate the command and call that for the generation of welding neck flanged nozzles. When asked for the first point type in 0,0,0 (or simply 0 keeping the cursor in whichever direction). At last while keeping the cursor downwards, type in 630 (130 mm over the previous 500 value) and terminate the command with Enter; at last specify the vessel S2 for the pipe cutting. We point out that nozzles can be put on any standard AutoCAD solid, and therefore on equipment component modelled by the user also. These last can also be tagged through the Define Equipment component command (see paragraph 5.2, User Equipment component).

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3.5. PUMPS INSERTION

Make sure the coordinate system is World and launch 3D Piping / Equipment / Pumps. A dialogue window appears where the characteristic dimensions of a centrifugal horizontal pump can be entered and stored. Fields are filled in with default values. Do not change them and confirm. Specify 482,1387,-200 for the first point of the pump base. With this Z value the pump inlet elevation will be zero. Specify a point towards the positive X for the second point of the base axis. The pump will be drawn. Terminate the command by specifying P1 as tag. Repeat the operation with the same inlet positioning options for the second pump and specify 3182,1237,-200 for the first point and P2 for the tag. The drawing will be as in figure.

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3.6. PIPELINE LAY-OUT

Let us see now how to connect the equipment. Before drawing the line it is useful to position a special symbol on the finishing nozzle near point 4. It represents three orthogonal planes and can be inserted either with the command for the system positioning or from the inside of the command “Line”. Also an icon for this command is available in the toolbars. Type in X and Enter and then point to point 4, the end of the finishing nozzle. The point is picked up precisely by the Osnap End. Press E and Enter so to position the system horizontally and then type in the option “Icon”.

The symbol in figure will appear on point 4. It is made of three orthogonal planes, the green one parallel to the XY plane of the current coordinate system, the red one parallel to the YZ plane and the magenta one perpendicular to the others. In order to release the icon on the point 4 press Enter. Many of these objects can be put in the plant in order to mark the line routing points. Now pick up the “Line” command from 3D Components / Line (keyboard shortcut LL) or from the toolbar. Type in at least the line number, for instance 001, which will be used to identify the line itself and its components.

Let us observe how for Piping Class and ND the program offers default values which are those used in the previous session. Make sure that ND is set to 80. The other descriptive data can be omitted. They can be inserted later and will be distributed on all the line components. Referring to the figure insert the point 1 of the line at the end of the nozzle axis and press E in order to set the coordinate system horizontal. Let us note that point 2 has the same Y coordinate as point 4 and the same X and Y as point 1. In order to capture these coordinates, necessary for the settlement of point 2, you should be using filters with the standard AutoCAD tools but the procedure is long and complicated. Let us instead use the icon laying on point 4. Chose the Plane option

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and specify the icon plane perpendicular to segment 1-2, the magenta one.

The program displays in yellow a preview of the line going from the nozzle to the intersection with the magenta plane. If you agree press the “Enter” key or specify with the pointer the direction from point 1 to point 2 and click left. In the latter case you can even specify a direction different from the perpendicular to the magenta plane. Once done that the line segment is created. Point 2 is the intersection between the specified direction and the magenta plane. With the same method you can get point 3 as the intersection with the red plane. At last type in S or D in order to specify a vertical direction and then with the Plane option, specify the green plane and the direction from 3 to 4. Terminate the command with Enter. Thus the problem of routing the line has been easily solved. Now pipes can be automatically arranged on the line with the Auto command available on the menu 3D Components / Pipes or on the toolbar. In order to perform this command point the line close to point 4 or 1. Keep in mind that this command dresses the line starting from the node nearest to the specified point and continues in the opposite direction as far as the other terminal node. Therefore, if you point at the first line segment, specifying a point nearest to point 2 instead of point 1, only the first segment of the line itself will be dressed. We remind that, in case of error, the whole command sequence can be deleted with the standard Undo of AutoCAD.

The line dressing can be performed contemporarily with the axis drawing up. Pick up the command 3D Components / Pipes / Follow Line from the menu or click on the toolbar button. Enter 002 for the line number and make sure the ND is set to 80. Point at the nozzle end 5 with Snap “End”. Press D in order to position the coordinate system on the right side of the isometric cube and while keeping the cursor downwards type in 300. Now, while moving the cursor towards point 7, enter 600: you will see that the first line segment is dressed. Now we will use the AutoCAD filters only to show you the difference from the method of auxiliary planes previously explained. Without changing the coordinate system you can see that point 8 has the same Z coordinate as the destination pipe, where point 9 lays on. Then type in .Z (full stop followed by Z) and, after setting the

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Snap at “Near”, specify, any point on the axis of the pipe where point 9 lays. AutoCAD asks the still lacking coordinates X and Y. Point at 7 with the Snap “End”; now all coordinates of point 8 have been defined. With the Snap “Perpendicular” terminate the line by pointing at the axis of the destination pipe. At point 9 the program offers the alternative between a fabricated branch and an equal Tee as provided in Class Tutorial. At last accomplish line 003, ND 50 from node 10 to node 12 using the expounded technique.

With the Snap “End” start the line 004 ND 50 at point 14. Type in “E” in order to set the coordinate system horizontal, then enter 600 while moving the cursor toward point 15 and 2000 while moving the cursor towards point 16. In this case the auxiliary planes icon will be directly inserted by the current command. Type in “I” without moving the coordinate system. The command is temporarily interrupted and the process for planes positioning begins. With Snap “End” insert the icon at point 18 and press Enter. The

previously interrupted command restarts and now the auxiliary planes can be used. Press “P”, touch the red plane of the icon positioned in 18 and then specify the direction from 16 to 17. Point 17 is generated at the intersection of segment 16-17 with the red plane. In the same way type in “P”, specify the magenta plane and the direction from 17 to 18, terminate with Enter. In order to build the line 005 ND50 launch the Line command (LL) and, before inputting the point, type in “F” which stands for Reference. Specify point 15 with the Snap “End” and, keeping the cursor towards point 19, enter 600. The new line starts from point 19. Moving the cursor towards point 20 enter 1500 and terminate the command. Dress the line which will be used further on for an exercise about the copying of pipes.

As an exercise build line 006 ND50 from point 21 to point 24, keeping in mind that point 21 is 250 mm far from node 10 of line 003.

Start line 007 ND50, press “E” in order to set the coordinate system horizontal and enter 400 towards point 26. Press “S” to set the coordinate system on the left face of the isometric cube and deselect the Ortho mode. Approximately point at node 27. The program draws

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the X and Y components and asks for the value of that displayed in magenta. Enter 500 and go on.

As the difference in height between the pump inlet and point 28 is known, type in 304. The first trial segment which was drawn before is readjusted on the basis of the entered length. Let us observe that never it is required to enter negative distances, independently of the XY axes direction. Terminate the line with the Snap “Perpendicular” to the axis where the point 28 lays. Erase the auxiliary plane icons either with the usual AutoCAD command or through the option “Erase” of the command for the UCS positioning.

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3.7. COMPONENT PLACEMENT

Mainly there are two categories of components, those having a fixed position pre-established by the pipeline geometry and those linear. Elbows, angle components, Tees and branches in general belong to the first category. For their positioning only the approximate pointing of a vertex is required, for elbows that of the two axis, for Tees the end of the branch line. Furthermore butt welding elbows and bent pipes are automatically inserted by the commands for the line creation. Straight valves and all those components that require to be precisely positioned along a piece of pipe belong to the second category. The insertion method is different from each other and widely uses the Pipe-Snap function.

As a first example a welding neck flange will be attached to the end of line 005. Make sure that in the Working Options control windows (shortcut “O”) the Automatic Gasket Insertion is set to <None>. The values of nominal diameter and Piping Class are unessential as they will be taken from the pre-existing line. Launch the command for the flange insertion with the 3D Components / Flanges menu or the toolbar and specify any point on the line 005 axis. The flange is generated with the dimensions characteristic of the Class and ND taken from the line and freely slides on it. When moving the pointer you will see the small square cursor typical of the object selection of AutoCAD. When moving the cursor on any part of the pipeline, the Pipe-Snap function highlights it and searches for one of its reference points (the ends or the middle point). Pipe-Snap draws a yellow dot on the point and there positions the flange. Then, in order to allow the flange to freely slide on the pipe, the cursor must be kept out of the line. A green cross shaped cursor can be seen on the flange; it always stands on the flange coupling side and symbolizes the insertion point. Furthermore the direction of the arrow indicates the one direction suitable for the coupling. When holding on the cursor and pressing “F” (Fit) without pressing Enter you will see how it changes position and colour passing to the middle point, to the other end and at last coming back to the coupling side. Looking at the flange movement during this operation you can acknowledge its orientation on the line

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and, if needed, reverse it through the key “I” (Invert). Key Z (Zoom) performs a zoom centered on the cursor position while P key (Previous) goes back to the previous view. Alternatively use the mouse wheel. Let us go back to the exercise. Make sure that the green cursor is displayed on the flange, bring the cursor closer to the pipe end, in the direction opposite to the branch, and specify the axis or the pipe. Pipe-Snap finds the end (in this case the end of the axis coincides with that of the pipe) and positions the flange. Click left in order to finish.

Let us remind that during this dynamic process a lot of operations are performed but, in case of errors, the Undo command re-takes to the conditions prior to the command execution.

Launch Object Properties from the menu or the toolbar (shortcut XL) and point at the flange. A window displays the flange data: you can verify that they are taken from the line. In the lower part of the mask a field is available for assigning the component a tag to be referred in the bill of material or to be displayed in 2D tables and isometrics. When pointing a line axis with the same command you will see, besides the data entered at the line creation, a tag defined by user criteria. For further information see chapter Command Reference.

Now our aim is to make a copy of the line 005 complete with pipe axis and flange. This operation is carried out with the Copy command of AutoCAD, but in the end the program requires the re-numbering of the copied entities. We remind that the main identifying data, i.e. those grouping a set of objects, is the line number which therefore must not be duplicated. Set the coordinate system on the left side of the isometric cube pressing “S”. Select line 005 (axis, pipe and flange) and launch the Copy command specifying as base point the intersection of line 005 with the main one. Move the cursor towards the positive X direction and enter 500. The destination point has been determined and the Copy command ends. Now the program displays a window asking for the new line number and offers “Copy of 005” as a default. Specify 008. With the same procedure copy another line alongside the newly created one and specify number 009. Let us note that in order to

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facilitate the selection of the pieces to be copied, the option “Line Grouping” can be set in the dialogue window Working Options.

Let us now insert some butt welding Tees between the branch lines and the main line 004 in figure. Launch the command with the menu 3D Components / Tee or the toolbar. Specify a point on the branch close to the intersection with the main line. The component is created and the pre-existing lines are cut in order to accommodate it. Optionally repeat the insertion on all branches. When necessary the program inserts reducing Tees. The Tee has been inserted after the copy for three reasons:

1. The AutoCAD command would not have cut the pipes around the tee.

2. The AutoCAD command would not have cut the pipes around the tee.

3. ESApro would have asked for renumbering also line 004 which the tee is part of.

Let us now join a flange complete with gaskets and standard bolts and nuts to the nozzle positioned at node 1 of the vertical vessel. On the “Working Options” control panel set “Automatic Gasket Insertion” and “Automatic Bolts & Nuts Insertion” on. Enlarge the working area if necessary and launch the command for the flange insertion. As already done before, point at any part of the line axis. Observe that the flange is generated complete with the gasket (a symbolic cross shaped object which juts off from the flange). Check the flange direction and if needed reverse it. Finally bring the cursor near the end of the pipe; it is better to specify the pipe instead of the axis as it is more visible. The flange snaps into the correct position and with a left click the pre-existing pipe is cut and the command terminates. Note that in this case the insertion point is not located on the flange any longer but on the gasket. The distance between the two facing flanges is equal to the gasket thickness.

With the same procedure let us insert a flange on the inlet of the pump P2. If the visualization of the working area is not quite clear, change the viewpoint. Set a plan view with one of the AutoCAD commands

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explained in the Base Concepts Chapter. Zoom in if necessary and position the flange as described above.

With this method insert the flanges on the mouth of the two pumps. Then insert the flanges on all the nozzles of the vessels.

Now let us insert a gate valve complete with flanges, gaskets and bolts and nuts close to the nozzle at node 1 on line 001. In the Working Options control panel set “Automatic Flange Insertion”, “Automatic Gasket Insertion” and “Automatic Bolts & Nuts Insertion” on. Zoom in if necessary and launch the command for the valve insertion. As usual point anywhere on the line axis and look at the generation of the group of objects. Answer to the possible requests related to the various options. For a precise positioning two procedures are available:

o Set the insertion point with Fit option (F key) and use the Pipe-Snap function in order to find a reference point of the pipe.

o Type in a distance from a reference point.

In this case, while holding the insertion point on the valve midpoint bring the cursor closer to the pipe midpoint (not the axis) and when the valve snaps in position terminate the command. Let us repeat now the operation near the vertical nozzle of the vertical vessel. Use the Rotate option (R) in order to change the position of the valve hand-wheel and then set the fit point at its lower point (that is the end of the lower flange). Typing in D (Distance) the possibility of dragging the valve terminates while the process starts for getting a point from which a distance can be set.

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The search for the point is always carried out by the Pipe-Snap function while the “Snap” option switches on the standard snaps of AutoCAD. Choose the end of the pipe towards the nozzle: you will see a magenta segment. Enter distance 300. The valve enters into position and the command terminates by cutting the pipes.

Then repeat the procedure in order to insert a valve in fit to fit mode against the Tee of one of the branch lines. Once the valve has been generated set the fit point towards the Tee and bring the cursor near the pipe end. When the valve is in position stop with a left

click. Use the command Shade of AutoCAD in order to check the correctness of the positioning.

Finish the exercise trying to insert other valves and linear components (filters, couplings…) in various positions. In the next paragraphs we will see all the results which can be achieved using the model we have just built.2d layout generation.

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3.8. LAY-OUT

Let us see now how to extract the traditional views and sections from the 3D model. The whole process takes place in the paper space of AutoCAD with the remarkable aid of ESApro. Let us insert the title block first so that the area available for the drawings will be defined.

Select 2D Viewports / Insert Title Block from the menu 3D Piping. The dialogue window for the title block file selection displays. Select 3DPA3 in the installation directory of the program; you will be directly brought into the Layout environment. In the figure you can see the views that will be generated following the procedure as described further on.

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Launch the 3D Piping / 2D Viewports / New Viewport command from the menu or the toolbar. A panel displays which controls viewpoint and scale settings. Accept the default which provides top view and scale 1:50 and press OK. A window displays containing the model in the preset view and scale. Now the program asks for two points in order to settle the window which will contain the drawing. The parts outside the window will not be visible so that even partial views can be generated. The window can be freely shifted just clicking within the borders. Position the window in the left bottom and stop the command. Repeat the command. In order to specify the point of view direction click at the border of the blue square that surrounds the inscription “Pianta” (Top View) within the control panel. The selected point of view direction is shown in this way: the blue square represents the top view of the model and the arrow the user’s eye. Therefore clicking nearby the bottom side a front view is defined, in the right side a right side view and so on. Clicking near the corners isometric views are defined. Now specify an isometric view clicking at the low right corner and position it where you like. Remind the views can be re-positioned at any time. Repeat the command and press the button “Orthogonal”. This option creates an orthographic view with respect to an existing one. Click at the low side of the square in order to specify the point of view and position the view over the top view. This is another way for getting a front view with the advantage that it will automatically be aligned to the top view. Create another orthographic view from the left side and position it on the right.

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At last select Section. The program asks for specifying an existing view where the section will be set. Point at the front view, that above the top view. A copy of this view is generated. Move it to the right of the front view. Specify the position of the red section in figure with two points. With a further point specify the position of the blue section; this last request of the program can be ignored pressing Enter. If two sections are created the only objects between the two planes are displayed. Finally click in the space over the red line in order to specify the viewpoint and stop the command. A view of the model from the direction just specified is generated. At present the standard 2D drawings which show only the profiles of the visible objects have not been generated yet. At present just a series of windows containing the 3D model seen from the selected viewpoints have been defined.

In order to get the drawings launch command 3D Piping/2D Viewports /Draw Profiles and select all windows by clicking inside their frame. A dialogue window appears which enables or disables the hidden line generation. We remind that hidden lines lay on a separate layer. Therefore they can be managed and displayed, even partially, with the purpose of showing, for instance by dashed lines, parts of the plant which are hidden by other objects. At the end of the process the 3D representation will be replaced by 2D entities in the AutoCAD paper space. As for the performances the processing of the model takes less than a minute.

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3.9. DIMENSIONING AND ANNOTATIONS

The dimensions in 3D space, like any other annotation, depends on the viewpoint, and they become meaningless when the viewpoint changes. Therefore, save a few exceptions, dimensioning and annotations are better placed in the paper space rather than on the model space. Dimensions and annotations can be placed either on the 3D model displayed within the window or on the 2D projected lines.

While working on the 2D drawings, the 3D model can temporarily be displayed if needed with a particular command in order to get information from it (for instance to tag a line). Let us make some examples.

Set the global dimension scale (Dimscale) to 1, zoom in at the right of the top view and launch the Dimensioning / Linear command (shortcut XD). Press P for the parallel dimensioning, if not already set, and point at the end of the two vessel axes (see figure). Position the dimension as usual in AutoCAD and ignore the request for re-aligning. As you have seen the dimension is projected on the drawing plane even though the specified points lays on different planes.

Repeat the command and specify the ends of the sloping pipe. When the dimensioning is set to parallel the dimension can be horizontal or vertical only. On the contrary the dimension in figure is obtained by pressing “A” (standing for Aligned). By pressing “3d” a parallelogram with both components is displayed.

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Now launch the 3D Piping / Annotations / Tag Line command and point at the lines axes. The line tag displays (we will explain further on how to set it). If you pay attention you can see that in order to perform this command the program switches to the 3D model for a very short time. This is for collecting tagging data stored on the pipe axis. For further information on this subject see the Command Reference.

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3.10. BILL OF MATERIAL EXTRACTION

The Bill of Material extraction is an almost fully automated process that only needs few preliminary settings. As already said Project Number and Drawing Number must be filled in through the Working Options window, while the revision can initially be blank. These data are the minimum requirement for the program to recognize and store the model components. Furthermore a bill of material model is required which specifies how data are filtered and organized. In this case we will use one of the already available models.

If not already done, give the drawing a name and save it, then launch 3D Piping / Extract Data. Wait for the program to store the model data into the project database. Now type in SP (shortcut for launching the program dedicated to Data and Specifications Management) and select Bill of Materials Generation from the Bills of Materials pull down menu.

A dialogue window displays. Select the project from the list on the left and the drawing “Tutorial.dwg” on the right (this drawing should be the only one in the project). In section “List Type” select “Component List” and in section “Output” check “Screen”. In the upper pull down menu select the model “TUTTO – Distinta Totale” and press “OK”. The list is generated and displayed on the screen. For further information about this subject refer to Chapter 6 “Data and Specifications Management”.

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3.11. EXPORT TO THE ISO ENVIRONMENT

The line geometry and the related data can be exported into a file that once imported into the Isometric environment, will be capable of automatically generating the Isometric Drawings. Launch 3D Piping / Generate Isometrics / ISO Groups. Press Automatic Groups on the dialogue window.

Groups of objects will be created as many as the lines of the drawing. By default one drawing per group is generated. Highlight the group 004, the line with three branches, and press “Add Entity”. The program allows to add new entities to line 004 which now is highlighted in yellow. Press Enter, so that the selection is made per line, and add the three branches touching a part of them in sequence. Added branches also will be highlighted in yellow. Terminate the command, come back to the dialogue window and, with the suitable button, explode the groups added to 004 that now should be empty. Terminate with OK.

Through this procedure the default splitting of the plant in isometric drawings has been modified.

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Now launch the 3D Piping / Generate Isometrics / Export .ISO file command. Accept all default settings of the dialogue window and press Write .ISO. As many ISO files are created as the previously defined groups. They are located in the same folder as the drawing.

Now open “ESApro ISO” and launch ISO / Import .ISO: a dialogue window displays. Press Browse and select the .ISO file relevant to line 004. Accept all defaults and press Import. A drawing like the one in figure will be generated.

The drawing can freely be modified and so can title block data and drawing aesthetics like graphics, texts, balloons and dimensions. Other bills can be added like weights, painting surfaces, insulations and lists of pipe pieces and welds. In case the sketch is incorrect or the automatic dimensioning is not carried out a check is required so to detect possible disconnections between the components of the pipelines. To this purpose use command 3D Piping / Connection Check.

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4. COMMAND REFERENCE

In this chapter all commands are described in detail. We suggest to read this part after performing the tutorial where remarks, procedures and details of use are expounded. Then come back to this chapter for a widening of the available options. At the beginning of each paragraph it is described how to get the command from the pull down menu “3D Piping” o “3D Components”, it is clear that most commands are accessible through the toolbars also.

4.1. LINE

Choose Line in the 3D Components menu, toolbar or Ribbon, keyboard shortcut LL.



It is the command for drawing the pipeline axis in 3D space. The axis holds the line logical data like Line Number, Nominal Diameter and Piping Class (mandatory) which will be transferred to the components laying on it. Furthermore it contains a series of descriptive data (not mandatory) that will be used for the line lists. Therefore these data must be entered before drawing a line through the dialogue window shown in figure.

The first page is identified by the “Identifying and Descriptive” tag and contains the identifying data of the line, Class, ND, and also some descriptive parameters.

In order to create a new line it is necessary to enter a Line Number, a Class and a Nominal Diameter, all highlighted in light blue. Such data are used by the program to extract all the pre-defined data in Class. The Line number together with Unit/System and Branch determines its identification name which must not be replied; it can contain a whatever combination of alphanumeric characters and determines the continuity of the line which means that has in common all parts and components shared by the line . The Fluid Type can eventually be a part of a line identification data otherwise it must be considered just as a descriptive data. Unit/System , “Number” and “Fluid Type” are displayed on pull down menus or filled in. The “Branch” field can only be filled in.

When it is necessary to continue an existing line its identification name and all other data must not be changed. To this purpose select “Continue Line ” in the creation mask and draw the line starting from one end where all the necessary data will be acquired.

When the “Unit/System”, “Number” and “Branch” data of a new line will be the same ones of a pre-existing one the program sends an “error” message. However, the generation of two lines with the same name is allowed as it can be necessary in some cases. For example when two parts of the same line are on different drawings of a multi sheet P&ID , or two separated parts of the same line generated by editing procedures and subsequently reconnected in the end . Also when it is necessary to continue the same line but with different characteristics. Thus, excluding the previously explained cases, two parts with the same identifying data and separated physically, are a mistake of duplication or separation. Then the set of all parts and components of a line with an identification data is a continuous chain of elements logically connected, unifiliar, with a direction , one starting point and one and only end.



Two pull down menus are available in the “Class and ND” section . They display the Classes of the system and the related nominal diameters.

The mask in the “Descriptive” section contains the “Service”, “Area” and “From / To” fields. The “Service” field as well as the “Fluid Type” displays the values already present in the system. The “From” and the “To” fields contain the filled in tags of the equipment connected by the line.

“Line status“ is a parameter representing the working progress of the line. The various possibilities are: “In progress”, “Revision”, “Supported”, “Stress Analysis”, “Generated sketch” and “Finished”.

In the second page, identifiable by “Process and Insulation” are contained Pressure, Temperature, Insulation, and the tracing and jacketing data. The insulation data are made of a tag, a material and a thickness. The Insulation Class are defined in the library of the “Specifics Management” environment described further on. Once selected a class all the related data and the predefined thicknesses will be loaded into the line’s creation mask .

In the third page, identified by the “Custom and Notes” pull down menu, up to eight fields are available to the purpose. The “Custom 1-8” tags can be customized in the “Specific Management” environment as it will be explained further on.

When a branch starts from a line, which is considered the main line, the branch generally takes a new Line Number. But sometimes a group of lines are preferred to share the same Line Number, typically the main line and its branches. To this purpose the same Line Number can be used for all lines of the group provided that an individual Branch code is assigned to each of them (the field below the Line Number). Through the combination Line Number/Branch Code the program will be able to univocally distinguish these lines one from each other, but it will group them when needed. Let us make two examples. The Line List will generate a single record for all lines with the same number (the branch code can or not appears in the final documentation) and the procedure which organizes the plant lines for the purpose of automatic isometrics generation will gather them in a single .ISO file. For more information see the paragraph dedicated to the automatic generation of isometrics further on in this chapter. The same considerations are valid for the Unit (field above the Line Number). Two lines with the same Line Number



and Branch Code can exist in different units of a plant. Therefore the whole Line Name is constituted by “Unit” + “Line Number” + “Branch Code”. Two lines will be considered not duplicated provided that at least one of this data is different.

Within a drawing the usual AutoCAD command “Copy” can be used in order to make a copy of whichever part of the plant, lines included. It is also allowed to copy lines from a drawing to another one using the usual procedures of “Copy and Paste” and “Drag and Drop”. In any case at the end of the operation the program checks whether lines with the same name exist and, if so, a procedure asking to rename them is enabled.

On the mask provided are listed all the lines to rename. They are temporary named “#” followed by the old number or , when the option “Automatic line numbers” is enabled, the first available number. It is up to the user to accept such procedure and change it with the command “Modify Data”, or as an alternative to assign the new number. As said before the “System” and “Branch” fields are included, as the new number can be obtained also by their composition.



Once entered the data, the geometrical line drawing can be performed. To this purpose the command “Line” provides a series of options for repositioning the coordinate system and for defining the line slope when it lays outside the axes or the main planes XY, YZ e ZX.

The command “Line” requires to specify the first point of the line. This can be done either by entering numerical coordinates or by employing the usual AutoCAD tools or through the command options that can be enabled by typing in the capital letter of the option name followed by Enter:

Line start point or [psNap/SSnap/reFerence/Connect]:

o psNap, the cursor searches the reference points of pipes and components on an existing pipeline through the function Pipe-Snap (for a detailed description of Pipe-Snap see “Basic Concepts”)

o SSnap, enables the search of the first point of an existing pipe through the Stru-Snap option ( see the details in the “Basic Concept” chapter)

o reFerence, allows the selection of an auxiliary point for specifying the line start point.

Specify a base point or [psNap]:

Then It enables another option line:

Distance from Reference or [Left/riGht/Top/Base/

Angle/Rotate/rX/rY/rZ/Object/psNap/View]:

The above options are similar to those for the specification of a point of the line, which will be explained further on. Pay attention that you are just specifying the distance from the reference point in order to get the whished final point. Option “Base”, available

only when specifying the distance from the reference, adds a distance along the Z axis equal to one half of the pipe diameter. It is useful in order to set the elevation of the pipe support.

o Connect, asks to specify the start point and the end point of the line and launches the automatic routing process. For a more detailed explanation see further on in this chapter.



o Line start point: specifies the start point with the usual AutoCAD tools. The snaps “End” and “Near” are preset.

Once entered the first point, the command asks for the following points and displays a series of options which basically are methods for positioning the coordinate system in space:

Length, Point or [Left/riGht/Top/Angle/Rotation/rX/rY/rZ/Object/

reFerence/psNap/View/Plane/Icon/Connect/Undo]:

o Length or Point, enables you to enter in sequence the points of the line using the AutoCAD tools or specifying a distance along the direction of the cursor.

o Left, riGht and Top, set the XY plane of the coordinate system on the left, right and top side of an imaginary isometric cube as shown in figure. The origin of the coordinate system is brought to the current point. The three planes always remain parallel to the absolute planes XY, YZ e ZX. We point out that starting from the 2007 AutoCAD release, you can draw a line along the Z axis just getting close to such direction with the mouse, provided the ortho mode is set on. In any case in order to draw a sloping line it is necessary to set at first the suitable XY plane.

o Angle, rotates the coordinate system of the specified angle around the Z axis.

o Rotation: rotates the coordinate system 15°around the Z axis.

o rX, rY, rZ, rotate the coordinate system 90° around the X, Y, Z axis respectively.

o Object, through Pipe-Snap gets the direction of a piping component and positions the coordinate system with the X axis parallel to it. The origin of the coordinate system is not changed.

o PsNap, searches and highlights the reference points of pipes and components through the Pipe-Snap function.



o reFerence, enables you to specify a point referring to an auxiliary point as described above for the first point.

o View, positions the coordinate system with the XY plane parallel to the screen.

o Icon, is an useful tool for routing a line. Icons are symbols constituted by three orthogonal planes of different colours which can be positioned everywhere in space. Once selected this option, the Line command is temporarily interrupted and the procedure for the icon positioning starts. This procedure, capable of ensuring a very precise positioning, is performed through the options already described for the coordinate system management. The option Base for adding one half of the pipe diameter is available in this

case also. The same functions are accessible also from the command Set UCS described further on. In such case the diameter is not yet known then the program asks Class and ND before setting the Z addition. Once put the symbol in position the command “Line” execution continues. While drawing a segment of line this can easily be extended up to the ideal intersection with one of the icon planes through the option Plane described below. This tool allows to easily route a pipeline from a nozzle to another or to swerve round an obstruction of a pre-established distance. See the Tutorial for a practical example of use of this tool.

o Plane, requires first to select one of the planes of the above described icon, specify a direction with the cursor and then click left button. The program will draw a line segment which goes from the current point to the plane along the specified direction. If no intersection is found an error message is displayed. Once started this process cannot be changed, therefore properly preset the coordinate system before choosing the Plane option.

When in need of drawing a line not parallel to the coordinate axes, you can draw a tentative line of whatever length and angle after which a system is available for re-sizing them specifying length and slope.

Component value or [Angle/Ignore] <Enter to Ignore>:



o Component value, the command displays the components and asks for their value in sequence. In a plane two components will be required, three in space.

o Angle, asks for the highlighted angle between the two magenta components. In space two angles will be required, one in the XY plane and the other for the elevation with respect to the XY plane. In this case the length will not be changed by the program.

o Slope, asks for the slope of the pipeline in percentage units.

o Ignore or Enter, ignores the request of input of coordinates or angles and continues with the next segment of the line. This option is used when the segment slope has already been specified with other means. In fact the wished direction can be directly achieved with the above explained mechanism of coordinate system rotation, with the polar or spherical coordinates of AutoCAD.

o Connect, asks to specify one point and launches the automatic routing process so to reach it.

o Undo, in case of error, erases the last line segment and goes back to the previous one.

In each case the identifying data specified in the line creation mask are stored in every line segment. The program treats them as a unique object as they have the same Line Number.

Automatic pipe routing, detailed description

In this section the function for automatically founding a path between two nozzles (option “Connect” of the line creation command) is examined in detail. Once specified the from and to points the program displays six possible solutions in space, two when nozzles are coplanar



and one when they are collinear. This function can also automatically complete an existing line by specifying the “To” nozzle.

This function is available when building the pipe axis only, not in the “Follow with butt welding elbows” and “Follow with bend pipe”. Therefore the command draws a temporary solid line, with the diameter augmented by the insulation thickness, to perform the interference check. This is enabled if, in the "Working Options", "On line Interference checking" is flagged. If necessary, the “Pan”, “Zoom” and “3D Orbit” can be used in transparent way.

Even though the resulting path is not exactly the expected one, can be useful as a base to get the final one through some easy modifications. In fact, once the UCS is positioned in a suitable way, the pipe axes can be stretched with the standard AutoCAD command.

When starting a new line, without specifying any point, the option “Connect” is available.

Line start point or [psNap/reFerence/Connect]:

Once entered “C” the program answers:

Specify start nozzle

And then the standard instructions for pointing:

Specify axis or component end: *PipeSnap*

Point or (Zoom/zoom Previous/Osnap):

With the same procedure used in fit to fit assembly with the “PipeSnap” function the program looks out for a piping object end, not necessarily a nozzle, in order to precisely establish the starting point and the outlet direction. In case you do not need to start from a Piping Line, but for instance from the axis of a nozzle of an equipment component generated by other tools and imported in ESApro, you can select oSnap in order to enable the search through the Osnap “End” of AutoCAD. In this case *PipeSnap* does not find any reference point and does not show any yellow balloon.



Once made the pointing, the symbol in figure which exits from the line or from the nozzle is displayed.

The final point of the line is specified with the same procedure:

Specify end nozzle



Now the program offers up to six alternatives that are shown in sequence by clicking left button.

Click for a new path or <Enter to Continue>:

With the “Enter” button the process stops and the program generates a line passing through the selected path.

As already told, you can start a new line or continue an existing one and enable the automatic routing command when desired. In this case the “To” nozzle only is requested. Then the program will offer the various alternatives starting from the last point of the line as already described.

We point out that when continuing an existing line the automatic path has not a predetermined direction like when exiting a nozzle and therefore it can get whichever direction. This can be surprising in case the pre-existing line has already some components on it which are ignored by the procedure. For instance if a valve is placed on a nozzle and then the automatic routing is set, one of the offered path could start perpendicularly to the valve axis. This is just right, only suppose to remove the components from the line and you will see how such solution will once more make sense.

Two parameters affect the path search



o Minimum length of segments entering and exiting from the nozzle, when a path reaches a nozzle in a crosswise direction, the program adds a line segment along its axis. The minimum length of this segment is set in the “Working Options” panel as a multiple of the outer diameter of the pipe. The default value is three times the diameter, generally enough for receiving at least an elbow and a flange.

o Direction of the automatic routing, as a default the automatic routing is performed along directions parallel to the world coordinate system. If the nearby pipelines develop along different directions the automatic routing should be following the same directions. The option “Pipe” of the command for positioning the UCS is used to this purpose. When the command is launched the program answers:

New UCS origin or

[Left/riGht/Top/Angle/Rotate/rX/rY/rZ/Object/psNap/View/Icon

/Clear/ Pipe/World] <Exit>:

Once set the system and chosen the option “Pipe” the program answers:



Henceforth the routing will be performed along the specified directions. The two figures clarify what above said in case of a rotation of 15° of the system for pipelines.

4.2 LINE MANAGER

The use of the line, as explained in the previous paragraph is submitted to the management of the whole data that can be handled in the modify/creation mask . The centralized management of all lines of a project is based on an external application named “Line Manager”, that can be seen by all the applications of ESApro (ESApro, P&ID, ESApro 3D Piping, ESApro ISO) working at the same project thus facilitating the handling of the lines as well as the data exchange between the various applications.



Two operation modes are available: first open one of the two through “Working Options”

Lines List from “Line Manager” or Predefined

Lines List by “Graphics”

Predefined Lines List Mode

This system comes useful when a Supervisor handles the project and also in case of plant with great quantities of lines and drawings(ex: P&ID multilayers, shared 3D mouldings or manual creation of isometric sketches). In this working mode the line list is predefined by the Supervisor, who defines quantities and lines . The users are bound to use those lines lists when creating a new line .

In this phase the usual mask is available where the users can handle only those lines initialized by “Line Manager”. In this case the background tone of the line becomes light blue. Only the data contained in “Parts Data” are allowed to be modified as they can change along the line (ex: Area, Class, ND, Insulation....) The change of data in the “General” option is not allowed. The user then is free to create a line with diameters differing from the default in “Line Manager” and also with a different “Insulation Class”. Viceversa the user is not allowed to modify “Fluid Type” or “Project Pressure” whose choice is up to the Supervisor.



In the following diagram are available a summary of lines data and the two typologies they belong to as well as the environment where they can be modified.

Field Type To be modified in

Unit/System General Line Manager

Line Number General Line Manager

Branch General Graphic , branch are parts of the main line..

Area Parts Graphic

Class Parts Graphic

ND Parts Graphic

Service General Line Manager

Fluid General Line Manager

From/To (3DP/ISO only)

General Graphic for ESApro P&ID, Line Manager for ESApro 3D Piping and ISO.

Nozzle From/To Parts Graphic, a line can have more than one nozzle connected to branchs.

Line Status General Line Manager

Presssures General Line Manager

Temperatures General Line Manager

Insulation Class Parts Graphic

Tracing/ Jacket Parts Graphic

Customs/ Notes General Line Manager.



Lines List by “Graphics" mode

This mode does not necessitate the intervention of a Supervisor. The line data are defined in the creation/modify mask already described. The procedure then is exactly the same as for the previous versions of ESApro, where “Line Manager” was not included. Only, the data of the line here are defined in a graphic environment and feed anyway the centralized data of “Line Manager”. Two different users then will be able to work at the same line without the risk of creating clashing data . But the “General “ fields can be modified and as a consequence each user will be entitled to modify the line through the “Modify Data” option or through the “ESApro Line Manager” application as it will be described further on. In case of a line already initialized in “Line Manager” the background colour of the line creation form turns to light blue, otherwise it will remain white.

“Line Manager” can be accessed through its button in Ribbon, on the 3DP V7 menu or on the Toolbars. Its mask will provide the name of the data base and the current mode (“Line Manager or “Graphic”) on the column on the left. On the right is displayed the list of the lines and all the related data fields . The lines have different colours according to their status. Their status and only that is displayed in the section “Line Filters”

White, line initialized in “Line Manager” or in “Graphic” In the first case the line is initialized by the insert button, while in the second case as soon as the creation process begins . In any case the line creation mask is just the same.

Green, engaged line. A line is always considered engaged when used in a drawing and appears in the line library of the project. The procedure is carried out through the “Data Extraction” command “ which also will save the document. Therefore the “Line manager” is not updated in real time.

Red, modified line The line can be modified through the “Modify” command in Line Manager or in Graphics through the “Modify Data”, as described further on. Bear in mind that the same line can be used in many drawings which will need to be updated. In fact when this happens the colour of the line turns from Red to Blue. When modifying parts of a line it is not necessary to update nor the drawings or the colour of the line. The variation of a white line not engaged does not imply the change of colour as it has not been



used yet in any document. The drawings are updated, once open and when returning to the drawing from “Line manager”, or through the “Batch” procedure as it will be described further on. When all the drawings are updated the line will return into “Line Manager” and its colour will turn to Green.

Let’s consider now the details of the commands in “Line manager”

Exit: terminates the current session of “Line Manager”

Insert: displays the creation mask of a new line. The data fields of ”Part” and those of “General” are highlighted with different colours. To create a line means to initialize it and its colour is white. When creating a new line, if filled with data already present, the program will send an error message.

Modify: displays the same mask used for the creation of a new line. When modifying a white un-used line none of the drawings is updated and the colour remains White. When a line is engaged (Green) its colour changes only if a data in “General” is changed. The “Part” data are considered as default and can be modified locally in the drawings. Mind that when cancelling a modification which has turned the line from “Green” to “Red” it remains “Red”, as the line before the cancellation might have been used by somebody else on another document.

Delete: erases a line in “Line manager” only if the line is engaged, but if it is not it does not. Mind that once finished the project the lines in White colour can be deleted as not used anywhere in the project.

Where used: displays a report with the documents of the project containing the modified lines in colour red. The drawings to update are found when starts the saving procedure in “Line Manager” through the “Project Options” mask that will be described further.

Project Options: displays the “Project Options” window which will be described later on.

Add Project: allows the definition of a new project without going through the “Project” environment, where the procedure is carried out and that we will explain further on.

Import/Export Line: defines an external Excel file to import/Export into “Line Manager” a list of lines from. Data base structure must comply



with a template under the name: Import_Lines.xlsx in the folder ...\ESApro V7\Common.

Imp/Exp DB: displays the “Import/Export from Database” window which will be described later on.

Database Management: allows the access to the “Database Procedure” as described further on.

As already said on the desktop is displayed an icon (3DP Update Batch) that launches the update of the drawings of a project following modifications of lines data contained in “Line Manager” . Once chosen a Database, pressed the “Database management” command, and also chosen a project will be displayed all those drawings that need to be updated. Other drawings can be selected and forcibly updated. The “Exit” command terminates the procedure. “Update Dr.“ launches the update and “Database Management” opens the application “Database Management" described further on.



4.3. FOLLOW LINE

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon choose Follow Line.

This command generates the axis of a line and contemporarily dresses it with pipes and elbows in compliance with the Class and ND set on the line in the same way as the drawing of the axis only. If just one segment of line is drawn the dressing is made with a single pipe. Once drawn at least two segments an elbow and the connected pipe are drawn, and the last pipe piece is executed at the command exit. If the line starts or ends on another line a branch is created according to the Class and to the Branch Table with the possibility of choosing between the alternatives when provided.

4.4. AUTOMATIC LINE DRESSING

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon choose Automatic Dressing.

It performs the automatic dressing of one or more pre-existing lines with pipes and class elbows fitting the line. It is required to specify an axis or a component of a dressing line. The selection of many lines can be performed through the means of the window. Those components which do not belong to the line are not taken into consideration. When the line begins or finishes on a pre-existing line a new branch is created in accordance with its Class and Branch Table. In case of multiple branches concurrent over one single point the program provides all the possible alternatives so as their geometrically suitable branches. In case of two opposite branches for example a cross joint is provided. In case of 90° elbows a T and half couplings . In case of branches the



command inserts the component provided by Class and Branch Table. But when the derived elements are already existing on the line the program does not acknowledge the insertion and operates on the pipes around it.

In case of a new line, that’s to say an existing line with some finished parts and some others partially or fully emptied, the program finishes the incomplete parts of the line with pipes, elbows and branches without risk of an overlap.

Here below the guide lines for the command :

° The purpose of this procedure is to dress pipe axes with diameters and class pipes having the same characteristics: when there are not uniform contiguous line parts the program stops and sends a warning message and invites the user to start again to complete the remaining parts. Therefore the program does not insert reductions.

° We suggest to keep the number of the selected lines to a minimum in order to be able to overview the procedure. It will be possible then to easily locate those areas requiring a manual procedure.

° When in pipe Class the suitable bends or branches are missing the program does not operate. Miter joint of two following pipes are not supported. But it is supported the pipe to pipe branch. The program gives an error warning when in pipe class there are not matching branches or elbows.

° The program does not support elbolets and radioused branches as we will see further on in Branches

4.5. CIRCULARS PIPES

Choose “Circular Pipes” from the 3D Components tool bar or Ribbon in order to view a wide angle circular collector such as fire fighting rings of fuel tanks. The circular pipe is approximately made with broken lines of straight pipes and elbows in order to overcome the geometrical



prevention of the program to insert straight components, valves, Tee,

elbows or other into a bent pipe, though, when the ring radius is wide enough, the placement of a component is however performed. The bent pipes render the ring more realistic and remove unnecessary welding of directly joined pipes. The wider the radius of the circular pipe the more realistic and precise the form and the width of the ring will be.

The collector is drawn on the XY plane which therefore must be set previously. The data of the new line are to be set first keeping in mind that the line class has curves made by the bent pipe. Then fill in the collector’s centre and radius. The command continues with:

Length current line :

Select an option [Length, Open, Closed]

<Enter for Closed>

The length of the straight line is pre-selected by the program and it is six time the line’s diameter. It is long enough to hold a flanged valve or a Tee without interfering with the bents of the following part. When necessary this value can be changed with

the “Length” option.

The “Open” and “Closed” options set the ring’s behaviour. “Open” sets the initial and

final angle.

The program continue:

Enter the angle of intermediate components or <Enter for nothing or terminate >

We suggest to set the start and end angles as well as of the components. On

the figure a possible example. The program has set a number of Osnap in order to easily determine the required points.

The user can choose the angles where the components will be inserted. The remaining spaces will be equally divided in accordance with the value of the

straight part of the line. The straight line dimension will display to avoid the overlapping of two lines and their components. If those angles are not set the program divides the ring into equal parts. Where a component is inserted the



straight part of the line is tangential to the ring. Therefore the component will be positioned as the one on the real bent line.



4.6. SINGLE PIPE

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon select Pipe / Single Pipe.

This command creates a single piece of pipe on an axis. During the selection of points the snaps End, Middle, Center are pre-set. Otherwise the option Pipe-Snap is available. If the line starts or ends on another line, a branch is created according to the Class and to the Branch Table. On the contrary the command ignores possible branches on the line segment. When the pipe ends on a miter elbow (see figure) or when two pipes are joined directly without an elbow in between the command is capable of cutting the extremes at angles different from 90°.

The function for the insertion of a single pipe and the previously described programs for the automatic dressing correctly works also when the axis is constituted by more collinear pieces (this situation frequently occurs whenever the axis is generated with the fit to fit procedure as described further on). A node between two collinear axis is normally ignored and the pipe is generated between two real nodes i.e. when the line direction really changes.

Therefore a single pipe can include more pieces of the axis below. But in case the characteristics of the various pieces are not homogeneous (change of ND, Class or Line Number) the command interrupts at the junction and gives a warning.

Let us notice how the only component suitable for positioning and correctly cutting two contiguous collinear pipes of different diameters is the reducer that takes on the characteristics from the line selected at the insertion. In general the insertion of other types of components between two lines with different characteristics is not used.



The maximum length of pipe pieces is set through the “Working Options dialogue window. Once exceeded said length the program draws a new pipe piece next to the first one. All commands which create pipes respect the setting and perform the pipe cutting at the specified length (in order to disable this setting enter 0 for maximum length). The cutting process can generate limit cases which require to be manually corrected.

It is possible to set the maximum length of the pipes through a value assigned in the attachment of each Pipe Class, as described further on. Once exceeded such length the program sets a new pipe. All generating programs stick to this procedure and they cut the pipes in accordance with the cutting value. ( Set the cutting value to 0 in order to deactivate the option). At the end the cutting process might generate a pipe’s unwanted length which can be manually corrected.

In the attachments also a minimal length can be set. A warning message will show up if a pipe is shorter. The short one near the reduction is then detected . Set the cutting value to 0 to deactivate the option.

The standard AutoCAD Stretch command has been powered by adding the capability of stretching axes and pipes. In order to correctly stretch a line of Piping a suitable coordinate system must be set first which enables you to specify the stretching direction on the XY plane.

We remind that in AutoCAD two types of window are available in order to select the area to be stretched: Crossing (rectangular window) or CPoligon (polygonal window). The last one is generally more suitable as in 3D space the rectangular section in general does not enable the user to select the desired objects. The command is only capable of stretching pipes along the original direction of the line therefore direction changes are not possible.



4.7. COMPOSITE PIPE

The composite pipe is an object ideally built by the combination of a pipe and one or two ends.

Examples are given by cast iron, cement or PVC ducts with male or female ends. The variability in length prevents from treating these objects as standard straight components. A specific command for generating composite pipes does not exist. The pipe is created by the previously described tools and then the ends are added as they were flanges. The program provides for automatically merging the ends and the pipe so creating a single component. When generating the bill of materials the program recognizes the combination, searches for that particular composite pipe (e.g. male-male) in the data tables and gets its characteristic data (description, part number, length and total weight). Ideally the ends of composite pipes are flanges even though they are organized in a separate category and inserted with a particular dedicated function.

Flexible pipes are a particular type of composite pipes , where the central part of the pipe is not rectilinear. Beside they are connected to equipment or lines with different materials and characteristics and therefore they do not share pipe classes. A new list must then be provided. Within this class must be inserted one type of pipe only and all the possible coupling endings . In order to define the flexible pipe it is possible to define for each ND a minimum bending radius , so as a list of commercial lengths and the related part codes. For more details see “Specifics management “ as it will be described further on.

From the toolbar o Ribbon choose Flexible Pipes. The command begins with:

Specify start nozzle





When inserting the first end of an existing pipe or nozzle the PipeSnap icon displays to confirm the selection of a free ending. The creation mask of a new line pops out : it must be filled with the data of a new class for flexible pipes. If in the chosen class more endings are available, soon after made a choice the first ending will be positioned. But before doing that it can be rotated if necessary; as for example in case of SAE flanges. The second ending can be inserted .in the same way and the definition of the line is not any longer required.

The axis of the flexible pipe is drawn with the commercial length the closest to the required one and the program continues with:

Minimum allowed radius: 150 - Found: 73

Current commercial length: 1100

Select an option [Increase/Decrease/forceX/forceY/forceZ] <Enter

to continue>:

If some bends of the flexible pipe are not allowed the program gives a graphic warning (red segments) and also indicates the actual commercial length. The two options “Increase” and “Decrease” provide different commercial lengths. In this way the flexible pipe runs smoothly, the only limitation being the in and out direction of the nozzles and the given length.

The options “Force X,Y,Z” can be used if obstacles interfere with the positioning of the hose and allow to slightly deform it. A further limitation point is added on the middle point of the hose which can be moved along X,Y,Z absolute. The shifting over such point is not applied directly, but rather through the influence of the control polygon of the spline representing the hose, thus avoiding rough bends. At last the program searches for the closest commercial length in accordance with a given limitation. This procedure can be repeated until the final result is achieved.

The evaluation of the shape of the hose into space is not an easy task and we suggest to evaluate its course with “3orbit” between one shift and the other. It is better to frequently activate the “Increase” and



“Decrease” options in order to get as closer as possible to the required dimensioning.

The drawing of the hose is displayed at the end of the process.

When two endings are parallel to each other and have the same direction the following options are available

Parallel endings, choose the hose type [Routed/Free] <Free>:

The option “Routed” allows to adapt the hose to a cable trays.



4.8. ELBOWS

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon select Elbow.

Once selected a pipe axis this command reads the necessary information from it and inserts the elbow provided by Piping Class. If alternatives of in the elbow typologies (ex. butt welding, threaded, socket welding) are provided the user will be asked to make a choice. The same if alternatives are provided within the same typology.

There are several types of elbows. Butt welding elbows and those obtained bending the pipe automatically take the angle between the pipes where they are inserted. When placing a bend pipe on a line its axis is automatically filleted. The other types of elbows are mainly socket welding, threaded and flanged at 11.25°, 22.5°, 30°, 45°, 60° or 90°. Also present are the reducing elbows. For each type of elbow the command provides two insertion modes.

The first requires the selection of the common extreme of two concurrent axes. Therefore the elbow will lay on the plane of the two axes and will get their angle. In case of 45° and 90° elbows only these angles will be accepted. In case of reducing elbows the axis with a larger diameter, near the vertex, must be selected, to indicate the orientation.



The second mode, available through the option “Fit” makes possible to assemble an elbow at the end of whichever component, without pre-existing axes. The selection of the extreme of the desired component is performed through the “Pipe-Snap” function. In case of elbow types of variable width the angle width is requested first and then the elbow is drawn. Width and position can be changed with the following options of the command line (Enter is not required): Enter to Exit or (Zoom/zoom Prev/Invert/Rotate/Angle/Width):

Invert, switches the elbow extremes, it has no effect on symmetrical elbows. Rotate, rotates the elbow of steps of 90°. Angle, rotates the elbow of the angle which is entered numerically with the keyboard or graphically with the mouse. Width, changes the width of the elbow angle, butt welding and miter elbows are limited to 180°, bend pipes to 360°. The larger the angle width of an elbow, the further from the component the intersection of the concurrent axes is. For elbows of width larger than 135° assembled fit to fit, axes are represented by convention as if said elbows were constituted by an elbow of 90° plus another whose width angle is equal to the remaining part.

The figure shows the set of dimensioning arising from a 140° elbow created on the axes and a 160° assembled fit to fit.

Modifications to the geometry of elbows assembled fit to fit can be indefinitely iterated up to the end of the command by Enter. Elbows drawn on the axes cut eventual pre-existing pipes. This is the best method because it does not require to precisely draw pipes from the end of an elbow to another, that is particularly difficult for socket-welding or threaded ones where the extremes are located at the bottom



of the socket or thread. When necessary anyhow the problem is easily solved with “Pipe-Snap” that returns the required point displayed as a yellow dot. Butt welding elbows can have a straight piece at their ends. Therefore the related tables provide a column for the length of said piece. A blank value means that the straight piece length is zero.

All commands inserting elbows of whichever width angle on the axes, fit to fit or in automatic dressing mode, respect this setting.



Bent pipes can also generate branches radiused according to the bent radius contained in the dimensional tables.

When drawing an elbow if the point 1 in figure is specified, the program is ready to build a radiused branch and therefore asks to specify one of the two possible side. In the example in figure has been specified the point 2 at the right of the crossing. Pay attention to the dimensions. In fact if the main line diameter is much larger than that of the branch and the bent radius smaller the radiused part can be wholly sunk into the main pipe.

4.9. MITER ELBOWS

The program manages miter elbows in the two configurations shown in figure. The first type fits pipes with 90° ends, the second is obtained from the first one by removing the outmost segments. As a consequence the pipe to be joined must be cut with angles different from 90° but the needed welds are less in number. The drawing method is the same as for other variable width elbows, i.e. butt welding elbows and bend pipes. For a series of standard width angles the number of segments is written in the related data tables. In case of other width angles the user can specify the number of segments at the insertion. By convention the number of segments is that physically visible independently of width and shape. Therefore the elbows in figure are considered four-segments and two-segments respectively.



4.10. BRANCHES

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon choose Branches and then one of the provided branches.

This group is constituted by equal and reducing Tees, Crosses, Wyes, which cut also the main pipeline, and 45° and 90° branches as weldolet, half couplings etc. which cut the branch pipe only. Three insertion mode are provided:

1. Pointing of the axis of the branch line close to the crossing with the

main line (except for the Wye which requires the pointing of the main line), in this case the position is established by the axes and no other options are available.

2. In line positioning (for Tees or Crosses only)

3. Fit to fit assembly.

Half couplings and O-let cannot be assembled fit to fit. Since a new line is generated in fit to fit assembly the usual mask for its definition displays. If the branch type is a reducing one, in fit to fit mode a dialogue window displays filled in with the ND of the line used for the alignment as main diameter and with the default diameter, or the one set last, as reducing diameter. Both can be easily changed through the pull-down menus. As a function of the choice of the NDs some configurations could be denied by the program. The in-line assembly, option Line of the command, provides the insertion of Tees and Crosses into a pipeline in absence of a branch. The operation is similar to that of straight components which will be described in the next paragraph.



The Fit To Fit option manages the insertion of the branch at the end of whichever object. The extreme is found by the “Pipe-Snap” function. Then the branch is drawn in default placement and the following positioning options are shown on the command line (the Enter key is not required):

Enter to Exit or (Zoom/zoom Prev/Invert/Rotate/Angle):

Invert, switches the branch extremes, if compatible with the NDs. Rotate, rotates the branch of steps of 90°. Angle, rotates the branch of the angle which is entered numerically with the keyboard or graphically with the mouse. Three-way and four-way valves, even if they are not branches, belong to this category having the same insertion method of Tees and Crosses respectively.

Half couplings, O-lets, Long Welding Neck and in general 90° branches which do not cut the main pipe (therefore Tees are not included) can also be used as straight components on top of blind flanges and caps inserted on rings, agreed upon as bend pipes. They cannot be positioned out of axis.

The above mentioned objects can be inserted on a pipe ring intended as an object obtained by bending a pipe. Branch lines must be radial or perpendicular to the ring. The insertion terminates with the automatic cutting of the eventual branch pipes.

We remind that the main line and the branches must have different line numbers or at least equal number but different branch codes.

All branch types take Line Number and Class from the main line.



4.11. STRAIGHT COMPONENTS

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon choose one of them.

A large variety of apparently heterogeneous components belong to this category namely straight valves, caps, flanges, couplings, reducers, filters, gaskets, all of them having in common the same insertion method. Therefore the general insertion method will be described first and then the details of behaviour of some particular objects will be dealt with. Once selected a pipe axis this command reads the due information from it and inserts the component provided by the Piping Class. If alternatives in the component typologies (ex. globe valve, ball valve..) are provided the user will be asked to make a choice. The same if alternatives are provided within the same typology (ex. threaded ball valve 150 # or 300#). A fit to fit option is provided also for straight components and it will be explained afterwards. The following paragraph deals with the insertion of a component into an existing line.

This command is described through a generic valve equipped with the handle and the flux direction indication in order to show all the available options of the insertion process. The command starts asking for a generic point on a pipeline axis with the only aim of defining the segment where the component will be positioned and getting



information about the ND and the Piping Class. Therefore no particular precision is required to specify said point. The component is generated with dimensions provided by Piping Class and ND taken from the line, in a default position and is constrained to slip on the axis.

During this procedure the object is displayed with a magenta central cursor representing its insertion point and can be dragged on the line. Another cursor is displayed meanwhile: it is a small square typical of the object selection in AutoCAD. With this cursor the Pipe-Snap function is performed and if it finds a reference point the component is temporarily positioned on it. Click left button in order to terminate the command. If you want to freely drag the component the search cursor of Pipe-Snap must be kept far from whichever piping element. The command contemporarily offers a set of options that are enabled by pressing the corresponding capital letter.

As for all the options in round brackets ENTER is NOT required.

Specify a point or (Zoom/zoom Prev./Fit/Invert/Rotate/aNgle/

Distance):

o Zoom, zooms in around the current cursor position.

o zoom Prev., goes back to the previous zoom.

o Fit, when repeatedly pressed it changes the position of the cursor which symbolizes the component insertion point, from the centre (magenta colour), to one end (green colour) to the other end (red colour), from the centre again and so on. The correct direction of a component approaching another is determined by two arrow cursors, red and green. Symmetric components are not affected by the different colours. But in the case of flanges the green cursor always is on the flange coupling face. This makes easier to recognition of the right direction. For example the front or the back of plain or blind flanges



cannot be easily determined. It’s the program which automatically chooses the correct fit point whenever approaching a component on a line. The closing point is determined by the direction the component is coming from as well as the component’ side touched by the cursor. When passing over a line’s existing component, the new component is not placed upon it, but once overcome the obstacle it switches to the other side. The fit point can be manually determined when the positioning is made in the middle of a pipe or of an axis, or when positioning a valve on a line and touching at the same time a reference point of another line. Just remind to hold still

the mouse and press “A”. Otherwise the movement can changes

the fit point. The component is always dropped in position in accordance with the set fit point, that is the magenta, green or red cursor. Furthermore at the end of the command the pipe is cut from the green cursor to the red one which therefore represent the cutting points or the connection points to the adjacent components. It has to be pointed out that for this reason it may happen that the three cursor coincide in a single point. An example is given by slip-on flanges when the pipe is provided to penetrate for the whole flange thickness. In this case the cut length is null. A length of pipe equal to zero is removed, that is the pipe is simply cut into two pieces.

o Rotate, rotates the component of steps of 90° as shown in figure.

o aNgle, rotates the component around the axis of the angle entered numerically or with the cursor.

o Invert, switches the component orientation on the line as shown in figure.

o Distance, stops the component dragging while starting the process for specifying a reference point and a distance from it. The reference point is found through Pipe-Snap. If said point does not lay on the pipe axis where the component is going to be inserted, it is projected perpendicularly to the axis itself. Pipe-Snap can be abandoned with the option Snap which enables the standard AutoCAD snaps. Thus the reference point can be taken from whichever object, even if it is not part of the pipeline such as support elements, steels etc. Also in this case the reference point is



projected on the pipe axis. Once selected the reference point the program draws a magenta segment from said point to the component insertion point, displays the current length on the command line and waits for the input of the distance for the final component positioning.

In each case the pre-existing pipe is automatically cut at the end of the process. We point out that in order to insert a component what is needed is not the pipe but just the axis. If there is a pipe this is conveniently cut otherwise it will be inserted with the already explained command.

The Fit to Fit option is used for joining the component directly to the end of another one without an axis. It does not make sense to use such option to insert components on the axes. The search of the extreme and the direction is activated by the Pipe-Snap function. The following options are available:

Enter to Exit or (Zoom/zoom Prev/Invert/Rotate/Angle):

Let us examine the special behaviour of some components.



Reducers: are inserted on the line like other straight components. A dialogue window displays offering for the main diameter the line ND and for the reducing diameter the default one or the last used one. Both of them can be easily changed picking them up from the pull down lists. Once the reducer has been inserted the adjacent line segments, and only them, take diameters complying with the reducer direction. The pipe, if existing, is removed and restored with the suitable diameter on both sides of the reducer. If the reducer is eccentric the downstream segment is automatically offset of the suitable quantity. If the reducer is rotated around the axis the reduced axis will be offset accordingly. Since only the segments contiguous to the reducer are updated, in general the in-line insertion of a reducer is not suggested unless close to a control valve. In this case in fact the two reducers placed in opposite directions generate a local change in diameter without the need for updating the whole line. In general it is preferred to insert reducers fit to fit, in which case the insertion direction is established from the selected NDs and from that of the line. As a consequence the inversion option is disabled.



Flanges: are thin components and it is difficult to recognize the face which the insertion cursor refers to. By convention flanges are shown first, instead of the central magenta cursor, with that green which is always located on the face of the coupling with the other flange.

Vice versa the red cursor is always located on the flange’s back, towards the pipe. Data tables of slip-on, threaded and socket-welding flanges provide a field for the overlap i.e. how much the pipe penetrates into the flange hole. This value can be equal to the whole flange thickness. In such case the program takes half millimeter less for procedural reasons but the three insertion points will be almost coincident. Anyhow it is required to select the suitable insertion point in order to correctly perform the coupling towards the other flanged object or towards the pipe. When a flange is placed on a pipe the program cuts it at the flange extremes. On the contrary when a flange is dragged towards a component, Tee, reducer an so on the program does not obviously perform any cut and therefore the correct selection of the fit point in order to ensure the continuity of the component sequence is left to the user. In such case we suggest to use the option Fit to Fit which ensures the correct sequence of reference points of adjacent components.

A flange can be directly placed against a nozzle of an equipment component or a double flange with or without a gasket in between. For details see further on. A flange can be managed with the function for inserting the ends of composite pipe also. In such case it merges with the pipe to generate a unique virtual object which will be recognized by the procedures for the extraction of bill of materials. In the option Fit to Fit the flange always appears with the coupling face outwards with respect to the component to fit. Therefore in order to assemble it, for instance, against a nozzle of an equipment component, once selected the insertion point it will be reversed with the option Invert.

Gaskets: are very thin components symbolized by a green cross protruding out of flanges and by a segment along the line axis whose length is equal to the actual thickness of the gasket. Usually they are automatically inserted together with flanged components and their stand-alone insertion is not recommended except for particular situations. Since they imply the presence of a flanged joint they are used for recording bolt and nuts data required for the bill of materials extraction. In order to facilitate the bolts and nuts check-out gaskets bringing bolts and nuts are displayed with thick lines while those which do not with thin lines. By the way make sure to enable the “LWT” button



of the AutoCAD status bar in order to determine the line thickness. For further information on this topic see further on in this chapter. Gaskets are not displayed by the procedure for the generation of drawings in the 2D environment.

Instruments and control valves : identified as components where in Typology the option “Instrument or flux regulator” is checked on .

Belong to this category the control valves, in valves, and the instruments in the category of components “Straight generic components” . Two categories are listed , those in line (control valves, or flow meters” and similes), and the connected ones (“manometers , thermometers”) as in the figure. The first ones must always be designed in a realistic manner in order to calculate precisely the pipe length while the second ones are the last components of a gap of a main line which , in some cases, do not necessarily need to be drawn. But they must be taken into consideration anyway, in order to transfer their initialing on the 2D tables or on sketches. The command “Work options” can be launched to create a symbolic drawing of such instruments. The symbol contains the instrument data as well as the physic ones , and it is represented on the 2D tables. It is possible to select it and check it, but it will not be printed. The same



rule applies to the sketches. On the following figures the final result can be seen in a 2D table and in a sketch where the symbol TI-001 is used symbolically.

FI

001

PI

001

TI

001



The command “Data correcting” is used to insert the data inside the circles and related to the instrument. In this case the “Instrument Type” is taken from the list of codes related to “Instrument Type” as described further on. Such archive can be personalized as all the other ones.

Linking of flanges, gaskets, bolts and nuts: straight, two-ways, three-ways and angle flanged components can be inserted completed with the counter flanges and the related gaskets. Furthermore bolts and nuts required for the standard coupling are stored into the gaskets. This linking is established and set through the Working Options dialogue window, where the flange and gasket types are specified and the bolts and nuts insertion is set.

The insertion of this group of objects on a pipeline will be subjected to the control of the existence in Piping Class of the line itself. The group



behaves as a macro-component having the right and left fit points located at the extremes of the counter flanges. The insertion procedure is quite similar to that of a single component.

In Fit to Fit mode the use of groups of flanges, gaskets and bolts and nuts is not provided.

During the automatic insertion of flanged components completed with counter flanges, gaskets and related bolts and nuts, a compatibility check is performed on the Finishing and Rating of the elements of the group. In case incompatibilities are detected a message displays and the command terminates. On the contrary if the components are manually made to fit each other the above described check is not performed. This in order to avoid useless warnings in transitory situations (i.e. when the flanged group is not yet completed) or in order to allow the user to manage particular situations.



4.12. ANGLE COMPONENTS

In the menu 3D Components or Ribbon choose the section of interest.

Angle valves and angle strainers belong to this category. They have two insertion modes similar to 90° elbows, i.e. insertion at the vertex of two axes, and Fit to Fit. The first mode has no options available (except for Zoom) as the position is determined by the axes. They require to specify a point on one of the two axis close to the vertex. The touched axis establishes the component orientation. In Fit to Fit mode angle components are inserted at the extreme of an object in default position. Said position can be changed with the already described options Rotate, Angle, Invert.

4.13. BOLTS AND NUTS

These components are defined through the coupling concept and have no graphic representation. Let us consider a whichever set of components to be joined by bolts or stud bolts. This configuration, called “Coupling”, can be thought as an operation which determines the quantity, the length and the type of required bolts or stud bolts. Couplings are defined within data tables like as other components; they hold the data and quantity of bolts or stud bolts characteristic of that joint with reference to the flanges. Bolts and nuts are inserted through the gaskets which attest the presence of a coupling. To enable this process check the box “Automatic bolts nuts insertion” in the Working Options dialogue window. The default coupling is a gasket between two flanges; it can be found on the coupling table ACCOP001. In case the required coupling is different from the default, the general command



Object Properties must be used on a gasket. In the related dialogue window you can:

Enable or disable Bolts insertion

Choose from the available Typology

Chose from the Bolts available in a Typology

Disabling the standard bolts is useful for a wafer type component between two flanges. We suggest to link the related bolts and nuts set directly to the valve with the concept of the Implicit Materials described further on. In such case make sure that bolts and nuts are not wrongly linked to the gaskets also and if so delete them. In order to make easier the bolts and nuts check the gaskets bringing bolts and nuts are displayed with thick lines while those which do not with thin lines. By the way make sure that the line thickness is enabled through the “LWT” button of the AutoCAD status bar.



4.14. EQUIPMENT AND NOZZLES

The program is capable of managing equipment created with their own parametric graphic functions as well as modelled by the user with AutoCAD and imported from other CADs. But the user equipment must be made of standard solids of AutoCAD in order to be correctly managed by the drawing generation program of ESApro. The procedure Piping Spec has a section dedicated to the definition of Equipment families and the related data structure (for further information see paragraph 7.17 Equipment). Such data structure can be linked to any solid model in the plant through the command Define Equipment of the 3D Piping / Equipment menu.

The program is equipped with several parametric functions for generating various types of vessels, heat exchangers and pumps. Advanced functions are available in order to parametrically modify the equipment dimensions.

Both characteristic data and geometry can be modified through the usual command Object Properties.

The option Geometry offers the same mask used for the creation providing access to all parameters for the modification process at the end of which the equipment component is updated. In this way the user can create his own equipment library. When equipment are recalled from the library their parameters can be either all accepted or partially modified in order to generate a variation of the original. By the way keep in mind that if the library equipment have been modified by the user with respect to the original typology, typically by adding nozzles or other accessories directly modelled with AutoCAD, the program will ignore said modifications and will re-offer the original shape.



Vessels: in the 3D Piping / Equipment menu choose Vessel. The dialogue window in figure is for the fill-in of the characteristic parameters, some of which are automatically suggested by the program (for example the bending radiuses of the caps). Then the user specifies one end of the vessel axis and its direction with the usual tools for the coordinate system positioning. Finally the mask for the entry of the characteristic data displays.

Going back to the parameter mask, note that an option is available for inserting saddles in whichever quantity and position. The parameter B stands for the length of the cylindrical casing. C stands for the end plate height, where applicable. The end plate height value is computed by the program as a function of the values of radiuses R and R2. If the parameter “User Bottom” is blank the height C is equal to that computed and the weld between end plate and cylindrical casing coincide with the tangent at the end plate. But if the “User Bottom” contains a value greater than the computed one, this means that the end plate has a straight piece beyond the tangent. In this case the related trace is shown both in the figure and in the drawn vessel. The end plate height parameter is applicable to “Convex Elliptical” and “Convex Tangential” types.



Reactors: Select Reactors in the menu 3D Piping / Equipment. The program allows to model the various sections of the reactor according to the following figure. If the height of one section is set to 0 such section is not drawn. If necessary saddles can be modelled too. The user must specify two points which define the reactor axis then a dialogue is displayed for entering the parameter values.



Pumps: In the menu 3D Piping / Equipment choose Pump. The program generates horizontal and vertical centrifugal pumps and submersible pumps with the shapes shown in figure.

In the horizontal centrifugal pumps offset and nozzle rotation can be directly entered in the creation mask. The user specifies the first extreme of the pump base and as usual a second point for its positioning. The program models the pump and then displays the mask for filling in the characteristic data.



Exchangers: Three types of exchangers are available, Straight, Kettle type and Plate type. Each of them has options for different geometry of the end plate and for the saddle insertion. The insertion procedure is analogous to that for cylindrical vessels.



User Equipment: any standard solid modelled with AutoCAD can be defined as equipment component through the command “Define Equipment”. Once selected the object assign to the object the equipment type, picking it up from the relevant list defined in the Equipment Table of the Piping Spec procedure, and enter its characteristic data. From now and then the object will be indistinguishable from any original equipment component created by the program.

It is often useful to build new equipment and new user components with the aid of the 3D modelling capabilities of ESApro Piping 3D. For instance a dome to be added to a vessel can be made with a pipe and a cap of the suitable diameter. Or a user valve could be obtained by modifying a standard valve created with the parametric functions of the program. But those data stored into the standard components can cause conflicts with those necessary to the object which is going to be created. In order to overcome this problem the command “Clean Entity” removes the original data from whichever piping object. Therefore said command must be used before adding standard parts to the user equipment or before storing customized components into the library.

Nozzles: In the 3D Components menu choose Nozzles first and then one of the available nozzles or choose it through the Flange toolbar.

This command creates nozzles and inserts them into the equipment (some equipment, both generated by the program and by the user, can already have them). A mask displays for entering the Class and ND of the nozzle. Furthermore you have to specify the nozzle type, i.e. flanged, butt-weld, socket-weld, male or female threaded. The socket/thread depth can be entered in the provided cases. Then the command creates a line complete with pipes and elbows in the same way as the command Follow with Butt-welding Elbows does, but at the



end of the process it inserts the flange. Then the user is called to specify the equipment component the nozzle belongs to and the pipe is cut. The Class in use must contain at least the typologies pipe, butt-welding elbow and flange. The pipeline and the flange become a single object called “Nozzle”. Since it is not integral with the equipment component, within certain limits it is still possible to change its position. A standard line can start from the extreme of the nozzle. It is clear that the command can indifferently operate on both standard and user equipment. The only trick is to create suitable geometrical reference objects, typically axis, as an aid for the nozzle positioning.

If you import a drawing of an equipment with all nozzles already drawn, they will not respond to the requirements of standard nozzles ESApro 3D Piping. To overcome this problem you can create a logical nozzle valid to all intents and purposes, leaning to the axis of the nozzle of the equipment imported. If "Logic nozzle - axis only" is enabled, the command can draw the axis, or select one present, if any. In any case in the axis so created are inserted the data of the nozzle selected in the mask, but did not draw it.



4.15. SUPPORTS

In the menu 3D Piping or Ribbon choose Supports or use the 3D Miscellanea toolbar.

The dialogue window for the choice of the support displays.

Before we get into the command details let us explain the logic which the program treats the supports with. The purpose is to create in the 3D environment just support mock-ups, precisely positioned and with dimensions close to the actual sizes. For this reason these objects are parameterized as a function of the pipe diameter. The shape is quite realistic in order to quickly realize the typology of the support but stylized as, on the other hand, it happens for valves, strainers and other piping components. The support height is precise. Data linked to the support provide all the basic necessary information for the detailed drawings.



Supports are organized in categories pedestals, hangers, elbow type and vertical risers. In addition there are collars which can be combined with the above mentioned categories. Furthermore each of these supports can exist in a stiff, adjustable and elastic typology.

Supports are defined in the Piping Spec procedure at the item Support. The program is equipped with approximately seventy parametric supports. The Modify button enables the user to change the description only, which will be used in the bills of materials. Otherwise new definitions can be added through the button Insert which is a mask similar to the Modify one where the user can enter, besides the description in five languages, the support category (pedestal, hanger etc.) and the support type (rigid, elastic etc.). Supports defined by this procedure can be graphically represented either by a logical symbol or by an user drawing or by a previously created model stored in the data base.



Let us see now the insertion of a support into the 3D model. In the command mask first choose the category (Pedestal, Hanger, Angle…) then the typology (Rigid, Adjustable, Elastic…) in the pull down list and at last the support in the list at the bottom. Now specify the graphic representation of the support. Three choices are available:

o Physical, provided that the chosen support is a predefined one, it is drawn in a realistic form by the parametric function. This kind of representation is not available for user supports.

o Logical, whichever support can be represented with a 2D symbol. It can be used in order to specify a point of support on a concrete or steel structure in order to give information needed for stress analysis. To this purpose the support height is also required even if not graphically represented. Furthermore the logical supports are useful when the physical representation of supports is not required in 2D drawings. On the other hand logical supports are transferred to the isometrics generated automatically with the already explained procedures.

o User block, whichever support, those predefined and provided with parametric functions also, can be represented with an user model. In this case, in order to fill in all support data, the height will be required as well, even if the dimensions of the user object will anyhow be respected.

In the isometric environment all support types are represented by a 2D symbol.

Once chosen the support specify a point on the axis of a pipeline. Then the program asks for the support height and the command line shows the following options:

Support height from pipe axis or [Plane/Elevation/Rotate/Angle/

Vertical]:

Input a numeric value or press Enter in order to confirm the last used height, otherwise use one of the above mentioned options.



Plane, extends the support height from the point specified on the line up to the reference plane icon.

Elevation, sets the support base at the same elevation of the point to be specified on the drawing, for instance the top of a framework.

The option Elevation does not apply to angle supports.

The above described procedures are supposed to work with the support in vertical position. Anyhow it is possible to rotate the coordinate system around the pipe either at steps of 90° with the option Rotate or of a given angle with the option Angle before creating the support.

Pedestals are built along the negative Y axis of the local coordinate system. On the contrary hangers are built along the positive Y axis. Keep this in mind when you need to correctly position not vertical supports.

Only in case of stiff pedestals the option Vertical is provided which gives the possibility of positioning a vertical support below a sloping pipe instead of a support perpendicular to the pipe axis. But in this case the initial position of insertion of the support along the pipe axis cannot be changed. In fact a subsequent sliding of the support along the sloping pipe is not allowed since it would change the elevation of the low end of the support.

Once established the height the program creates the support which is ready to be positioned. Pedestals and hangers behave like the already known straight components. In fact the support can slide along the pipe and with the same proper options of straight components, not repeated here, can be dropped on a reference point found with Pipe-Snap, rotated, fit or positioned at a given distance from an auxiliary point.



In order to insert elbow supports, just specify the elbow. Once the height has been established only the option Rotate is available which position them along one of the two concurrent axes of the elbow.

In order to insert vertical risers, i.e. those supports holding up vertical pipes, first specify the position along the pipe and then set the height. For this type of support the dynamical positioning along the pipe is not available.

The support BOM is generated with the same method already described in chapter 6 for piping components.

Since the program does not allow the AutoCAD command "Copy" to insert a support or a line component, a newly dedicated command "Copy Support" has been created in the same tool bar next to the insertion one. It selects at least one support, among those just described and a number of related supports such as other supports, beams, plates or foundation. The main support must be chosen first and drives the positioning of the couples on the new location .

The command starts with:

Select the reference support:

It is the support for the positioning of couples. The program gives a warning when the selected item is not a support and then continues with :

Select other supports or support components:

It is possible to add other supports or objects such as beams, plates or foundation. The program warns the user when items not allowed such as angle supports, line components and pipe parts in general are selected. When conditions are satisfied (ex: parallel lines) the supports of different lines can be copied at the same time. Once ended the selection the program continues with :

Select an axis or [Multiple]:



Indicate an ax pipe, which can be the same one the original support lays on or whichever else. Or as an alternative the option “Multiple “ as described further on. The program continues with the same refining positioning procedure and also used for the insertion of single supports or line components in general.

Specify point or (Zoom/ zoom Prev/ Alignment/ Invert/ Rotate/

aNgle/ Distance):

If the selected ax is not parallel to the original the new copy is aligned with the new ax. When necessary the support can be mirrored from one side to the other through the option “Invert”. The program deletes those copies ending upon axes with a diameter differing from the original.

The option “Multiple” creates one copy more times and the program displays:

Direction and distance of array step:

Position the cursor along the axis in the correct direction and digit the wished distance between the elements of the series. As an alternative digit the distance from the original one with the addition of another point. The program continues with

Number of copies:

Digit the number of copies , the original support included. Even in this case, if the conditions are satisfied,(ex: parallel lines) the supports belonging to different lines can be copied at the same time.

At last the program assigns to the new supports generated from the copy the correct data belonging to different lines.



In the figure aside the U-Bolt on the right has been copied on the pipe on the left . The alignment of the two supports has been easily accomplished through a touch on the support on the right and using the point projected on the pipe on the left.

In this example the whole group, where supports belonging to different lines are present, has been copied in series along the original lines.

In this example the support on the left has been copied on the same line, but on a differently orientated zone. If necessary the copy can be mirrored in respect to the axes through the option “Invert”. The option “Distance” from one of the bends on the left is used for the positioning.



4.16. STEELWORK AND STAIRS

The program provides a module for drawing the most common commercial beams so to facilitate the insertion of metallic structures. It is also possible to define herein doors and columns, range poles, cantilevers, stairs, handrails stairways. The program can generate a list of beams with the details of Type, Material, Length and Weight included, except for banisters and gangways.

The module described here is used for the modelling of steelwork. Besides standard shapes, routines are provided for creating portals, columns, stairs and gangways.

The Ribbon, and the Toolbar 3D Piping / Steelworks menu provides access to the Structural library. A dialogue window showing the shape icons displays.

The library provides: IPN, IPE, HE, U shapes, equal and unequal angles, T, round, square and rectangular pipes, round, square and flat bars. Objects are generated parametrically on the basis of the standard dimensions pre-stored into the library. Different descriptions and



dimensions can be inserted in the "Beams" table available in the " Spec. Management" menu described further..

In order to draw a shape perform the following steps:

o Enable the shape dialogue window

o Choose the shape type

o Choose the size

o As an option choose the material

o Select the desired reference of the beam axis between the nine available ones.

Since the command can draw more then one beam the tag can be set only modifying the beam itself.

The “Beam support” tag is acknowledged as being a part of a building support. Only available on the “ESApro support” extra module.

Indicate to the prompt below the first end of the beam axis through the usual options or through the AutoCAD object snaps.

From point or [Line/ SSnap] <Enter to Exit>:

The “SSnap” option allows the user to indicate the first point referring to the snaps of another beam, as for the “Snap” function on Piping. The red snaps are at the end of the beam, even when cut sideways and in the middle point, as in figure. The real length of the beam is considered to be that of the

box surrounding the beam. The position of the middle section is calculated afterwards.

Other quite useful snaps can be found on the structure elements, such as plates and support. One SSnap point is also at the centre of the icon of the reference planes.



As an alternative the “Line” option allows to use as an axis one or more lines (the AutoCAD line, not a pipe axis). The lines can be selected one by one or through the window. The beams are drawn by aligning the lines with the desired reference of the mask. The lines are then moved to a layer and named in order to be acknowledged as axis to project on the 2D tables. The beams are conventionally oriented on horizontal, vertical or inclined axis. The orientation can be later modified.

In any case the program requires the following point:

To point or [SSnap/Plane/Icon/Right/Left/aNgle/Rotate]:

Select the second point or use the available options. The second point can be found with a whatsoever length and by indicating a direction with the mouse.

The “SSnap” option allows other structures to align with other structures.

“Plane” allows the extension of the beam to the chosen reference plane. See Pipes for the application of the same concepts to apply to the planes.

The “Icon” option allows, when necessary, the insertion of the reference symbol icon.

“Left”, “Right”, “Top", aNgle”, “Rotate", allow the orientation of the XYZ coordinate system, as for the drawings of pipes.

Now the program draws the beam with the desired length and direction and it requires n new points to create more beams one after the other until the “Enter” command.



The “Adjust” and “Move“ options are added as soon as the first beam has been created.

To point or [SSnap/Plane/Icon/Adjust/Move/Left/Right/Top]:

“Adjust” has the following options:

Move through the numeric arrows or (Rotate/aNgle/) <Enter to

terminate>:

The symbol at the two ends visualizes the "reference point/rotation axis" and four arrows.

The 90° rotation around the current axis is applied through the “Rotate” option or either through the “aNgle” option. It is also possible, through the use of the numeric arrows (Bloc Num Lock) to shift the profile section to make

the axis beam coincide with one of the nine points of the grid in the figure. These red arrows are associated to the keyboard horizontal arrows and the green to the vertical ones, even when, soon after a rotation, the arrows associated to the beam are inclined. This function facilitates the alignment with the other beams.

The “Move” option allows to move the last created beam. The move reference point is the second created beam point. This technique allows the user to draw a beam on a secure reference point first, (the end of another beam) and then shift it with a given distance from the previous reference point. The command then continues with the second point of the shifted beam.

It is possible to modify an existing beam through the “Correct Data” command or just with a double click. The “Adjust” option also allows to change the typology, dimension, rotation and position of a beam. The following commands allow further modifications.



Trim/Extend shape: allows to cut or extend the selected shape end:

Select the cut/extension plane of the beam [Face/Plane] <Enter

Face>:

The “trim/extension” plane can be a reference plane or the plane face of a solid in the drawing. In this last case select an edge and one of the two shared sides: The commands being:

Click to continue or (Accept/Next) <Accept>:

“Next”: click in between the two faces sharing the edge. “Accept” confirms it. The chosen side is clearly highlighted.

Once set the plane continue:

Select the shape end to trim or extend:

When the plane is inside the beam this is cut, if not it is extended up to the plane. When the plane is oblique the beam is cut in accordance.

Fillet Shape allows to join two beams as in the figure through the selection of the desired ends. The two ends do not need to coincide as the beams are cut or extended as needed. The beams should be equal, coplanar, and coherently oriented. Use the Cut/EXtension command in order to make adjustments

Increase/Decrease length: allows the user to change the length of a beam by pulling one of the ends. Digit a proper length, positive to add or negative to cut. The AutoCAD snaps are useful to select the objects around. Such points are projected on the beams so to align the new end with the existing references. The program displays then the newly created full length. In case the beam end is tapered the tapering is lost.



Subtract to shape, allows one to shape the end of a beam by using other beams or solid objects. The command requires first the objects to shape and afterwards the shaping ones. Any two groups of solid objects, not necessarily beams, can be used also whenever it is necessary not to join the shaped objects neither loose the objects used to shape. That would happen when using the “Subtract” AutoCAD command.

In the following pages are described some complex parametric objects which can be drawn by referring to all or part of the beams just described.



Pipe Racks, Columns, Range, Poles Squares: the commands enable the construction of specific structures whose beam components are selected by the user. It is possible to set the dimensions of the beams and the characteristics of the structure, and the number and the distance of the structures when repeated. Several options are available such as the insertion of cantilevers, or base plate. In drawing are required the starting point as well as the direction so to indicate where the structures copies must be drawn. Each beam can be still modified so to cope with an odd exception or to correct the standard positions of the program.



Staircase, this command creates stairs with the parameters shown in the dialogue window. Options are provided for adding railings and landings. Treads and landings can be made of gratings. In order to position the object you have to specify the starting point and the direction shown by the red arrow in the figure. Single pieces of railings can be drawn, if needed, with the command described further on.



Rung Ladder, this command creates ladders with the parameters shown in the dialogue window. Also the guard-cage is provided with frontal and side exit. In order to position the object you have to specify the starting point corresponding to the low right point of the ladder and the direction. When creating the object the program asks whether anchor plates are required and, if so, their insertion points. Once created the ladder can be rotated either of 15° step by step or of whichever specified angle. The rotation axis lies in the middle of the ladder on the bearing plane.

Both stairs and ladders answer to the usual Object properties command offering the dialogue window with the current parameter values which can be freely modified. Then the object is updated with the new values keeping the original insertion point and direction.



Spiral Staircase, creates a spiral staircase with the values entered by the user.

The generation method can be "Tread Width and Height" or "Number of Treads and Angle" which can be clockwise or counterclockwise. Steps can be made of plate or grating. Optionally the central column and the handrails are provided. The insertion point is the bottom center of the column. The staircase parameters can be modified through the "Object Properties" command or double click.



Landings, this command creates a landing of sheet or grindings and with the border shape selected in the dialogue window shown at side. In order to draw it you can specify a set of points or select a polyline which can contain arcs also. The program gives the additional chance of selecting inner contours that will be subtracted from the landing in order to generate openings for the passage of pipes or equipment. The option “Keep outline polyline” re-uses the polyline for instance so to create a railing.

Railings, this command creates a railing by entering the relevant data in the dialogue window shown at side. Even in this case you can specify a set of points or select a circle or a polyline as well. The parameter “Offset distance from path” allows to centre a railing at a defined distance from the thread of a supporting beam.



Rectangular Plate, enables the drawing of a rectangular plate with two or four holes. The available parameters can dimension the plate, the holes and their position. It is possible to choose the material of the plate. The drawing is made on the current XY plane and its thickness seen along the Z plane. When needed use the “UCS positioning” command to position the XY plane. The program then requires two points in order to position and align the plate. Some “SSnap” points are then inserted on the edges and on the main points of the plate so to facilitate the structure positioning.

Generic Plate, allows the user to draw any forms of plates. The drawing is performed on the current “XY” plane with the thickness along the “Z” plane. When needed use the “UCS positioning” command to position the XY plane where desired. In the mask it is possible to select material and thickness. The command then displays:

Select first point or [Polyline-Circle/Rectangle]:

It is possible to define the frame through few points. Otherwise with the option “Polyline-circle” can be used a circle or an existing poliline. The “Rectangle” option provides a rectangular frame, The command terminates with the insertion of the thickness of the desired frame.

The plates are acknowledged as parts of a constructive support by thicking on “Plate support”. This option is available with the “ESApro Supports” extra module only.



4.17. 2D DRAWINGS GENERATION

The menu 3D Piping / 2D Viewports supplies a series of tools for the generation of orthographic drawings from a 3D model and organizes them on the sheet. The whole process is performed with the aid of AutoCAD PaperSpace environment. The title block insertion will be described first since it contains the basic function of delimiting and highlighting the area dedicated to the drawing and therefore we suggest to insert it before creating drawings.

In the menu 3D Piping choose 2D Viewports / Insert Title Block. The dialogue window for the file selection is displayed. Some standard title blocks named 3DPA3-A0 are available in the program installation directory but whichever title block is suitable. Once selected the file the program inserts the title block in the PaperSpace of AutoCAD, zooms at the maximum extension and terminates. If the title block contains the fields Project, Drawing number and Revision provided by the program, they are automatically filled in with the values set in the Working Options dialogue window. See the Title Block customization section. Said customization is not compulsory.

Now we can deal with the views definition and profiles and sections generation. The first step is the creation of windows dedicated to contain the model from a suitable viewpoint. The second step automatically performs the generation of profiles and sections of the objects contained in each window with the standard 2D entities of AutoCAD (lines, arcs, circles..) projected on the drawing plane. In case of model modifications it is enough to perform the profile generation once again.

Let us see in detail the necessary operations for the creation of views.



2D Viewports / New Viewport, displays a control panel for setting the direction the model is observed from. On the right side there are several options:

Standard, at first shows the plan view. If you click around the blue square around the writing “PIANTA” an arrow appears which points out the direction of the viewpoint through this convention: the blue square stands for the model seen from upwards and the arrow for the operator’s eye. Therefore a front view is obtained by clicking close to the low side, a lateral right view by clicking close to the right side and so on. Isometric views are obtained by clicking close to the corners. Once made the selection press Create in order to display the view on the drawing at the set scale. Then two points are requested to size the window which will bound the area of interest; in such a way it is possible to define even a partial view. At last the window can be moved to the final position clicking on the sheet. If "Create scale Label" is selected a text to that shows the scale of the view is inserted. The option applies to all types of view.The grey options will be available only after a standard view have been created.

Auxiliary, sets the point of view through two angles, one in the XY plane and the other one of elevation from the XY plane.

Orthogonal, creates an orthographic view from a pre-existing one. First you have to specify one side of the box surrounding the view which will



represent the point of view and then position the obtained view. The views can be kept aligned using the ortho mode.

Section, defines one or two section planes on an existing view. Then the program asks for two points in order to define the first section plane. This is meant to be perpendicular to the current view plane and to be leaning accordingly to the position of the two points. Furthermore, if needed, a second section parallel to the first one can be defined just specifying a third point. In this last case only the layer of plant between the two planes will be displayed. Then a further point is required in order to specify the side the sectioned model is looked at from. The resulting section will be generated in accordance with the selected points. Finally the view can be freely repositioned. If "Draw section plane" is selected a trace of the section plane will be drawn. A text will also be added with the title of the section.

Model, sets the point of view accordingly with the current position of the 3D model.

Box, creates a plain view of the volume of a parallelepiped, identified by the two ends of its diagonal. This make easier to divide a big plant in areas corresponding to the 2D views.

Scale, set the reduction scale of the drawing with respect to the model. We remind that in PaperSpace it is better to insert the title block in a 1:1 scale and then suitably resize the objects represented within the windows and print in 1:1 scale.

Shaded view, enables and disables the shading in the selected windows. It is a rather good system for viewing and printing 2D drawings. An even better effect is obtained by superimposing 2D



profiles to the shading as described further on. By assigning transparent materials for instance to equipment or steelwork also the pipelines laying behind are visible. Furthermore the color of pipes can be useful in order to recognize their service or the fluid. In case of large models shading can to slow down performances therefore we suggest to enable it just before printing.

Erase viewport, removes views from the drawing. Also 2D lines, dimensions and notes are removed with this command.

Move viewport, selects one or more views and repositions them. The operation can be iterated by clicking on the drawing until the desired result is achieved. It is important to move the windows with this command not with AutoCAD since in this way 2D lines, dimensioning and notes are moved simultaneously.

Draw profiles, this command displays a dialogue window displays for the set up of the various options of 2D profiles generation. Then it requires the selection of one or more views by clicking on it.



Projection mode, sets the various options “Keep original colours” “Keep original layers and colours” and “Monochrome”. The first and the second option keep the characteristics of the objects of the 3D model while the last one changes all colours to black and matches the above described Shaded View mode. In all cases the 2D profiles of each 3D or 2D entity of the model are projected on PaperSpace. Except for the “Keep original layers and colours” mode all the created lines are placed on the layer “2D_Profiliv”. Otherwise the original layers are kept. If they are many, typically in case of external references (XREF) the command performances can result slightly deteriorated. Furthermore the process of profile generation keeps the frozen layers of the model. In such way you can leave some typologies of objects out of the 2D view, such as steels and equipment.

Select objects to project, adds or removes specific groups of objects from the 2D projection without any need of freezing the related layers of the 3D model:

o The pipe axes.

o The possible external references enclosed into the 3D model.

o The hatches which are often used in order to represent gratings and can inhibit the vision of the underlying objects.

o The gaskets.

o The hidden lines. If the lines hidden by other objects are kept visible they display in dashed mode. The hidden lines are generated on the 2D_ProfiliH layer which the user can then freely manage.

Insert section symbols, searches for all the sectioned pipes of a view and automatically inserts the section symbol .

Cut 2D profiles intersecting a window frame, in partial views or when the window is smaller than the model , it cuts all those lines intersecting the frame. Remember to disable the cutting process in case the window frames interfere with the projections of another one and also not to



sharply cut an equipment or a valve. In this case the cutting of the remaining objects must be manually made.

The above described process generates a 2D drawing in AutoCAD PaperSpace. The process duration depends on the model size and on the computer power. As an example the generation of five views of the drawing as in the Tutorial of this manual has taken less than one minute while very large models will not take more than ten minutes for a viewport.

Set views, is used for controlling the visualization mode of the objects enclosed in a view and displays the following options:

o 2D Profiles, displays the objects with the 2D profiles

o 3D Model, displays the 3D model and hides the 2D profiles. By the way possible dimensions and annotations are still visible.

Layer to display, is an aid for the managing the visualization of axes, dimensions, notes and hidden lines.

Border On/off displays/hides the view boxes. We remind that in PaperSpace boxes which enclose the model views are considered objects. Standard AutoCAD commands work on them. This command is quite suitable for changing the window dimensions through the grips of their border which necessarily must be visible while they would not while printing. Anyhow borders are not printed even if visible.

Pipe section, this command asks for the selection of an arc, a circle or an ellipse and draws a cross-section symbol on it. Otherwise the Auto option searches for all the sectioned pipes on the selected window.

Break pipe, this command asks for two points on a pipeline axis and breaks the pipe in the between so showing the objects in the background.

Insulation. If a pipeline displayed on a 2D drawing is



insulated, that is to say when at the moment of the line creation the insulation thickness has been set to a non zero value, pieces of insulation can be represented along the pipeline itself. The command requires to specify two points on the axis of a pipeline and then draws a piece of insulation where the outer diameter derives from the insulation thickness value. In case the line is not insulated a warning message is given.

Flow, this command asks for one point on a pipeline axis and draws the flow direction symbol. The option Reverse changes the direction.



4.18. WORKING TOOLS

In the 3D Piping menu choose Tools

The following utility commands are available:

o Set UCS, keyboard shortcut X. This command sets the coordinate system. It almost has all the same options like the Line command of ESApro, which we refer to. The coordinate system origin is set on the current point by clicking left button. The main purpose of this command is to set a precise coordinate system to be used for the execution of a following command of modelling or editing. The options Icon and Clear are respectively for the creation and deletion of the icon representing the three orthogonal planes used for the lines routing. L'opzione ../Tubazioni/... stabilisce le direzioni per la ricerca dei percorsi automatici dell'asse tubazioni. For further information see the Line command.

o Centered 3DOrbit, launches the AutoCAD command 3Dorbit, but first sets the point around which the operations of model rotation are performed. Without this option the rotation center is often far from the area of interest which can easily disappear from the screen. Snaps for the point setting are enabled to make easier the hooking-on to existing objects.

o Hide section, hides the selected line or the selected objects. The selection is made in agreement with the AutoCAD standards unless the Line Grouping has been enabled in the Working Options. In such case the pointing of a single component causes the whole line to be selected. This command is particularly useful to set the working area free from undesired parts of the plant. The state of hiding is temporary; a drawing regeneration restores the original visibility of the hidden objects.

o Exclude/Include from BOM, once selected a set of objects with the already explained methods, it assigns them a particular type of line (its appearance is a dashed line) which marks them as excluded from the bills of materials. The command Include performs the opposite operation.

o Visualize insulation, selects an entity, a line or all and draws the

insulation. The command allows the visually checking of the

proximity of the insulation with the close pipes. Once performed the



check-out the insulation can be deleted. The 2D visualization of the insulation has been explained in the previous chapter.

o Plant Zero Point, overrides the plant origin which by default is set to the WCS one. The command shows the symbol in figure in the current origin and allows to set a new position. The option [Absolute] resets the Plant Zero Point at the WCS origin. The elevation dimensions and coordinate values in the 2D drawings and isometrics will be referenced to the above mentioned point.

o Find line, finds and highlights the lines, that is all objects which share the same line number (components, equipment, nozzles and objects with the “Uncertain” mark).

Lines, by clicking on whichever object of a line it is highlighted. A subsequent Enter terminates the command and the highlighting is set off. Otherwise by typing-in “LI” or Enter, the line list is generated and displayed in a suitable window where you can select a line which is then found and highlighted.

Components, if you choose the “Tag” option you are asked to enter a component Tag, which will be found and highlighted. Otherwise if you press “L” the component list is generated where you can select that to be found.

Nozzles, generates the list of the nozzles with the indication of the equipment they belong to. Then the selected nozzle is highlighted. Now you can press “Enter” in order to perform the search of all nozzles with the same name.

Equipment, displays the equipment list and highlights that selected. Now you can press “Enter” in order to perform the search of all equipment with the same name.

Stake, displays the stake’s list. Once selected and highlighted a

stake a search will start to find all stakes with the same name.



Hold, highlights all the components marked as “Hold”. We remind that the command “Object Properties” allows to assign a component the Tag and the “Hold” characteristic.

o Line grouping, makes easier the selection of all the objects of a given line. Once set this option, all components belonging to a given line are selected just touching one of them with the cursor. The selection set obtained in such way can be passed on to whichever AutoCAD command requiring an object selection.

o Match P&ID, creates the list of lines or components of the P&IDs of the same Project and marks the lines or components already present in the Piping 3D model with [+].

o Regenerate groups, check the lines and regenerates the original groupings in case the line selection is incorrect cause of an unexpected problem.

o Update line, performs a full line regeneration. It is useful after a revision of the line Class. Components are re-drawn with new dimensions and their descriptive data updated. If some component has been removed from Piping Class it will be highlighted. The process is quite similar to that of the Object Properties command.



4.19. CONTROLS

In the 3D Piping menu or Ribbon choose CONTROLS.

We are going now to examine a number of commands of general utility.

In the 3D Piping menu choose Controls/Interference Check.

Interference Check

It is possible to check whether plant components interfere with each other. The only objects taken into consideration are the standard AutoCAD solids, i.e. all objects created by ESApro Piping 3D and those generated by the user through the solid modelling functions of AutoCAD. All elements constituted by surfaces and solids embedded into blocks are excluded. If an interference is found the program marks the interference region with a magenta ring in case of hard interferences (between components) and with a blue ring in case of interferences between components and insulation or between insulation pieces. Furthermore the program can draw the interference solid, i. e. the solid common to the interfering elements. Marks lay on the layer “3DP_Interf” which can be frozen until the examination of all detected interference will be carried out. The mode of operation of this command can be set through the Working Options dialogue window. It is possible to set the colour of the marks the program places around the interferences, both hard and soft. The program also controls the interspaces between pipes. Finally it allows or not the drawing of the interference object.



The soft interference check presupposes that insulation thickness different from zero has been assigned to lines through the suitable field in the line creation mask. In fact insulation is not physically represented in the model but only stored between the line characteristics. In fact it is possible to temporarily display the insulation through the command “3Dpiping /Instrumentation/display insulation”. This information will then be passed to the bill of materials generation program. Furthermore the environment dedicated to the 2D drawings generation uses this value to represent pieces of insulation around the pipelines. In case that both soft and hard interferences are detected on the same point, only the mark representing the hard one is drawn in order to simplify the display.

Interspaces are evaluated as follows:

° In case of not insulated pipes checks that the desired space exists between pipes and flanges or between pipes .

° When the pipes are insulated checks that the desired space exists between the outer insulation or between the insulation and the flanges.

With this command three options are available:

Select an option [Selection/All/Delete symbols] <Enter for

Selection>:

1. Selection, selects part of the plant components with the usual AutoCAD tools and then performs the interference check on the selected components only. This option is very useful, especially in case of large models, for the minimization of the time response and unnecessary controls of objects very far one from the other are avoided.

2. All, performs the check on all components of the model. This choice can obviously involve a very long length of time depending on the computer performances and the model dimension. We suggest to control through the previous option a number of zones, especially when they cannot interfere one with the other

3. Delete symbols, removes all marks and interference solids generated by the command.



Interference check can be performed also in real time while drawing a pipeline. By default this option is disabled and can be enabled through the Working Options dialogue window. In this case also the check mode is controlled through the above described option window. Thus it is possible to perform on-line the hard and soft detection or the hard one only. While drawing a line each new object is submitted to the check of interference with the surrounding objects and if an interference is found the already described marks are set. We point out that the real time interference check can cause the system performances to slow down especially if the insulation check is enabled.

Connection Check

The command has three options:

Select a line or [All/Delete symbols]:

1. This command requires the selection of whichever component of a line. Then the program checks whether all the line components are connected. In such case the line will have just two ends

and the program refer the

absence of discontinuity. Otherwise when there are more than two ends they all are marked with red rings and the program reports the existence of disconnections for the necessary remedial operations on the disconnected components. The program report a discontinuity also in presence of Tee or Olet not jet connected. Before searching the line ends the program performs an interference check also. This is very useful in case of overlapping components, difficult to detect otherwise, which can be wrongly generated by the commands for the automatic line dressing. In case of a positive interference check , the program asks to correct the interference before making the connection check.

2. All, selects the whole drawing and searches for the disconnections through the modalities already described.



3. Delete Symbols, erases all tags on the drawing.

We point out that a disconnection, even minimal, can inhibit the execution of some subsequent operations which require the correct connection of the components of a line, and in particular the automatic isometrics extraction. By the way in order to build a perfectly connected line no particular caution is required, it will be enough to properly use the commands for the component insertion provided by the program.

End-types and Ratings Check

The command has four options:

Select an option [Select/Lines/All/Delete symbols] <Enter to

select>

2 Select, performs the check-out of one part of the drawing and highlights the possible couplings between flanged components, flanges or gaskets and the related bolts and nuts whose Rating or End-types do not match each other. Incompatible objects are labelled by the program with a yellow mark.

3 Lines, performs the check out on the selected lines.

4 All, the same on the whole drawing

5 Delete symbols, erases all tags from the drawing.

We point out that the above described check is performed also during the automatic insertion of flanged components equipped with counter flanges, gaskets and related bolts and nuts while it is not when said components are manually inserted one by one. This to avoid tedious warnings in transitory situations, that is when the flanged group of components is not yet complete, and also to allow the user to build configurations of components out of standard.



Out of Class

The command has three options:

Select a line or [All/Delete symbols]

1. Select one line, verifies that a component whose definition has been deleted from pipe Class is not on one or more selected lines If it is, it is highlighted with a blue ring.

2. All, performs the same procedure on the whole drawing

3. Delete symbols, erases all tags from the drawing.

Delete All

In one go it deletes all tags indicating interferences, disconnections, incompatible rating coupling and end-types , as well as out of class.



4.20. WORKING OPTIONS

In the menu 3D Piping or Ribbon choose Working Options, keyboard shortcut O.

A dialogue window for the setting of many parameters affecting the program operation displays:

o “Current Database”, is the working database shown on the status line of AutoCAD also. For more information about its creation see further on “Piping Specs”. Each database can have different definitions of Classes, Libraries and Projects. In such way each project can be secluded in a Database which can be modified without affecting projects belonging to other Databases. Therefore we suggest to create one Project only for each Project Database even if more than one can be created. At a drawing closure the current database is memorized and set by default once the drawing will be opened again. The database of a drawing can be changed but afterwards the new Classes must be re-assigned to the lines.



o “Project, Drawing No., Revision, Sheet”, are mandatory identifying data used for storing drawing data into the Project Database. In case such data are not set they will be requested at the moment of data extraction. At first the Revision field can be blank. Note that the Project name cannot be typed in but must be selected from the related list. A new Project is created through the procedure “Piping Specs”. A mask displays for entering the new Project code and its mnemonic description. The command 3DPiping/Option/Project initializes the process to create the default parameters, which can be modified, as well as the project. (See Chapter 6 Projects for a detailed list of the various available options).

o Automatic flange insertion, enables the automatic insertion of the counter flanges at the insertion of flanged components. The counter flanges are those provided by the Piping Class. Possible alternatives are displayed in a suitable dialogue window where the user can make a choice. We remind that the flange finishing and rating must be compatible with that of the other elements of the group.

o Automatic gasket insertion, enables the automatic insertion of the gasket at the insertion of flanges. The gaskets are those provided by the Piping Class. Possible alternatives are displayed in a suitable dialogue window where the user can make the choice.

o Automatic bolts and nuts insertion, adds to every gasket the bolts and nuts provided by Piping Class for the default coupling.

o For components or valves, the visualisation of the data window soon after the object has been inserted. The reason for that is the prompt tag compilation in case the user adopts the manual insertion.

o Fabricated branches allowed, enables the creation of a fabricated branch even if such type of branch is not provided by the Piping Class. It is of use just in order to temporarily visualize the branch during a transitory step of the modelling. Afterwards the user shall take care of superimposing the correct branch according to the Piping Class.

o Choose first component in Class, controls the program behaviour in presence of alternatives in Piping Class. If for a given component and for a given nominal diameter one or more alternatives in Piping



Class are available(for instance two slip-on flanges having different finishing) the program will automatically take the first item of Class if the option check box is enabled otherwise it will offer a dialogue window with the list of the available options where the user can make a choice

o Use symbol for instruments, performs the symbolic drawing of the related instruments. See the insertion of straight components.

o Min. length for auto routing, when a path generated by the automatic routing reaches a nozzle in a transversal direction with respect to its axis the program adds a segment along the nozzle axis itself. The length of such segment can be set as a multiple of the pipeline outer diameter. The default value is three times the diameter, such value being in most cases sufficient to accommodate an elbow.

o Interference check, displays a dialogue window where it is possible

to set the operation modes for the command which performs the interference check. For more information see the paragraph dedicated to this subject further on in the following chapter. If the check-box On-line Interference Check is not enabled the automatic interference detection does not operate during the line generation.

o Paste data from P&ID, this option enables the program to get tags data from a P&I valve or component. This operation is performed in the “Object Properties” windows.

o Layer management…, this dialogue window controls the layering of the components of a plant. In the making of big plants, it is extremely important for the management and the control of the 2D drawings. In fact it is better to simplify the visualization in order to work on an area over filled with objects, or when creating 2D drawings divided by Zones, Services or other. Both procedures are activated by switching on and off a layer and in order to perform such tasks the user can



separately manage the layer creation of line piping and supports, or the layer of the equipment or of the steel work. Besides it is possible to define the defaults’ colours. The layers are automatically created as it follows.

Piping Layer, has 4 different modalities to manage the piping line:

Set, creates three layers to the set layer. The axes are named 3DP_AXIS_… and the set layer’s name. The Piping components are named 3DP_PIPE_… and the set layer’s name. The supports are named 3DP_SUPP_… and the set layer’s name. It allows the drawings of lines independently layered from the current layer.

Line, creates three layers for each new line. The axes are named 3DP_AXIS…, followed by the line number. The Piping components are named 3DP_PIPE_... followed by the line number and the supports are named 3DP_SUPP_... followed by the line number.



*Service – Fluid, creates three layers for each new Service or Type of Fluid. The axes are named 3DP_AXIS_… followed by the name of the Service or Type of Fluid. The Piping components are named 3DP_PIPE_… followed by the name of the Service or Type of Fluid. The supports are named 3DP_SUPP_… followed by the Service or Type of Fluid name. In this case on the Creation Line mask the Service or Type of Fluid are compulsory.

Current, creates three different layers for the current layer. The axes are named 3DP_AAXIS_… plus the current layer’s name. The Piping components are named 3DP_PIPE_… and the current layer name. The supports are named 3DP_SUPP_… and the current layer’s name.

Equipment Layer, has two different options for the management of the equipment layers.

Current, creates two layers. One for the equipment named 3DP_EQUIP_… and the current layer’s name. One for the axes 3DP_AXEQ_… and the current layer’s name.

Structure Layering, has two options for the management of the steel work.

Current, creates one layer for the structure, 3DP_STRU_… and the current layer’s name.

Set, creates one layer for the structure 3DP_STRU_… and the set layer’s name.

Default Layer Colours, assigns three different colours to the axes layers, to the piping components and to the supports. It also assigns one colour to the Equipment and the Structure layers. We underline the fact that this command assigns preset colours to the layers during their creation. It has not been created to modify nor to erase what



already done. Once created one layer it can only be modify and so its colour through the AutoCAD commands.

There also are layer filters on the AutoCAD layer management filter window where they can be easily found.



4.21. OBJECT PROPERTIES

In the menu 3D Piping or Ribbon choose Object Properties, keyboard shortcut XL, or just double-clicking on the object.

This command is dedicated to the visualization and modification of components. Its behaviour depends on the type of the object selected. In general for components an information table similar to that in figure is offered where “Tag” is the only field which can be modified. Tag can be taken from the corresponding P&ID also. If you press the button “Paste” a mask displays where you can select one of the components belonging to the same P&ID line and get its Tag.

For gaskets you can set the related bolts and nuts also. If equipment are selected their descriptive and geometrical data can be modified. If a line axis is selected the whole pipeline is highlighted and a mask



displays identical to that used for the line creation. Any field can be modified. We are going to analyse the nature of various line data and the result of their modification:

In the second page we can find eight custom fields and the note field which can be customized through the procedure described in the “Specs Management” environment.

But if the pipe axis, that is to say the logical line, is selected, the line is highlighted and a mask displays identical to that used for its creation, where all its data can be changed at will. We suggest to make a distinction between the typology of the line data and the related editing:

o Line Number, logically groups all line segments and components which share it. Therefore it is the key to the selection of objects belonging to it. In general the change of the line number affects all these objects except when the diameter changes along the line itself. In fact the presence of a reducer, for the editing purpose, divides the line in two distinct branches and allows their separate modification. In such a way a new line can be created just assigning



a different number to the upstream or downstream line. If the line number is part of the line tagging, it will be automatically updated.

o Class – ND, the modification of these data can imply dimensional changes on the line components whose consequences are difficult to control or foresee even because of the possible interaction with contiguous lines. The “Edit Data” command provides a function which tries to automatically update the line whose ND or Class have been changed and all the contiguous line interested by this change (see figure).

“Line Updating “ brings up to date the data.

“Line undressing” updates the axes with new data and removes all the old components.. This procedure can be useful whenever it is not possible or useful to implement the final result with a replacement of old components with new ones.

As a consequence of a ND or Class modification two cases can occur:

1. All interested components exist for the specified ND or Class.

2. Some components do not exist for the specified ND or Class.

In the first case alternatives in Class can be available for those components which need to be updated, even if such alternatives did not exist in the initial condition. In such case the program stops and asks to choose an alternative before going on. Furthermore some components can require the user’s intervention, for instance the positioning of a valve lever.



In the second case the program highlights the components which cannot be modified.

In yellow those components which can be replaced with other typologies (normal T with reduced T, gate valves with globe valves ). In red those replaceable with other families only. ( reduced T with half coupling). If the components is not replaceable the component is replaced with the pipe. It is up to the user to decide how to replace the typologies of the deleted components.

The program does not add new components, therefore if the diameter variation implies a finishing variation (ex: from threaded to flanged) a threaded valve replaced with a flanged one will not be dressed with gaskets and counterflanges. Vice versa a threaded valve will not accept nipples. Such components must be manually added.

The program does not modify the line axis geometry. When necessary this is left to the user. As examples we mention the modification of an eccentric reducer implying a line offset or that of fit to fit components which require a larger distance between the vertexes when the ND increases.

The program modifies a line at a time, therefore interactions between main lines and branches can be affected by the time sequence followed for the modifications.

The program does not update supports which need to be re-inserted by the user.

Notice that modifications involving small variations of dimensions have greater probability of success than large ones. Therefore it is suggested to re-draw lines whose changes are drastic.



When updating a pipeline the program performs the following operations:

o It erases old components and pipes. o It updates all fixed position components such as elbows and tees. o It updates the groups of components which are free of moving

along pipes and re-position them at the center of the original group. o It updates components adjacent to fixed position components and

fits them to their corresponding fixed position components. o It updates the cutting of fabricated branches. o It fits possible components adjacent to branch components, i.e. a

Tee, even when they lay on the branch side. o It completes the lines with the pipes of the new Class /Outer

diameter

The following critical situations which need the user intervention can occur:

o The ND increase causes two components to overlap. o In case of fit to fit configurations the ND increase always

causes components to interfere with each other. Vice versa if the ND decreases a piece of pipe is inserted between the previously fitting components and the update correctly terminates.

o All situations which would require a variation in the axis geometry.



Therefore we suggest to launch the Connection Check and the Interference Check once the line has been updated.

o Descriptive data, temperature, pressure, fluid and the other descriptive data are updated on all components belonging to the selected line. In fact it is supposed that they are always constant on the line. If the line tag contains said data it will be updated as well.

In case the user contemporarily modifies the just described three types of data, the related actions will be performed in combination.



4.22. COMPONENTS EDITING

In the 3D Piping menu or Ribbon choose Edit Components.

This command is used for editing components. Only one component at a time can be selected but in some cases the program provides to group contiguous elements.

Besides zoom, the following options are available:

o Erase, erases the specified object and restores the underlying pipe. Only one component at a time can be selected.

o Move, moves whichever components upon a line (see figure).

This command does not modify the axis geometry and therefore objects laying on the nodes as elbows or Tees cannot be shifted. Once selected the component, digit “M” (no Enter is required); the pipe is restored and the situation is the same of the first insertion. The component can be rotated, dragged, reversed, its Fit Point can be changed or a new insertion point can be selected through the function Pipe-Snap or a distance can be specified. Once terminated the operation, the pipe is cut again in the final position.

One component at a time can be selected but in case that contiguous components are located on the line the program tries to get a group to be re-positioned at once. In the typical case of a group constituted by valve, gaskets and flanges, once the valve is selected this option moves the whole group. If the flange is



selected flange and gasket move together, if the gasket is selected only the gasket itself moves.

But some situations are more complex. Gaskets can be missing, or a flange can be missing when the valve fits a nozzle or two valves are contiguous and so on. In such cases the program tries to compose a group but, if the result does not match the expectations, the necessary adjustments can be performed anyhow in two or more steps.

o Invert, reverses the component position on the line. It is used for changing the flow direction of valves.

o Rotate, rotates components around the line at steps of 90°.

o Angle, rotates components around the line of the angle specified by the numeric pad or by the cursor.

4.23. SPECS AND DATA MANAGEMENT

In the 3D Piping menu choose Piping Specs, keyboard shortcut SP.

This command provides access to the environment dedicated to the management of components data tables, the creation of Piping Specs and the extraction of materials lists. This subject will be developed in Chapter 7 Specs and Data Management.

4.24. DATA EXTRACTION

In the 3D Piping menu choose Extract Data.

This command extracts data of lines and components of the drawing and stores them into the Project Database. This operation must be performed before generating the bills of materials and must be repeated every time the drawing is modified so that subsequent BOM result updated. Identifying data of drawing must previously be filled in through the Working Options dialogue window. When executing this command



the drawing is automatically saved in order to prevent misalignment between data contained into the drawing and the project database.

4.25. NORTH SYMBOL INSERTION

In the 3D Piping/Tools menu choose Insert North.

This command is used for specifying the north direction through the insertion of the suitable symbol in the model environment. This is not necessary for the model generation or isometrics extraction (see next chapter) but if the north direction is specified the north symbol will automatically appear in all sketches generated by ESApro Isometrics. Provided the north symbol has been specified in the model environment, by the same command it can be inserted in the layout also. In such case its direction is blocked and agrees with that set in the model environment.



4.26. ISOMETRIC DRAWINGS GENERATION

Before proceeding with the automatic generation of isometric drawings through ESApro Isometrics, two procedures must be executed in the 3D Piping environment. The first is dedicated to the division of plant into sections, each one of them corresponding to one isometric, the second one to their export towards the Isometrics environment.

In the menu 3D Piping choose Generate Isometrics and then ISO Groups.

Here you can divide the plant into groups of components. Each group will originate one isometric drawing. At the beginning no group is defined therefore the list in the dialogue window is blank. A new group can be created with “New Group” and afterwards new entities can be added with “Add Entity”. The selection of objects to add can be done both per single object and by line. Otherwise the program can be asked to generate groups with “Automatic groups”. This criterion is based on line number and branch code if existing. The automatic generation can be launched at every step of the project as it leaves the already defined groups unchanged and works only on objects not yet belonging to any group.



While creating groups the program assigns default parameters (ex: group number, drawing number or page number etc.) easily modifiable through the option “Group Characteristics” While assigning such defaults the program uses the project related options ( For a detailed description of these options see on paragraph Project, chapter 6). They can be changed with the command “3D Piping/Options/Project. Whatever is the methodology approach to the creation of groups (either automatic or manual) it will always be possible to modify entities, by adding or replacing them. Or either exploding existing groups.

Before adding or removing entities an existing group must be selected. The following utilities are provided in order to make such operations easier:

o “Find Group”, once selected an object, this command finds the group the object belongs to and highlights it in yellow.

o “Highlight Group”, once selected a group, this command highlights all the objects belonging to it with a yellow colour.

o “Entities without Group”, highlights in yellow all objects in the model which are not yet part of a group.

Some typical examples of grouping operations follow:

o Automatic grouping through the line number and subsequent division of lines seemingly too long or complicated.

o Grouping of main line and branches in absence of branch codes which would allow direct automatic grouping.

o First manual grouping of too complex lines and then automatic grouping of the remaining ones.

o Detection of lines which have not been grouped yet.

Once ended the ISO Groups organisation and subdivision the command “ISO files Export” can be launched.



The program creates the .ISO files, gives them the name 3DP-SK followed by the related group name and stores them in the same folder where the model is located. As far as data which are automatically inserted in the isometric title block by ESApro Isometrics, the drawing number takes on the same name of the group, and the title is SKETCH followed by the group name; project and revision are the same as for the 3D model. All said default values can be changed by the user.

Now it is sufficient to click on “Create .ISO file”. The program processes only those groups marked with “+”, to signal that the drawing has not been extracted yet or that the group has been modified after the previous extraction. This is very useful in the revision management. The user can overwrite this setting with [+] Write File, [ ] Do Not Write. In order not to extract the supports check the "Exclude supports" box.

Isometric drawings are generated from .ISO files in the ESApro Isometrics environment. You can manually import one file at a time or generate all of them in batch through the Geniso procedure. For more information see ESApro Isometrics manuals.



The command "Autosketch" in the Ribbon, in the Toolbar or in the dropdown menu "3DP V7", allows a full automation of the process of generation of the sketch. Adds all the necessary steps, creating groups, export groups and run through GENISO in a single command. Respects the settings of the project, the splitting and other parameters, but does not allow any other type of manual operation. The command asks if you want to run all the sketch or just those related to the modified lines. The process requires the module ESApro Isometrics.

In the 3D model the user can set up some reference points and also some points of the pipe which will be quoted of course once on the sketch. Through the pull-down menu “3D Piping sketch generation/Stake Insert” it is possible to define a point where to place a reference, and to define its tag as well as dimensioning the necessary points in accordance with the reference point which can be punctiform, P1 in the figure, or linear, P2. Three quotations will pop out from the punctiform reference point, two out of the linear one, except for that one along the indicated direction, as the example in the figure along the line of the base.

The program can modify an existing reference through the pull down menu “3D Piping/Sketch Generation/Modify Stake”. A new tag can be assigned as well as



dimensioning points. Once selected the stake, the program shows the associated points together with the components they belong to and allows to modify the tag. Then it answers: Select the operation [Add/Remove] <Enter to exit>

Then it’s possible to add further points to be dimensioned or remove them. It’s possible to move a stake or the components which contain the points to be dimensioned without breaking their connection. Once defined the stakes and the related points they are automatically linked to the sketches during the “Export ISO files” process.



4.27. DIMENSIONING

In menu 3D Piping choose Dimensioning or select it from the suitable toolbar.

Commands are available for linear, angular, radial and elevation dimensioning. Their behaviour changes depending on the operating environment. In 3D model the dimensioning program can read the components characteristic information and the 3D coordinates of every point. Therefore you can get the real dimensions of a pipe, the end to end dimension of a plant component, pick up the dimensioning points through Pipe-Snap. Furthermore the program provides the automatic search of the most suitable plane for the right visualization of dimensions. Vice versa in a 2D view dimensions are always projected on the view plane. Actually dimensioning in the 3D model is rarely used while it is normally used in 2D views where the view plane is prearranged. We underline that the commands described below are easier to be used in the 2D environment.

Linear, keyboard shortcut XD,

The command answers:

Mode: Parallel

First dimensioning point or [3D/Aligned/Parallel/Snap] <Enter for

Object dimension>:

Three dimensioning modes are provided: 3D, Aligned and Parallel.

o 3D, in case the two dimension points do not lay on coordinate axes or planes this option will force the program to display the dimension components otherwise it will produce a dimension parallel to axes.

o Aligned, always produces a dimension aligned to the specified points even if they do not lay on coordinate axes or planes.

o Parallel, to be used when the two dimension points are not aligned with one of the main axes: it can project the dimension on whichever direction.

o Enter = Object, requires the pointing of a pipe or component and produces the aligned dimensioning of the pointed object length. In



case of non-straight components (elbows, tees, angle valves) it will be the branch nearest to the selected point to be dimensioned.

o pSnap, searches for the dimensioning points of the model with the Pipe-Snap function.

o First dimensioning point, is the default option for entering dimensioning points. Snaps End, Middle, Center are preset, otherwise you can use the Pipe-Snap function. Once entered the first point the program will ask for the second:

Second dimension point or [psNap]:

Once inserted the second point the command answers in different ways depending on the dimensioning mode. Mode 3D, if the pipe lays on one of the coordinate axes, the command goes on positioning the dimension. If the pipe lays on a coordinate plane (XY, YZ, ZX) but not on an axis the command draws a parallelogram and inserts the component dimensions. If the pipe does not lay on a coordinate plane the command draws a parallelepiped and inserts the three component dimensions. If dimension does not lay on a coordinate axis the diagonal dimension is inserted, then the unwished part of parallelogram or parallelepiped can be deleted. In any case while a dimension is drawn in a default position the command shows the repositioning options which, as all options in round brackets, do not require Enter:

(Adjust/Rotate/mIrror/Move) o <Enter to exit>:



o Adjust, repositions the dimension parallel to itself by dragging it from a point close to the dimension text. We suggest to disable the Ortho mode in order to work more proficiently.

o Rotate, rotates the dimension around the line by steps of 90°.

o Mirror, parallelly shifts the dimension to the opposite line side.

o Move, effective only for components of a line not laying on coordinates axes, it moves dimension from one side of parallelogram or parallelepiped to the other. In this case as well we suggest to disable the Ortho mode. Snap End is preset.

o <Enter to exit>, ends the dimension insertion. If it is a component passes on to the next one.

Mode Aligned, puts an aligned dimension in a default position. Repositioning options are the same as mode 3D except for Move which is effective for 3D dimensions only. Mode Parallel, two cases are possible:

1 If the two points lay on one of the coordinate planes (XY, YZ, ZX) the dimension will be projected on one of the two main axes of the plane. The choice is made by dragging in the most suitable way the dimension with the mouse as usual in AutoCAD.

2 If the two points do not lay on one of the coordinate planes a third point will be requested in order to univocally establish the dimension plane. Then the program goes on as described above.

Anyhow, once terminated the dimensioning execution, the program offers the option Realign in order to align the dimension in a direction different from that parallel to the axes.

Enter to end positioning or (Realign):

Specify an angle or two points to realign dimension



Such option requires to indicate two points or an angle in order to align the dimensioning in a direction different from that parallel to the axes.

Continuous Dimensioning inserts a series of continuous dimensions leaning one on the other. The procedure is similar to the AutoCAD’s and a starting dimension is required.

Base Dimensioning, allows the insertion of continuous dimensions all leaning on one starting point . The procedure is similar to the AutoCAD’s and a starting dimension is required.

Angular, dimensions the angle between two lines in space. The program automatically finds a suitable plane to display the dimension and then enables you to reposition the text. This command cannot be executed on parallel or skew lines.

Radius, dimensions the radius of a bend pipe. It is enough to point the pipe itself or its axis and then reposition the text.

Elevation dimensioning, inserts the elevation dimension of a plant node and its related symbol. The program requires the elevation dimension base point and through the “Pipe” option the selection of a pipe which must be horizontal. Click on the point (the snap End is pre-set by the program). Then draw the base line, slip along it with the triangular symbol, and then release it in the desired position. The dimension value is inserted at the right of the symbol and the command terminates. In case the base line is not necessary it can be eased. The option “Mode” has two alternatives “Axes” and “Base” used for specifying the elevation dimension of the bottom pipe instead of the axis. In “Axes” the triangular symbol is displayed with hatching. In ”Base” the triangular symbol is displayed empty. The dimension value is computed starting from the Plant Zero Point set through the command described in the paragraph "Working Tools".

Automatic dimension view, enables an automatic dimensioning of all pipes intersecting the window’s frame so to dimension the volumetric views obtained with the “Box” option, and where the window’s frames coincide with a big plant’s area edges.



Edit dimension, to be used just for linear dimensions. This command can reposition dimensions and diagonals with the same modes provided for the creation. No tools are provided for editing dimension values since they obviously depend on the geometry.



4.28. LINE TAGGING AND ANNOTATIONS

This program is used for inserting various types of annotations on drawings. In menu 3D Piping choose Annotations or select it from the related toolbar. The following options are provided:

- Leader with multiline text

- Leader with a maximum of three lines of text within a circle. The configuration changes as a function of the number of lines as shown in figure.

- Leader with multiline text within a rectangular box

- Leader with multiline text within an oval label. Even in this case the configuration changes as a function of the number of lines as shown in figure.

In all cases the box is adjusted in size on the basis of the text dimension. Leader and text appearance are ruled by the Dimension Style settings.



Other parameters concerning Annotations are controlled by the option “Annotation Setting”:

- Annotation Type, sets whether free texts or line tags or component tags or automatic numbers will be inserted within the label. Tags must be previously filled in with the “Object Properties” command. If “Component Tag” is set the command has an “Auto” option which automatically displays all tags of the selected viewport.They can be tagged one by one in whichever category (Components, Instruments, Equipment etc.)

- Automatic Numbering, here first number, step, prefix and suffix for the automatic numbering are set. Generated numbers will be sequentially inserted within labels.

- Color, sets the colors of leaders, boxes and texts each independently from the others.

- No leader, if this box is checked the leader is not drawn

The “Edit Annotation” command is used for repositioning annotations. The label can be dragged elsewhere by pointing the text or the box. The



leader point is left hooked on to the original position while its end is reconnected to the box in the new position. If the leader is made of more segments only the last one is stretched. The contemporary movement of leader and label can be achieved by selecting the leader.

Line tags can be inserted also through the menu 3D Piping / Annotations / Tag Line or the related toolbar button. Point now at an axis, a pipe or the symbol of a sectioned pipe. In this case the tag text is set parallel to the selected line axis and put just above the pipe. If the command is executed within the 3D environment the text can be subsequently re-positioned through the Move and Rotate options, whose operation is similar to that ruling the linear dimensioning.

If line or component data are changed the related tag is automatically updated both in 3D model and in 2D drawings. Since line tag is usually a combination of the line data, a tool is provided to generate tagging templates. Therefore this process is performed in two steps:

1. Tagging template definition in the Project Management environment. Template will be applied to all tags of that Project drawings.

2. Tag insertion with the just described procedure.



The composition rule of the tag and its composition are controlled by the dialogue window of the command “3D Piping/Options project” or either by “ Specific management” and through “Option” in the project management.

All data available for tagging are listed on the left. Those selected for the current tag template on the right. In order to add a datum highlight it on the left list and push the input button. The other way around if a datum has to be removed from the right list. Low right arrows are used to rearrange template data. In the low left part of the mask there is an example of tags which can be obtained with the defined template. We point out that in this mask only the sequence of data for the tag is set, actual tag data will be taken each time from the line. The Prefix and Suffix columns optionally are used to insert constant strings which will precede and follow the value taken from the line. For instance ND before the value 3” and an hyphen soon after in order to separate it from the following datum.

Tag template is valid for all drawings of the Project until its possible modification which must be performed in the Project environment. In such case tags of all drawings of that Project will be automatically updated at the first opening of the drawings themselves. It can happen from time to time that the automatic tag upgrade is not performed. If this is the case the line tag update can be manually performed with the 3D Piping / Annotations /Update Tag command. Also in case of line data modification, tags in the drawing are automatically updated. At last we point out that since characteristics of a line can vary along it (for



instance the ND) tags do not generically depend on the line but more precisely on the line segment picked up at the moment of the tag insertion. Therefore if the line segment linked to a tag is deleted said tag becomes meaningless. In such case delete the orphan tag and re-create it on a new segment.

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5. CUSTOMIZATION

ESApro Piping 3D environment customization mainly regards new components and equipment creation. Two aspects are involved, graphics and data which will be dealt in the next chapter.

5.1. COMPONENT GENERATION

In order to clarify the various customization levels, let us follow the whole procedure for drawing a new object.

Whichever command for modelling piping components enables a process whose key is the component name. The name identifies the table containing the component characteristic dimensions, the parametric graphic function which draws it and the insertion functions. This is what happens when the user picks up a component and specifies one point on a line:

o The insertion function gets Nominal Diameter and Piping Class from the line.

o The program checks whether the selected component exists in Piping Class and, if so, takes dimensional and descriptive data from its table.

o The program launches the parametric graphic function which draws the component with the proper dimensions and stores the characteristic data within it.

o The insertion function takes control again and performs the final positioning and pipe cutting.

The insertion function depends on the component typology and does not require any setting.

Now let us see a practical example of definition of component name and graphic function.



Let us suppose we need to add a threaded check valve and that such typology is not yet present in the library. Enter SP in order to launch Piping Spec, choose Tables and then Components. A mask appears; select “Straight valve” on the left list and press the “New” button in the left low corner in order to insert a new typology.

In the above mask fill in the Description field and select the suitable graphic function from the pull down list. In the left upper part you can see the object identifying code which has been assigned by the program. This code is set in such a way that different users can not create typologies with the same name. This ensures the possibility of interchanging data between databases without the risk of overlapping. Note the “Custom” check box which, if enabled, tells the program to use an user modelled object, as described further on, instead of the highlighted graphic function. Press OK to confirm. A new valve typology has been created.

Within a typology more tables can be defined referring to different standards, materials, manufacturers or ratings. One of these tables could be part of a Piping Class, but it will always be named VLVDR011. We will be dealing with the generation of a data table and a Piping Class in the next chapter.



The new component is fully defined and, once in a Piping Class, can be immediately used.

When none of the many Graphic Function of the program is suitable to represent the component, the user can manually generate some parts at his will. In practice during the generation of a component a model previously stored in a library can replace the parametric graphic function. The object is acknowledged by the program as one of its own and indistinguishable from the others. In order to enable this function press “Custom” in a component typology creation mask, as described before. Note how a corrected graphic function must be defined in this case too because it is useful anyway to define the structure of the parameters in the material list.

As the objects are not parametric, they must be previously modelled by the user trough the standard AutoCAD procedure, in quantity (one for each diameter) and in dimension as in the preset detail components tab and then stored in ESAPRO…\3DP\LIB. The generated parts must have a name corresponding to the component code, VLVDR011 in this case followed by “_”, the nominal diameter. “_” again and the table number. For example the part representing a threaded check valve ND80, table 114, will be named VLVDR011_80_114.DWG (In case of a reduced component insert after “_” the two diameter without empty spaces. The program is then able to automatically pull out from the library the appropriate component and treat it as an object parametrically defined.

It is clear now that customization has many levels. The easiest one is that table data can be modified. In fact were the component typology is present, the customization would be limited to the creation of a new detail table, related for example to a different building contractor or another rating. But as seen in the example before, the generation of a new typology of valves force to define the Graphic Function. At last if the Graphic Functions are not suitable to the purpose the user can model the component at his liking.

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6. SPECS AND DATA MANAGEMENT

In this chapter we will describe the procedure dedicated to the management of Component Database, Piping Classes and Bills of Materials. This procedure is launched through the menu 3D Piping / Piping Specs or the keyboard shortcut SP. The control panel in figure displays and provides you the access to the commands. A password protection is provided (see further on) in order to prevent unauthorized access.

6.1. PARAMETER TABLES

Parameter tables feed the graphic functions which draw components. Furthermore geometric and descriptive data are stored into the components and used for the bill of materials generation. ESApro provides a large number of tables of components (more than 1500) complying with the most popular standards (ASME, ISO, UNI, DIN). Anyhow, due to the sources heterogeneity, we strongly suggest of verifying data before using them. ESAin s.r.l. does not take any responsibility for the consequences of the use of the supplied data.



Once selected Tables and then Components, a mask appears which displays a tree view of the component database. At the higher level there are Categories (e.g. Valves), then Families (e.g. Straight Valves) and at last Typologies (e.g. Flanged Gate Valves). Once selected a Typology the list of the related tables displays.

Each table contains the component detail data.

In the following paragraphs we will describe the procedures for the component database management.



6.2. CREATING NEW TYPOLOGIES

Component categories (e.g. Valves) and families (e.g. Angle Valves) are pre-defined and cannot be created. On the contrary within a family new component typologies can be added. In order to do that select a family (e.g. Straight–Way Valves) within the valve category and press the Typology Insert button; a mask displays for the definition of a new component typology of that family.

In the upper box you can see the code assigned by the program. Enter descriptions, in five languages if needed, and choose a graphic function in the pull down list. In case that none of the very many provided Graphic Functions is suitable for the component representation the program can be told to directly use user-modelled parts. To do that check the “Custom” box on the right. For further information refer to “Customization”.

“Flux Controller” box interests the Head Loss module. It is used for specifying that the component is a flux controller and therefore the



resistance coefficient will be filled in by the user in the worksheet of the Head Loss module itself.

The box Instrument or Flux controller when checked has two different meanings. The component can be assigned a tag derived from the archive “Instrument Type”. In the module “Verify head losses” it indicates an object whose resistance coefficient is determined by the user on the calculating sheet.

Piping Classes created with ESApro Piping 3D can be exported to ESApro P&ID environment. To this purpose through the pull down list “P&ID Symbol” each typology can be associated to the symbol to be used in P&ID diagrams.

Leaflet Type/Lever/Control assigns to a selected typology a Leaflet, a Lever or a Control among the available ones. It concerns the valves only. The drawing of handlings can be inhibited through the option No Leaflet/Lever/Control, even if in the typologies tabs the dimensional data are present.



6.3. MODIFYING TYPOLOGIES

In order to make changes to a typology highlight it on the right list and press the Typology Modify button. A mask similar to that used for creation will be offered.

6.4. DELETING TYPOLOGIES

In order to remove a typology highlight it on the right list and press the Typology Delete button. This operation deletes all data tables of the typology as well. Native typologies supplied with ESApro cannot be deleted. In case a typology is used in one or more Classes, its deletion is inhibited.

6.5. CREATING DATA TABLES

In order to create a data table within a family (e.g. Straight-way Valves) select the suitable typology (e.g. Threaded Gate Valves) and press the “New“ button of the “Component Tables” box. The mask in figure will be offered for data entry.



6.6. ENTERING DETAIL DATA

First let us analyze the various data table areas. Up above there is the header containing descriptive data which are independent of the nominal diameter.

Description: 1st,2

nd,3

rd,4

th e 5

th language, are short descriptions which

will be used in Bills of Materials.

Long Description: 1st,2

nd,3

rd,4

th e 5

th language, are more detailed

descriptions. They can be used in ESApro Piping 3D materials take off but not in ESApro Isometrics BOM tables which always use Short Descriptions for space reasons.

Thickness Tab : is the name of the tab as described in “Thickness Tab” further on that contains the thickness values and the rating of butt welded components. These data are visualized for each ND , on the tabs of the component dimensional details

Standard: is the reference standard (ASME, ISO, UNI, DIN...).

Rating: depending on component type and standard this field represents Rating or Nominal Pressure.

Material: is the component material code.

Inner Material: is the material code of the component inner accessories.

Construction: is the code that describes the type of construction of the component (ex: SMLS or SAW ROW).

Coating: is the code describing the supply specifics of the finishing.

The fields just described from Thickness Tab to Coating match the libraries and are implemented by the user

Manufacturer, Model, Note: is a free field for annotations.

End Type 1-4: are the types of extremity of components which determines their coupling. Each component has at least two end types, the third and the fourth are reserved to three or four-way components. Different end-types mean physically different components. Therefore two components with identical dimensional parameters but different end-types require two separate data tables. For more information see further on in this chapter.



Erection: depending on whether this is enabled or not the component will be considered for erection or for pre-fabrication in the bills of materials.

The center area of the table is dedicated to detail data. Blue columns are mandatory, yellow ones are optional. Some descriptive fields, such as Weight and Part Number are common to all components. Geometric data fields and icon depend on the graphic function chosen for the typology. Suitable geometric data are requested. Therefore we point out that changing the graphic function to an existing typology can cause data loss if structures of the two graphic functions are different. For instance a flanged valve has not the field “thread depth” while a threaded valve has not the field “flange diameter”: Changing one graphic function with the other will cause inconsistent fields to disappear.

At first relevant nominal diameters have to be chosen. A set of predefined values is offered by default. Use the “Insert” and “Delete” buttons in order to add or remove nominal diameters. When adding a new nominal diameter a pull down list is available for picking up the desired value. The choice is done in millimetres but the value in inches is automatically generated also. Modifications of nominal diameters are made in the same way. The program does not allow to type directly in nominal diameters but just to pick them up from the pull down list. This because Nominal Diameter is the primary key to data and therefore its values must be program controlled.

New values can be added to the diameter control table through Tables / Diameters. The Insert button provides access to a mask where new diameters can be added in metric and imperial representation. Analogously for the Modify button. If the box is checked the related diameter will become pre-defined, i.e. it will be offered among the standard values pull down list when creating or modifying tables.



Once set diameters, fill in the related data. Linear dimensions must be in millimetres, weight in kilograms. Data must be entered for all diameters. Null or incomplete data may cause program malfunctioning.

Tables are printed with the suitable button. Printing is sent to the current system printer.



6.7. REMARKS ON SPECIAL TABLES

BUTT WELD ELBOWS, dimensional data are required only for 90° elbows. For 45° and 180° just the part number is needed. Weights for angles different from 90° are computed by the program.

MITER ELBOWS, in spite of butt welding elbows, number of sectors, weight and part number are required for a set of standard angles between 30° and 180°. When creating a miter elbow of different angle the program will stop and ask for the number of sectors.

COMPOSITE PIPES, require a table for each combination of terminals (ex. male – male). In the middle of the mask you can see the three elements which the composite pipe is made of, i.e. pipe and two terminals. Through the pull down lists you can choose pipe from pipe tables and first and second terminal from flange tables. In the detail area only the part number of the composite pipe is required. When extracting the bill of materials the program automatically computes length and weight of the composite pipe.

BOLTS, these components, belonging to the “Couplings” category, have not graphic representation. Bolts tables contain description and number of bolts referred to the corresponding flange. Nuts specified in Bolts tables are managed with the Implicit Materials concept explained in the next chapter.



6.8. IMPLICIT MATERIALS

In order to compute materials not graphically represented in the model a suitable mechanism is available. Such materials, called “implicit”, can be linked to any component and are computed at each insertion of the component itself. For instance it is possible to link two O-Rings and one electrical drain to a fiber glass coupling so that every time the coupling is inserted said linked materials are taken into account also. The “Implicit Materials” button available in every table provides access to a mask where the link to one or more material tables can be set (or removed). For each implicit material table the quantity to be added to the main component is specified diameter by diameter on the right list.

The figure shows an example where a Nut table has been linked as implicit material to a Bolt table. The required number of nuts is specified ND by ND in the field Quantity.

6.9. COPY / PASTE FUNCTIONS

When filling in new tables these function save time and work when part of data are in common with already existing tables. In order to copy one table just select it, press “Copy”, select a new typology if necessary, and then press “Paste”. Once duplicated the table can be modified with the “Modify” button. We point out that this mechanism allows the change of typology and even family. Therefore, besides copying homogeneous tables, it is possible to exchange common data between inhomogeneous tables. Let us make two examples:



COPY WITHIN HOMOGENEUS TABLES

You have to create a table of ASME Extra Strong pipes and the Standard one is already available. By Cut/Paste you can duplicate the table and suitably modify the newly created one. In particular you will have to modify some data in the header and thickness and weight in the detail. Nominal and outer diameter will be saved. In case two tables differ only for the material, such header datum would be modified.

COPY BETWEEN UNHOMOGENEUS TABLES

You have to create a table of ASME Extra Strong elbows and the Extra Strong pipes table is already available. Copy the pipe table, select the elbow typology and paste. The duplication function takes from the pipe table all data common to pipes and elbows tables. Nominal and outer diameters result correct while weights are those of pipes and must be adjusted. The Bent Radius column is empty since such values cannot be obtained from the pipe table.

6.10. MODIFYING TABLES

In order to modify a table select it and press “Modify”. The same mask used for creation displays. All data are accessible and can be changed.

6.11. DELETING TABLES

In order to erase a table select it and press “Delete”. This operation is inhibited if used in one or more Piping Classes.

6.12. TABLES, WHERE USED AND LOG

Where used, produces a list of drawings which use the selected Table. It can be examined with Note Pad. It is useful when the “Delete” command fails or in case of modification of tables already in use. Log, every time a table is modified a Log file is produced which can be



examined with Note Pad. Such file lists all drawings and all components affected by the modification.

6.13. FILLING IN PIPING CLASSES

The Piping Class defines a subset of components meeting specific plant design criteria. Classes feed graphic functions which model the components and at the same time check the component suitability. A Piping Class is selected together with a Nominal Diameter when creating a line and then it will be used for all components inserted on it. The name of the component to be modelled and its Nominal Diameter enable the program to locate, through the Class, the table of the component itself and to get its characteristic data.

The Tables \ Classes menu provides access to a control panel which enables through the up right buttons Insertion, Modification, Deletion, Duplication and Printing of Classes. Furthermore it gives access to the Branch Table, to a series of Class attachments and to the links among the drawings of the current Projects.

NEW, this mask inserts a Class and its characteristic data. The value of the Name Field will be displayed in Bills of Materials. Other data namely



Version, Long Description, Date of creation, Schedule / Rating, Material and Design Temperature and Pressure have a merely mnemonic purpose.

Fill in the mask and press OK. At first the typology list is empty. The data entry procedure will be described further on.

MODIFY, displays the mask for the modification of the header data of the selected Class. While in order to modify detail data select an item and press the Modify button on the left.

DELETE, removes the selected Class. This operation is inhibited if there are drawings using such Class. While in order to delete an item of detail data select it and press the Delete button on the left.

COPY, creates a copy of the selected Class, which then will be suitably modified.

PRINT, sends the selected Class image to the system printer. Both a synthetic and a detailed report are provided.

WHERE USED, produces a list of drawings which use the selected Class. It can be examined with Note Pad. It is useful when the “Delete” command fails or in case of modification of Classes already in use.



The details of components and typologies of the newly created class can be defined through the buttons on the left of the mask

BRANCH TABLE, shows the branch types provided for each couple of main line / branch line diameters. This table is automatically created through the branch components provided by Piping Class with the only exception of fabricated Tees and half couplings which need to be set by the user as their existence cannot be inferred by Piping Class. When making a connection between two lines the program reads the type of branch to be created from the branch table.



ATTACHMENTS, contains three different pages.

Welding shrinking, maximum and minimum length and DN representation in mm or inches.

For each attachment is present a copy and paste function to easily insert repetitive data.

The program can apply for each diameter in Class the required welding shrinking and its value is added by the program to the length of butt weld components.

When the pipe length is smaller of the minimum length value the program gives a warning message. Set to 0 the maximum length to de-activate the option.

With the maximum length value the user can set a limit to the length of the pipes. All generating program will fulfil the value’s request and will cut the pipe accordingly. Set the maximum length to 0 to deactivate the option. Should the programmed cut generate an unwanted last pipe that can be manually corrected.



In the column Diameter in Inches the user can pin the diameters to conform with the values represented on the second column of the Diameters tables. Usually on this column the nominal diameters are represented in inches. If not pinned the nominal diameters will be in millimetres. There is a check box to switch all mm/inches.

Deduction of pipe to pipe branches, can correct the length of pipes joined as direct branches. In this case the program sets the pipe length up to the main pipe axis. As a result there could be an exceeding part. When the assembly shop requires a precise cut , in this section it is possible to set the deduction for each ND couple and angles. The program will assign such value to all pipes used to the purpose. This control affects only the ESApro ISO cutting lists.

Use butt weld elbows, allows the user to specify which butt weld elbows must be used in the current Class. For the butt weld elbows ESApro requires one dimensional tab only and not one for each of the three standards of 45°, 90°, and 180°. But it is necessary to specify which elbows are required (if the 45° are not requested, and if the 90°angle will be cut in two halves and used instead) and the same for the 180°. In the window below the user can pin the parts required and the program will



take care of codes, parts and material lists.

ADD, gives access to the list of all the components typologies. Then it is possible to check on all the objects which will be part of the class. Once completed the operation the material tables related to each typology will be defined.

MODIFY, as you select a typology and press Modify or double click an empty table appears. Press Add and you will access the Material Tables of the chosen typology and their details. You can pick up some or all the Nominal Diameters and import them into the Piping Class Table. You can also repeat the selection in order to add a set of nominal diameters taken from another material table. Accordingly with the Windows standards, more items can be selected in one time, by using the Shift and Control keys together with the mouse left button. When you choose a fitting an utility is available which automatically selects all the diameters already set for the pipe. Also if you click on the DN at the column header all the items of the table are selected. Follow the procedure for each typology of the Class. For a given typology and a given nominal diameter more than one item can be selected. In such case, during the execution, the program either will display a mask for the manual choose of the alternative or automatically choose the first item. This behaviour depends on the suitable setting of the Working Options. In order to get profit from this mechanism, insert first the preferential item in the Class. The arrows at the left in the mask are used for that.

COPY/PASTE allows to copy one or more typologies from one Class to another. Select the desired typologies from the current Class and press Copy, then select the destination Class and press Paste. This procedure is useful for copying only a part of a Piping Class. On the contrary the Copy button in the upper part of the mask is used for duplicating a whole Class.



6.14. PROJECTS MANAGEMENT

The item “Project” of the “3DP V7” menu provides a mask for creating, modifying, visualizing, exporting, printing and deleting Projects and related drawings. Actually drawings are not physically deleted but their definition and data related to the contained components are removed from the Database. In order to restore a drawing definition it is enough to execute the “Data Extraction” operation described further on. In the P&ID environment, in order to specify the current drawing project the user will go to the “Working Options” mask and through the suitable pull down menu he will get the list displaying all the items of the Project Table for the selection.



This item is used for the following operations:

o Insert, creates a new Project. The mask is displayed for filling in the code and description. The code is the code reported in the material list when the column “Project” is required. The description is not mandatory.

o Modify, modifies project data through the same mask of the previous command.

o Delete, deletes selected project and related drawings from the database. Actually DWG files are not deleted, only the links of such files to the project are.

o Export, allows the export of the drawing list of a selected project. For each drawing are listed its number, revision and AutoCAD file name.

o Copy, allows the copy of a selected project with a new name thus creating an alternative project with the same starting values. When necessary all the lines contained in Line manager can be copied as well. The list of the drawings is not reported. The drawings of the newly named project must be open first and then the project assigned to the Working Options.

o Options, displays a mask to be filled in with the parameters shared either by ESApro Piping 3D and ESApro ISO, valid for all the drawings of the project (Ex: line tag, bills of materials etc.) A list of the various layers follows.

o Print, generate the report of project drawings which lists drawing number, revision and AutoCAD file name.



Options, is a window that allows the setting up of parameters belonging either to ESApro Piping 3D and ESApro Isometrics, and valid for all the drawings of the project. (line tag, list language ex.) Follows a list of the various settings.

Lines and Drawings Mask

On this mask are available the options for the creation of lines and documents.

Lines Group

Lines creation mode: enables the creation of the Line from Line manager or from Graphic (as explained in Line manager)

Lines numeration criteria : decides if the Fluid Type has to be included in the line tag. Otherwise the latter is only made of the Unit/System and the Line Number. Such choice determines in a relevant way the anagraphic of the new lines and ,once finished cannot be changed.



Soon after the creation of a few lines in Line Manager or the presence of a drawing the parameters cannot be modified.

Line Numeration Type : enables a progressive number for the Line Number otherwise it has to be manually digited.

BOM List Tab

On this tab there is a number of options available to generate and characterize the lists (ex: are displayed language choice and separation tags)

General Groups (used by ESApro 3DP and ISO

Language list: a choice of 5 different languages to fill the material lists.



Ignore drawing name in archive : the program is able to ignore the name of the AutoCAD file while registering the drawings and to acknowledge only the Project, the Drawing Number and the Revision. Therefore the AutoCAD file can be re-named (ex: the revision included) without a warning .

Line tag Composition : this mask allows the composition of the line tag of the whole project. The composition is enabled by the command “Line Tag” in the AutoCAD environment. See paragraph 4.27 “Line tags and Notation”.

Sketch Group (in use by ESApro ISO only)

Lists: allows the creation of Total Cuts and Weldings while generating automatic sketches. . At the side of each list there is a command for the choice of the generation template.

For each template the user can enable Title , the language (even two at the same time ) the visualization of the wished fields, their headings and width and alignment. The arrows on the left allow to order the columns. The other lists, that are optional, are generated below the material list, which cannot be cancelled and starts from the customization of the title block. The value “Interline Tabs” enables the control of the vertical distance between the various lists.



Welding and joint List. Allows the configuration of the list mode of the couplings. Two more options are provided for the BR welding type.

Divided per angles: generates two columns in the list, one for 90° weldings and the other for different weldings All: computes all branch weldings independently from the angle. For TH (threaded) type two additional options are provided:

Pipes only: takes into account threaded joints involving only pipes in order to compute the pipe ends to be threaded.

Diameters for pipes thickness : visualizes a given diameter for thickness of pipes only .

List with totals: adds to the list the total weight of the sketch components. It is also possible to customize the description of the value of the total weight.

List Total Surface: provides the approximate total surface of all the components of the sketch. It can also customize the enclosed description of the value of the total surface.

List with separation : Cuts the list in two parts , respectively containing the erection materials and the prefabricated ones.(The erection or prefabricated materials lists are reported on the head of the components tab) . Such lists can also be customized.

List with Spool: subdivides the material list for spools.(this option is enabled only when the module ESApro Spool is activated). It is also possible to customize the description of the list of the various spools.

Consider for erection components with ND lower than: the program acknowledges as valid only the erection materials with NDs below a given value

Sketch generation Tab



On this Tab a number of options for the creation of ISO groups in ESApro piping as well as the generation of sketches are displayed.

Group File .ISO (used by ESApro 3DP and ISO)

ISO file saving procedure: it allows the setting up of a fixed folder as the file ISO saving procedure, and it will become the default of the GenISO utility during the automatic generation of groups of sketches.

Sketches title composition: it assigns a default title to the sketches imported from ESApro Piping 3D. Another command will insert special codes (ex: #NLIN#, #LINEID# etc.) which allow the user to insert on the title the value of fields such as : line tag, system, line number etc.

Automatic ISO groups composition: in this option are available a number of settings for the configuration of the assignment criteria of the names to the Iso groups automatically generated by ESApro Piping 3D. Once assigned , the name of the ISO group will become either the



name of the ISO group the program will set up and the name of the DWG file created by ESApro Isometric while generating sketches. Press on “Name “ and the following window will display.

Document/Sheet it decides the assignment criteria of the drawing number and sheet number for the new ISO groups automatically generated.

- Create one sheet for each sketch: to each generated sketch will be assigned a different drawing/document single number.

- Create one sheet for each sketch: each generated sketch will be assigned one and only sketch /document number and a different progressive number of sheet. Once enabled this option it is possible to digit the document single number so to assign it to all sketches as well as a starting index for the automatic number set up by the system.

Name composition: in this part of the window can be selected a number of fields composing the ISO group automatically generated by the



system. A prefix as well as a suffix can be included in each field and which to include first it is up to the user. Note how the name assignment rule must necessarily take into account the organization criteria of the various sketches. This means that during the definition of the program control rule the selected fields univocally determine the files’ name. (Ex.: if you decide to create a document for each line the line number fields or document number will be consequently set).

Automatic splitting: Enables the automatic splitting of the lines in the plant sketches. This choice affects the behavior of the command "Automatic Groups." If the subdivision is disabled, the program inserts in each group of a future sketch an entire line, (or the line and its branches if included) regardless of the number of components. If the subdivision is enabled the program inserts in a group of a line a number of components up to the parameter "Number of objects per sheet", more or less as in "Tolerance objects." The remaining objects of the line are then inserted into a new group with the same criterion until exhaustion of all the components. The number of objects per sheet recommended for A3-A0 can be selected from the list below. The value can still be corrected manually. The process of subdivision can take some time which depends on the complexity of the plant. At the end of the process groups generated can be examined and corrected manually with the tools of the environment "ISO Groups".

"DWG Prototype file: selects the DWG file to use as a model in order to generate sketches with ESApro Geniso.

DWG Title block file: selects the block to be used as a title while generating sketches.



Annotation and dimensioning sketches

On this tab are available a number of options affecting the dimensioning and the annotation of sketches automatically generated by ESApro Isometrics.

Notation Group (used by ESApro ISO)

Cross reference: enables the insertion of cross references (tags with information of continuity) while creating sketches. It is possible to customize the tags referring to other sketches or connections of equipment.



Lines Automatic Tagging: it enables the automatic tagging of lines while generating sketches.

Components Automatic Tagging: enables the automatic tagging of the components (tag) while generating sketches.

Dimension group (used by ESApro ISO.

Automatic quotation: it enables the automatic quotation while generating sketches. The quotation style can be chosen among the available ones on anagraphic. (for more information see chapter 6 on the ESApro Isometric manual)

Altimetry Quotation: enables the insertion of the altimetry quotation while generating sketches.

Endings coordinates: enables the insertion of the 3D coordinates of the endings while generating sketches.

The Project management mask is divided in two areas, the upper one shows the Project list and the lower one the list of drawings belonging to the selected project. The lower “Delete” button is used for deleting drawings. We remind that only the AutoCAD file link is removed from the database while the file itself is left unchanged. In order to re-create the reference of the drawing to the Project it is sufficient to enable Extract Data in the AutoCAD environment.



6.15. BILLS OF MATERIALS

This command is used for material list generation.

A mask is displayed for selecting a Project and then one or more drawings. In order to generate a material list specify list type (components, lines, equipment) destination (screen, ASCII file, Excel file, Access table, printer) and upwards the list model name which is a set of instructions which controls the list aspect (for more information see further on in this chapter). Then press OK in order to obtain the list. Erection materials can be separated from the Prefabrication ones as a function of what specified on the component tables . For more information see paragraph 7.6 “Entering Detail Data”.

Component lists deal with all line components. Line lists can be generated in the same way provided that suitable models have been arranged. Due to their different structure models for line lists and for component lists are not interchangeable.

The Equipment list is divided on the basis of the equipment type. Instead of a model the program asks for the equipment type. Equipment lists report all data defined in the Equipment library.

The Insulation List reports surface and length for each ND, insulation type and insulation thickness.

The beam list reports type, size, material, length and weight.



6.16. MODELS FOR COMPONENTS AND LINE LISTS

The menu item Bills of Materials / List Models / Components launches the procedure for specifying data to be reported in material lists. A window displays in the upper part the existing models with the usual commands for creating, modifying, deleting and copying them.

The lower part shows the selected model detail. Let us see now how to create a new model. Press the upper Add button and enter title and description in the mask. Then press the right button, the list of available families displays. Select the desired items. Now pass in the lower part of the window to specify the detail. Press Add and fill in the mask.

Field: from the pull down menu choose the desired data field.

Header: enter the header of the column.

Filter: sets up a string for filtering components. For instance, for the nominal diameter field, “100” means that only components of ND 100 will be listed.



Exclude: it is the opposite of the previous command. For instance, for the nominal diameter field, “100” means that all components will be listed except those of ND 100.

More filters can be contemporarily set. No filter means all elements included.

The check box Display gives the possibility of using a field as a filter but without visualizing it on the report.

The order of columns in the report will depend on the position of the related field in the detail window. Use the arrows on the left if you want to change the fields order.

When a model is applied it generates a report whose lines are as many as the items the program considers different. Elements considered equal are grouped in one line. Two elements are considered equal if the values of those fields set for that model are equal. Therefore two valves physically identical but belonging to different lines will be put on two different lines if the model provides the line number field and on a single line if the model does not.



6.17. LIBRARIES

Equipment Table

The command Tables / Equipment displays a mask which lists the equipment families in the upper part. Predefined families are pumps, vessels and heat exchangers for which the program provides parametric modelling routines. All groups, except for “Equipment”, have a data structure matching the objects they represent. But in “Equipment” there are data which are in common with all equipments and the eight available fields. Once selected a group the program displays below the list of the defined equipments.

The commands to insert, modify and delete are on the left of the window. Press Insert and a mask displays for the insertion of a progressive near the group code, the description available in five different languages and a prefix/suffix: all can be part of the equipment tag. The command Modify has the same modality and Delete erases the chosen typology. There also is a command to export symbols from the list to an Excel file. There will not be a symbol at the right of a new



equipment. We point out that the equipment library is shared with ESApro P&ID. They also share codes. The symbolic representation derives from that environment. The equipment data of a drawing can be imported from P&ID to the 3D environment but of course their representation will be different.

For Tanks, Pumps and Heat exchanger parametric drawing procedures are provided but, whatever modeled object through the command Define Equipment became a valid equipment wit related data fields.

For further information see paragraph 4.12

Support Table

In order to access the support library choose Tables / Supports. The program provides about seventy predefined parametric supports. The Modify button changes only their descriptions. Otherwise you can add your own support definitions through the Insert button. A mask is displayed, similar to that of Modify; fill in descriptions in the usual five languages, support category (elbow, hanger..) and support type (stiff, spring). Such user supports can be graphically represented with a symbol or by an user 3D model.

The "Delete" button erase the selected support from the list.

Material Libraries , Standard, Rating, Constructions , Coating.

In such libraries predefined values are coded and used by the related pull down menus, so giving several benefits:



o No typing is required, thus saving time and avoiding miscalculations

o If a group of letters is entered the first fitting value is set. For instance if “3” is entered in the field Rating, “300 LB” will be automatically displayed.

o Data are standardized. This prevents from writing the same value in different ways, for instance “300LB” and “300#” .and makes the data base search safe and reliable.

Usual Add and Delete commands are provided for feeding libraries. Data are ordered alphabetically.

Fluid Libraries and Services

They are single voiced libraries as those just described but they can be also fed by the creation mask of a pipe line in the AutoCAD environment.

Instruments Type Library

It contains the codes and the description of the related instruments and regulating valves and it is used by the object properties command in order to assign the tags to that type of components. The code is displayed in the small circle associated to the equipment and so is the



Loop/Tag and the description in equipment lists of materials. The library can be fully customized.

.

Insulating Class Table

It is an archive containing the Insulating Class’s code, material, version, mnemonic description and its thickness, in accordance with its diameters. These data are used to create a line. Materials and predefined thickness can be downloaded into the line’s mask.



Nominal Diameter Library

New diameters can be added to this library through the menu Tables / Diameters. Add and Modify buttons offer the same mask where you can add or modify a diameter in either metric and imperial representation. The Imperial representation is optional. The Delete button removes the selected diameter. Diameters with the check box of the Automatic Insertion column will be offered as a default when creating a new Component Table.

End-Type Libraries

With End-Type we mean the type of extremity of components which establishes their coupling to other components. Usual examples are butt welding, socket-welding, threaded ends or raised face and ring joint flange finishing.

In order to access the End-Type library choose Tables / End-Type. A mask appears with the usual Add, Modify and Delete buttons. In order to add a new End-Type enter Inner Code, Description and Long Description. The inner code, used by the program for checking couplings, specifies precisely the coupling type; for example it distinguishes between



male threaded and female threaded. Description is the code used in bills of materials. Long Description is a mnemonic note. Columns “Compatible” are used for specifying which End-Types can be coupled with that in subject. Except for male/female couplings each End-Type is compatible with itself. For each object of the Component Tables the End-Types must be specified in the proper field “End-Types”. The program uses End-Types in order to check the suitability of couplings between components, in order to automatically choose flanges, gaskets and bolts and nuts in presence of alternatives in Piping Class and for the Welding take-offs.

Two particular End-Types need to be analysed:

TU (Pipe): This is a special End-Type to be assigned only to data tables of pipes. It enables the pipe to automatically fit the adjacent component end-type (threaded, socket-welding, etc.)

BR (Branch): This End-Type must be assigned to the extreme of all branch components (socket-welding or threaded half-couplings, sockolets, threadolets, elbolets etc.) welded to the main line.

In case a component has different End-Types to its extremes, End-Types themselves must be specified in the component table in a conventional order. Follow the scheme below. In case of doubt refer to the Component Tables supplied with the program.



END-TYPE 2

END-TYPE 1 END-TYPE 1

END-TYPE 3



END-TYPE 2 END-TYPE 1 END-TYPE 1 END-TYPE 2

END-TYPE 1

END-TYPE 2

END-TYPE 2

END-TYPE 3

END-TYPE 1

END-TYPE 4

ELBOW

3 WAY COMPONENTS FLANGES

BRANCHES STRAIGHT WAYS COMPONENTS REDUCING COMPONENTS

ANGLE COMPONENTS 4 WAYS COMPONENTS

END-TYPE 2



Custom table

All components which can be inserted into a 3D model have eight data field, generally named Custom 1- 8, in order to define unexpected characteristics. In this table the Custom 1-8 field are customisable and for each category of predefined objects in ESApro 3D Piping. Moreover in Equipment, where all generic items are represented as they cannot be counted as pumps, exchangers, compressors, etc. it is possible to customize the fields for each single equipment. insert data into the mask lower part and proceed to fill the descriptions.

Thickness class Libraries

It contains the tabs that are given a thickness and a tag ,usually the schedule for each nominal diameter. It applies to the butt welded components that in general for each schedule have the same thickness. So, when recalling the same thickness class of a series of homogeneous components, will be automatically generated on the two columns Schedule and Thickness. This option can be very useful when creating particular tabs with thickness components out of schedule.



It is up to the user to choose at the top of the window a name for the new thickness tab and down below to define the suitable ND with the values of Schedule and Thickness.

Beams Libraries

For each typology this option lists its denomination, dimension and the unit weight of each beam to comply with the required standards. The typologies can be filled in five different languages as usual..

The “Insert” and “Modify" commands lead to the same mask where a beam can be added or changed within the current typology. The arrow button can change the order of the list.



6.18. UTILITIES

It enables a series of procedure control parameters.

Database Management, allows the maintenance of the Project Databases of ESApro 3Dpiping.

ESApro 3D Piping can manage more databases. Each one of those, once created, can contain Materials, Class, and Projects unrelated to another Database Project. Even if in the same database more projects can be created, the purpose of this mechanism is to delimit each project within one database. In such way Piping Classes of a Project can be modified if needed without affecting other projects.

From the 2009 edition of ESApro onward the database is SQL Server. Such choice been made in order to guarantee the compatibility with the 64 bit platform and to increase the level of security in the net environment.

In the mask displayed above are listed all the already created databases. All tables, Materials, Classes, Projects etc. can be independently customized in each Database Components. Besides when a new typology in the Components Library is created, it will be present in all Databases.

Once selected a Database, at first only “ESAin” exists, and pressing

“Open” it enables the setting up of the current database in the

“Specifics Management” environment. The name is shown on the



application tool bar up above. If other operators are connected they will be able to keep working on their current

Select a Database and press “Copy” to create a new copy of the Project Database. The program automatically checks out that no other users are interfering with the project, but if so sends an error message. Then a mask displays to name the project ( no empty spaces or special digits are allowed) . Beside it is possible to cancel all data of the original Database in order to create an empty new one. This can be useful when it does not exist a Database similar to those required by the new Project. In this case it is possible to import the data from other databases through the procedure “Import/Export data from-to Databases“ which will be described further on. In any case the Classes and the libraries imported from the original database, can all be independently modified. Once ended the procedure the Database is set as the current database.

The program will create two file for each new Database created by the operator, which the SQL server relies on. By convention the name of the file is the following one: NewProject.MDF, NewProject_LOG.LDF, where NewProject is the name of the Database. Such files, when used by the database, cannot be treated by the operating system and

therefore cannot be copied or loaded into another environment. All the management procedures of the files must be carried on through the commands provided by the application.

Press “Import” to insert a new Database. It is imported from the folder the operator indicates. The name of the database is the same as the MDF file’s name without the extension. The program checks there are not other databases with the same name.

Press “Export” to create a new copy of the Database and move it in other working environment. The choice of the folder where to process the database is up to the user. It is also possible to rename the database. The program checks no other operators are working at the same time at the same database.

Press “Delete” to permanently remove a database either from the

procedure and the system disk. A window will display asking to confirm the procedure. While proceeding the program verifies that no other



operators are working at the database. The “Delete” procedure is necessary when the project is completed or just before importing a Database with the same name in order to work on an updated version.

Press “Back-up” in order to export at the same time all Databases of the procedure to create one copy for safety reasons. The operator will choose the export folder. At the same time the program denies the access to any other operators at the moment of the back-up.

Change Password, enables the setting and the change of the password to access the Database and Class editing functions. Without a password there will not be any restrictions to access the procedure.

Data Acquisition from Puma – Drie, gives access to the import environment of the program PUMA materials management.

Import / Export data between databases, this option is used to exchange data between two different databases. The program asks for the name of the secondary database, i.e. the database data are imported to or exported from.

Once defined the secondary database its data are displayed in the lower part of the mask (blue background) while components of the primary database, i.e. that at present used by ESApro, in the upper part.

The following objects can be treated in import / export:



o Component Tables

o Classes

o Supports

o Equipment

o Models for lists

o Typologies

In order to select the object type use the corresponding buttons in the toolbar in the upper part.

When importing/exporting pipe Classes also their related materials tables are moved. Each component maintains its identification code.

Export, in order to export data, select objects in the primary database (upper part of the window) and press the down left button “Export”.

If you want to overwrite the already existing objects in the secondary database, check the “Overwrite existing data” box otherwise components with the same identification code will not be exported.

Import, in order to import data, select objects in the secondary database (lower part of window) and press the down left button “Import”.

If you want to overwrite the already existing objects in the primary database, check the “Overwrite existing data” box otherwise components with the same identification code will not be imported.

Delete, components can be deleted from the secondary database only. Select the desired items and press the down left button “Delete”.

All, imports all user components created by the user, i.e. not supplied by ESApro. They are marked with “#” in column “U” and are characterized by a very high identification number.

In order to import all user components from the secondary database press the red arrow button in the upper toolbar.



In this case also the checkbox “Overwrite existing data” controls the import of already existing components.

esapro 3d piping

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