Getting Started

Introduction to the Basics

Cadpipe Control Center

When you first select the Cadpipe Program icon on your desktop, you will automatically start up the Cadpipe Control Center. The control center helps you create and organize a directory structure for your projects in a way that all of the Cadpipe modules understand. When you enter for the first time, you will be in the default working project directory created during installation. Of course, you can always just use that, but for this purpose we will assume that you have already created a project within the Industrial 3D Pipe document. All projects created apply to all Cadpipe Industrial modules. If you have already gone through that, you will see a very similar dialog box here.

Create a Drawing

Right click within the Files area, and you will see the File Operations dialog box below.

Enter, or use the Browse Key to select a prototype drawing. For this purpose, we will accept the default. Enter your Drawing name. Pick OK, and you will see your new drawing name appear in the listing in the project manager.

Either double ‘click’ the drawing name, or pick Launch at the bottom of the control center screen, and AutoCAD will open the drawing, and Cadpipe will load.

If you have both metric and imperial Iso installed, you will see the following prompt. Please select your preference. If you only have one of these installed, you won’t see this dialog box, and go straight to the next.

See the Available options. Move and Copy will open a browse window. Here we will select Create.

As this is a new drawing, you will have to go through an initialization procedure. This only happens the first time you enter a new uninitialized drawing file. First you will be prompted as to whether or not you would like to initialize the dwg. It is best to agree.

Job numbers entered in this screen can be used for the BOM or for the global bill of materials. In this case, enter anything you’d like, or simply leave that empty, and select OK. We will also check off the Place a border box, which will set your drawing sheet size, as well as your drawing limits.

Becuase we selected the Place a border box, you will be prompted with sheet size lists. The dialox box shown is imperial, but will reflect metric sheet sizes if that was initially chosen.

You should see the dialog box below, which confirms that Cadpipe is loaded.

Once Cadpipe is loaded, please set up your AutoCAD screen to your preferences. For example, you may want to dock your toolbars, units of preference etc.

It is a good idea to have your AutoCAD Osnap toolbar docked as well for easy access.

You may also find that laying out your PID’s is easiest with Ortho mode and Snap on. Here we have the snap set to 1/16”.

Customizing your setup.

Cadpipe PID allows you to set up company standards. While in this example, we are not going to modify anything here, you might want to have a look.

You can find the Edit Defaults command under the Edit pulldown menu, or on the CP PID Ribbon Tab.

For example, you might want to have your valves appear with end type specific blocks

You would find this under Toggles, #13 – Place Valves with distinctive ends. Turning this toggle on would have your flanged valves show up as they do below on the left, rather than the default (on the right).

Or you could set a polyline width for your flow lines, under Drawing Standards, and #6 and #7. Additional flowline layers will use the Secondary flow line setting.

There are many other settings that you could modify, but for this exercise, we will accept default settings.

Commands to Remember

Reset – Located under the Settings pulldown menu, the CP PID Ribbon Tab, and on the Settings toolbar as shown.

This command will reset all of your applicable current settings to those of a digitized fitting. For example, line designation, size and rating

Undo Back – Located under the Edit pulldown menu, All Cadpipe Ribbon Tabs, and on the Settings toolbar as shown. This will undo your last Cadpipe fitting placement.

Cadpipe Current Settings

Current Settings

This dialog box shows you all of your current settings. That is, all of the parameters that define the pipe or fittings that you are going to place. ie Pipe size, rating etc. It is available on the Settings toolbar as illustrated, under the Settings pulldown menu, or on the CP PID ribbon tab.

The first thing that you will want to look at here is the Line Designation. Set your line number to whatever you like. (P-555 used here) Do not include the pipe size in the line number – this will only cause duplication.

Cadpipe comes equipped with many example piping specifications. Obviously, you would set up your own, initially by copying one of our supplied samples and renaming that. For this purpose though, we will set to AAA1 – which is a supplied, generic 300# CS spec. Further information on customizing piping specs will be discussed later.

For now, set your spec to AAA1. You will see a spec check ‘button’. When that is turned on, you will see all the settings below become deactivated. The spec controls the rating and end types. If you want to change either of these, you can turn spec check off, and they will be active again.

The spec override button disables spec check for one placement, and is also available on the placement dialog boxes. Don’t worry about that one at this time. You’ll notice the pipe/equipment settings as well. This, we will leave at pipe, but this setting will allow you to set items to separate in your BOM, as they are potentially supplied by the equipment vendor.

We will also ignore the settings at the bottom of this dialog box for the time being. – Plant, PID number etc.

For example, with AAA1, spec on – change your pipe size from 1” to 6” (25-150mm), and you’ll see the settings in the dialog box change. This spec is SW small bore, with 800# valves, and BW / RF 300# large bore. Remain set to 6” (150mm)

While it is not required to use piping specs at all, it is recommended. We’ll use AAA1 in this example, but feel free to use another if you prefer. A brief description of our generic supplied specs follows. All listed use the AP database unless otherwise noted.

For your information....

Summary of Supplied Example Specs : All use the ANSI Plus database unless otherwise noted.

AAA1 300# CS

ABB1 300# CS / THRD Small Bore

C12A 150# CS

C12LJ 150# CS, Lap Joint Flanges

C32A 300# CS

C62A 600# CS

C92A 900# CS

CA2B 1500# CS

CB2B 2500# CS

CL-001 600# Clamped

F-LINED 150# CS Lined

FLGD 150# CS Flanged

FRP1 150# Fibercast (Plastics db)

FRP2 150# FRP Lapped (Plastics db)

PVC 150# PVC (Plastics db)

S11C 150# 304 SS (AP db)

S11D 150# 304L SS (AP db)

S11E 150# 316 SS (AP db)

S11F 150# 316L SS (AP db)

S11LJ 150# 304 SS Lap Joint (SS db)

S31C 300# 304 SS (AP db)

S31D 300# 304L SS (AP db)

S31E 300# 316 SS (AP db)

S31F 300# 316L SS (AP db)

S61C 600# 304 SS (AP db)

S61D 600# 304L SS (AP db)

S61E 600# 316 SS (AP db)

S61F 600# 316L SS (AP db)

Depending on your installation, you may also see supplied example specs from the DIN or BS databases.

Because of the editing capabilities of Cadpipe PID, you can always add, or modify your specs at a later date, and have the drawing update automatically.

Equipment

Cadpipe PID is supplied with a fairly extensive equipment library. You will find this on your Place pulldown menu, or the CP PID Ribbon tab as shown. Additional pieces of equipment can be added, but will be discussed in later documentation.

For this example, we will place a horizontal vessel, and a centrifugal pump, as illustrated below. PID’s are schematic drawing files, so locations shown are approximate. Feel free to modify them as you wish.

Watch your command line for entry prompts.

Equipment section of Ribbon tab.

Layer colors can be controlled through the AutoCAD layer command. Further information on layer control will be discussed in subsequent documentation.

Command: <<<Place pressure vessel>> <BOM On><><>

Select vessel / boot:

Place horizontal vessel: Vessel diameter <2.0000>:

Vessel tan/tan length <4.0000>:

Enter equipment number <>: v-101

Digitize location:

Digitize equipment tag location <Exit>:

Accept the default scale of 2 and 4 for diameter and length. Here we’ve entered an Equipment tag of V-101 when prompted. You’ll return to the vessel icon menu after tag placement, to prompt for a boot. In this case, we will return or enter to exit the command. Ie – no boot.

Approximate equipment locations on a C size drawing sheet.

Select vessel / boot:

Return, or Enter to exit the command.

We will also place a pump.

Command: <<<Place pump>> <BOM On><><>

Enter equipment subtype:

equipment scale factor <1.000>:

Digitize rotation base point <Exit>:

Rotation angle:

Enter equipment number <V-101>: p-101

Digitize location:

Digitize equipment tag location <Exit>:

Digitize rotation base point <Exit>:

Command:

Accept the default scale factors at this point, and 0 for the rotation angle when prompted.

Accept the default scale factor (of 1) for your centrifugal pump placement, and a rotation angle of 0. Here we have entered P-101 for the equipment number. You will notice that the last equipment tag entered is the default.

Flow Lines

Cadpipe uses an intelligent flow line to represent a run of pipe. Items placed on that flow line automatically adopt the intelligence of that line. (line number size, rating and piping specification)

Set your flow line layer either on your Place pulldown menu, or on the CP PID Ribbon Tab as shown. Adding additional flow line layers will be discussed in subsequent documentation.

Place Flow line is under the Place pulldown menu, the CP PID Ribbon tab, or on the Placement Commands toolbar.

Notice on the command line, that you have the option to set your line designation (line number and spec) during routing line placement, or you can use the Current Settings dialog box. Your current line designation, and layer setting is reflected on the command line as well as on your status bar.

Here we will set to the Main Flow line layer, and draw flow lines similar to what you see below.

Flow line layers can be set on either the pulldown menu, or the ribbon tab as shown.

Then, we will change the line number to P-540 and the pipe size to 4” (100mm). Set to the Secondary Flow line layer, and draw the other flow lines shown.

If you have your Snap On, and Ortho mode On, you should simply be able to draw these by eye – they will connect automatically. If not, use your osnaps.

You will also find a Set Size command that you can use to quickly change the pipe size. This is found on the Setting toolbar, under the Settings pulldown menu, or on the CP PID ribbon tab. You can also type SS at the command line.

Placing Valves

Next we will populate the lines with valves as shown. Valves placed will automatically trim out your flowlines as required.

For example, lets place a gate valve at the vessel, then a couple of block valves. Notice that you will be prompted for valve tag and size tag locations. Digitize a location for these if you want them to appear on your drawing. The valve tags come from your piping spec, in this case AAA1. These can be easily modified at any time.

Command:<<Place gate valve>>

<BOM On><><><P-555><6"><300#><Flgd-RF>

Digitize location <Exit>: NEAREST to

Digitize tag location <None>:

Enter valve tag /None <VG301>:

Digitize size tag location <None>: <Spec check off>

Digitize location <Exit>: NEAREST to

Return to exit the command, or digitize a location for the next valve.

You may notice that we have also added a bypass flow line using the same procedure that you used previously. You do not need to worry about the bypass line size at this time. We will edit that later. We will place a globe valve on that bypass as shown.

Control Valve

Next we will place a 4” (100mm) control valve. You will find the control valve command under the Place pulldown menu, the CP PID Ribbon Tab, or the Placement commands toolbar.

Notice the Valve Tag is brought in automatically from your piping spec – in this case AAA1.

Because we are placing a 4” (100mm) Control valve on a 6” flowline, we will be prompted as to whether or not we wish to update our valve size. In this situation, we will say No.

We will then be prompted to enter the CV tag. Enter information as show. The tag will be centered in the balloon, dependant on how many lines of information you fill in.

Then you will be prompted for the actuator information. Here we will select a general diaphragm.

Add your valves on the lines in and out of the pump using the same procedure as previously. You will be prompted for the direction of flow when placing the check valve. Simply drag your cursor in the direction required.

Reducers

Cadpipe PID uses intelligent flow lines, so you will notice that when you place a reducer, the line changes as well. So too, do any valves placed on the line ‘downstream’ from the placement.

For example, we will place a 4x6 (100x150) reducer on the suction side of the pump. You will find the reducer under the Fittings placement command, under the Place pulldown menu, the Placement toolbar, or the CP PID Ribbon Tab.

Command: << <<Place reducer>>

Digitize location point / Remove <Exit>: NEAREST to

Inlet size <4">

Outlet direction:

Digitize size tag location <None>: .

Digitize line labels associated with highlighted segment <Exit>:

Digitize location point / Remove <Exit>: NEAREST to

Drag your cursor for your outlet directions when prompted.

Digitize a location for the size tag if required.

Instrumentation

Here we will place an instrument balloon for a PI at the pump outlet, and a Flow element as shown. You will find these under the Place pulldown menu, the placement commands toolbar, or on the CP PID Ribbon Tab.

Flow Rate Symbols Instrument Balloons

Choose the Instrument Balloon with the leader for the PI.

As with the CV Balloon, the tag will be centered in the balloon depending on how many lines of text that you enter. Here we have added the PI as PI 500, and a Flow element as FE 501.

Here we placed a flanged Orifice for our Flow element.

Instrument lines

Cadpipe PID also gives you the ability to easily add and modify instrument lines. Located under your Place pulldown menu, the Placement commands toolbar, or on the CP PID Ribbon Tab.

Place an instrument line similar to what is shown above. Here we have used a generic instrument supply line at the Orifice flanges, and an electrical signal line from the CV to that. We’ve also used the Instrument balloon shown below, which will trim out the instrument line.

Instrument lines behave in a similar fashion to flow lines – valve placement will trim out properly, and they will break for crossing flowings.

Instrument modifiers are available on your Placement commands toolbar, under the Place pulldown menu, or the CP PID Ribbon tab.

Editing

Cadpipe PID provides extensive editing capabilities. Replacing an instrument line for example, found within the same commands that place them originally, is quick and simple.

Simply select the Replace Instrument line option, and you will be prompted to select the line, and then the new format. For example, let’s change that electrical line to a pneumatic one.

Select Pneumatic when prompted.

We will also want to edit the size of our bypass line. You will find the Edit Size command under your Edit pulldown, on the CP Tools Ribbon Tab, or on the Edit commands toolbar.

Simply select the line and size you require, in this case 4” (100mm). Notice that the valve size tag is updated, as well as the valve tag itself if it is different in your piping spec.

Annotations

Line Label

The Line label will be found under the Annotation pulldown menu, or on the CP Tools Ribbon Tab.

Select the line to label, label location, and drag your cursor for your rotation angle.

Then we’ll edit the line designation of the line on the pump discharge – to P-541. Edit line designation can be found on your edit commands toolbar as shown, under the Edit pulldown menu, or on the CP Tools Ribbon Tab.

Command: <<Change line designation>>

<Spec check on>

Digitize FlowLine / item <Exit>:

FlowLine selected.

Working...

Select off line objects? [Yes/No] <No>: Y

Select objects: 1 found

Select objects:

1 items changed to line number P-541-AAA1.

Digitize FlowLine / item <Exit>:

Notice that the line label placed has also been updated.

Flow Arrows

The Automatic Flow arrow command is found under the Auto pulldown menu, or on the CP Tools Ribbon Tab. You will just select the flow line, and drag your cursor in the required flow direction. Notice that when you select the line containing the check valve, that you are not prompted for the flow direction at all, and that the flow arrows are placed automatically in the correct direction.

When prompted to select offline objects, digitize the PI.

Change the line designation highlighted, to P-541

There are many more editing and annotating capabilities within Cadpipe PID. You’ll find items like continuation arrows etc in your General symbols, under the Place pulldown menu, the CP PID Ribbon Tab, and the Placement commands toolbar.

You should note that you can move tags etc with AutoCad’s grips, or with Cadpipe’s move/edit tag commands. Erasing an valve or fitting with either the AutoCad erase command , or with the Cadpipe commands will also repair the flowline.

AutoBOM

Cadpipe’s Bill of Materials can extract your material list into several different formats, depending on your specific requirements. (ie: excel, access, ascii, display, or directly to your printer) You can extract material information from a single drawing file, or from an entire project.

Material descriptions and user codes – or part numbers – are read in from your piping specifications, so can be as simple or detailed as you require. More information on this is included in the documentation on Cadpipe Specs.

The Auto BOM command is found on the Auto pulldown menu, on the CPTools ribbon tab, or on the Placement commands toolbar as shown.

Selecting the AutoBOM icon, will bring up the dialog box above.

Use the CDF option to export the BOM into excel.

You’ll see that you have several sorting options as well as the ability to call up specific reports, depending on your current requirements.

Potential Issues

Note: If, for some reason you do not see this dialog box when you enter the drawing, it is most likely that the Cadpipe module is not loaded. In this case, please confirm that the cp12\cpacadw directory is included in your support file search path within the AutoCAD options command. There are some AutoCAD installations that are not automatically reading the Autodesk switches – particularly if you are using any of the Autodesk Mechanical installations.

Note: If you wish to use the pulldowns, and they do not appear, set menubar to 1 at the command line.