piping - manuale operativo (nuovo)

ESApro ISOMETRICS

Release V7

USER MANUAL (rev. 5.0)

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ESApro - Isometrics p. 1

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 3 2 BASE CONCEPTS ................................................................................................................ 6

2.1. ISOMETRIC EXECUTION PROCEDURE ................................................................. 6 2.2. PARAMETER TABLES .............................................................................................. 7 2.3. PIPING CLASSES ...................................................................................................... 8 2.4. CHOOSING THE WORKING PARAMETERS ........................................................... 8 2.5. COMMANDS ARRANGEMENT AND USE ................................................................ 9 2.6. TRIDIMENSIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT ............................................... 9 2.7. PIPE-SNAP FUNCTION ........................................................................................... 10

3. TUTORIAL .......................................................................................................................... 12 3.1. START-UP ............................................................................................................... 12 3.2. TITLE BLOCK INSERTION ...................................................................................... 12 3.3. PIPELINE LAY-OUT ................................................................................................. 14 3.4. COMPONENT PLACEMENT ................................................................................... 19 3.5. DIMENSIONING AND PIPE LENGTH COMPUTATION .......................................... 23 3.6. ANNOTATIONS AND FINISHING TOUCHES ......................................................... 31 3.7. BILL OF MATERIALS EXTRACTION ...................................................................... 34

4. COMMAND REFERENCE .................................................................................................. 37 4.1. PIPE ......................................................................................................................... 37 4.2 LINE MANAGER ...................................................................................................... 43 4.3. COMPOSITE PIPE ................................................................................................... 48 4.4. ELBOW .................................................................................................................... 49 4.5. MITER ELBOWS ...................................................................................................... 53 4.6. BRANCHES ............................................................................................................. 54 4.7. STRAIGHT COMPONENTS .................................................................................... 57 4.8. ANGLE COMPONENTS .......................................................................................... 64 4.9. SYMBOLS ................................................................................................................ 65 4.10. BOLTS AND NUTS .................................................................................................. 66 4.11. STRUCTURE DETAILS ........................................................................................... 67 4.12. TOOLS ..................................................................................................................... 69 4.13. EDIT COMPONENTS .............................................................................................. 71 4.14. OBJECT PROPERTIES ........................................................................................... 72 4.15. SPECS MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................... 74 4.16. WORKING OPTIONS ............................................................................................... 74 4.17. DIMENSIONING ...................................................................................................... 78 4.18. LINE AND COMPONENT TAGGING ....................................................................... 82 4.19. ANNOTATIONS ....................................................................................................... 84 4.20. TITLE BLOCK .......................................................................................................... 87 4.21. BILL OF MATERIALS ............................................................................................... 88 4.22. IMPORT FILE .ISO FROM ESAPRO PIPING 3D .................................................... 94 4.23. GENISO PROCEDURE FOR ISOMETRICS GENERATION ................................. 101

5. CUSTOMIZATION ............................................................................................................ 104 5.1. COMPONENT CREATION .................................................................................... 104 5.2. TITLE BLOCK CUSTOMIZATION .......................................................................... 108

6. SPECS AND DATA MANAGEMENT ................................................................................. 109 6.1. PARAMETER TABLES .......................................................................................... 109 6.2. CREATING NEW TYPOLOGIES ........................................................................... 111 6.3. MODIFYING TYPOLOGIES ................................................................................... 112 6.4. DELETING TYPOLOGIES ..................................................................................... 112 6.5. CREATING DATA TABLES ................................................................................... 113 6.6. ENTERING DETAIL DATA ..................................................................................... 113 6.7. REMARKS ON SPECIAL TABLES ........................................................................ 116 6.8. IMPLICIT MATERIALS ........................................................................................... 117 6.9. COPY / PASTE FUNCTIONS ................................................................................ 117

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6.10. MODIFYING TABLES ............................................................................................ 118 6.11. DELETING TABLES ............................................................................................... 118 6.12. TABLES, WHERE USED AND LOG ...................................................................... 118 6.13. FILLING IN PIPING CLASSES .............................................................................. 119 6.14. LIBRARIES ............................................................................................................. 124 6.15. PROJECTS ............................................................................................................ 135 6.16. BILL OF MATERIAL ............................................................................................... 145 6.17. UTILITIES ............................................................................................................... 148

7. ESAPRO SPOOL .............................................................................................................. 153 7.1. SPOOL GROUPS .................................................................................................. 154 7.2. SPOOL TAGS ........................................................................................................ 155 7.3. SPOOL MATERIAL LIST ....................................................................................... 156 7.4. SPOOL-SKETCH GENERATION .......................................................................... 156

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1. INTRODUCTION

Based on AutoCAD®, the most popular CAD package all over the world, ESApro Isometrics brilliantly solves the problem of pipe isometric drawings. Operations are performed not in a false isometric view on a plane but in a true 3D environment made easier by powerful graphic functions. Advantages are quite a few.

o Great accuracy in graphic representation.

o An improved environment management; texts and dimensions are the normal AutoCAD standards oriented in space; no need for creating sloping text styles. Text and dimension style can be freely set with the usual AutoCAD commands.

o The components customization is strongly simplified. In order to create a new symbol it is enough to draw it once in a standard view. No need for drawing different distorted views of the same object.

o Optimal prearrangement for automatic import of ESApro Piping 3D models.

Drawing is conventionally performed out of scale with symbolic components while the related characteristic data and dimensions come from the library shared with ESApro Piping 3D which is totally user customizable. This ensures the possibility of automatically carrying out bill of materials and pipe length computation.

The library supplied with the program contains ASME, ISO, UNI and DIN dimensional standards and anyhow a driven procedure helps the user to fill in those tables data eventually missing.

The user interface is very easy to handle. Almost all commands are accessible through a key and the choice of components to be drawn is quick and intuitive.

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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.

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It is available a dedicated toolpallet.

The program has been designed in order to make operation easier and to reduce to a minimum the know-how of AutoCAD; it is required.a basic knowledge only.l

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2 BASE CONCEPTS

This chapter deals with the preliminary information needed for the correct use of the program.

2.1. ISOMETRIC EXECUTION PROCEDURE

Isometric execution is about the fundamental procedures which will be widely discussed in the next chapters.

o Opening of a new drawing with the "New" command of AutoCAD Check messages on the line command which shows the correct program loading. The operating environment is initialized, in particular the isometric viewpoint is set.

o Title block insertion from the pull down menu ISO / Title block / Insert and filling in of Project Code and Drawing Number. Said data are necessary for the correct fill-in of sketch components and bill of materials extraction. The title block must be customized as it will be described further on. The title block must be inserted first as it opens the AutoCAD paper space environment and point out the space dedicated to the sketch drawing and to the bill of materials.

o Choice of Piping Class for the current line. Piping Classes creation will be discussed further on. This setting stores relevant data into components which enable the subsequent bill of material extraction.

o Drawing of pipelines in space. Suitable procedures drive the user in drawing lines parallel to the coordinate axes or anyhow sloping in space. The program allows, as usual in isometrics, the pipe lengths to be out of scale and to be specified subsequently in the dimensioning phase. On the contrary angles between pipe segments must be exact in order to enable the right elbow development computation. To this purpose many aids are provided for specifying angles between pipes in space.

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o Insertion of components on pipelines. Except for bent and butt weld elbows, which are drawn parametrically since they need to fit whichever angle between pipes, remaining components are blocks easily customizable. Their insertion is dynamical, i.e. while they are dragged when passing over a pipe they are attracted by it and automatically position themselves. Before releasing the component on a pipe you can rotate it around the line, reverse its direction, change its insertion point (left end, center, right end) and automatically position it at the pipe ends or the pipe center. Suitable check procedures prevent or report invalid operations such as inconsistencies between pipes and components diameters or specifications.

o Dimensioning. Except for pipe lengths all components data are already known. Dimensioning has the double function of inserting suitable information into the drawing and of computing pipe lengths starting from the dimensions inserted by the user and subtracting the lengths of components which are known. The dimensioning procedure is very flexible and automatically proposes a default position in space with possibility of changing it as you like. In case of a segment which does not lay on one of the coordinate axes, its components are drawn and you are asked for their dimensioning. Insertion of a whichever component causes the automatic computing of the remaining ones since angles are already known as told at the previous point. It is also possible to insert reference dimensions with the only purpose of making annotations.

o Bill of materials extraction. Provided that title block, Project Code and Drawing Number have been inserted the bill of materials is generated completed with item balloons on the drawing.

2.2. PARAMETER TABLES

As told in the introduction, the drawing of components is dependent on parameters. Parameters are stored in the database, are linked to the objects and enables their identification and the bill of materials generation. The database is shared with ESApro Piping 3D, therefore even dimensional data unnecessary for isometric symbols are provided as they are required for 3D modelling. The end to end dimension is always necessary since it allows the computation of pipe lengths.

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The program is not able to identify an object in absence of its parameter table while in order to make a new object available it is enough to fill in a suitable data table.

For instance in order to draw an elbow, which in the isometric environment is represented by a symbol, besides bent radius and outer diameter, which are dimensional parameters, also a series of descriptive information such as standard, material and description will be required in order to identify the object and generate bills of materials. Such information can be found in manufacturers’ catalogues or in international standards (ASME, ISO, UNI, DIN). ESApro Isometrics is supplied with tables relevant to said standards and anyhow it allows to add new ones.

2.3. PIPING CLASSES

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 on the line 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 independently one from each other.

2.4. CHOOSING THE WORKING PARAMETERS

When creating a line its Class as well as its Nominal Diameter must be defined through the suitable dialogue window. Through these values the program will be able to get the pipe data from Class.

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Afterwards, when inserting a component into the line, Class and Nominal Diameter specification is not required any longer 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.

The only exception is represented by reducing components which get from the line only the main diameter. Then a dialogue window allows to set the reducing diameter or the main one.

Values set before for Piping Class and Nominal Diameter will be re-offered when creating a new line until the user decides to change them.

2.5. COMMANDS ARRANGEMENT AND USE

Commands are accessible in five different ways, Ribbon , Toolpallet, ISO Components pull down menus, keyboard shortcuts or Tool Bars.

All program functions are available in the pull down menus. The detail is discussed in chapter “Command Reference”. Furthermore at the side of each command characters or numbers representing the keyboard shortcuts can appear. Icon dialogue windows for selecting components to be drawn are accessible through pull down menus or keyboard. The pull down menu also offers commands to access the Data Tables and Classes management procedure.

2.6. TRIDIMENSIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

At the opening of a new drawing the standard isometric view point is set in AutoCAD model space. Once inserted the title block with the ISO / TitleBlock / Insert command the program sets the Layout environment with the title block in paper space and a window dedicated to the isometric drawing in model space. Drawing will be performed in tridimensional space while annotations and bill of materials will be placed in the bidimensional one. The choice of the suitable space is made by the program while executing commands. Two types of aid are provided for drawing isometrics in the tridimensional environment:

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o Procedures for sketching out pipelines in the space with embedded coordinate system management.

o Automatic positioning of components and dimensions on pipelines.

In the first case the user defines a path in space with the aid of a series of tools. In the second one the program manages almost fully the 3D environment leaving to the user only finishing operations such as rotation, reversal, etc..

Besides the 3D management tools embedded in the sketching and dimensioning commands, a stand alone command “Tools / Set UCS” for just positioning the coordinate system in the space is provided; it allows to translate the system origin, rotate it around X, Y, Z axes or hook it to a component. Once positioned the system you can use all the available commands in the standard two dimensional environment.

2.7. PIPE-SNAP FUNCTION

ESApro ISO provides a function for capturing the reference points of the isometrics components laying on a pipeline. Sometimes AutoCAD snaps are inadequate for selecting a work point (e.g. a bent elbow vertex) or not enough selective (e.g. selection of the plant nodes for dimensioning operations). The Pipe-Snap function instead once selected a component, which as a consequence is highlighted, takes the reference point nearest to the selection point. Foreign objects are automatically rejected.

Each ESApro object has at least three reference points, which correspond to the two extremes and to the middle point. For elbows and in general for angle components the ends are located on the branches of the axes defining them. For tees and three-way valves there is a fourth point at the branch end. For crosses and four-way valves there is a fifth point at the end of the other branch. The reference points of the most common objects,

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drawn in a real representation for clarity, are shown in the figure. We point out that, except for middle points, reference points stand for “Connection Points” with other components or pipes. Therefore reference points of threaded or socket-welding components are located on the socket/thread bottom.

In order to try this function, press PS (Pipe-Snap); the cursor typical of the object selection will display. The cursor typical of the object selection is displayed. When passing over whichever pipeline component, it is highlighted and, if the selection point is close enough to a reference point, this last one is highlighted with a small yellow dot. By clicking the pointer the command terminates and the found point is returned. This is just an exercise, not useful in practise, for getting used to this command. In fact the Pipe-Snap function is nested into the creation, modification, dimensioning and selection commands where the returned point is used for the specific current operation. Mainly two aspects differentiate Pipe-Snap from AutoCAD Osnap:

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

o The second is that the point is not highlighted if it is out of the provided range. Such range depends on the drawing zoom factor. When operating from faraway it can be difficult to distinguish reference points one from each other. In such event it is enough to zoom in.

We suggest not to overdo with the zooming as the program allows the precision of the drawings otherwise. When the edges of the viewport are not visible it is no longer possible to determine a scale factor which is accettable by the yellow symbol of Pipe Snap. As a consequence the symbol might result excessively large thus interfering with the ordinary working procedure.

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3. TUTORIAL

This chapter introduces the main program functions with an example of isometric drawing that will be explained step by step. We suggest to perform this exercise before reading the “Command Reference” chapter. 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.

3.1. START-UP

We assume that the program is correctly configured as described in chapter 2, Installation. Launch the program with the icon on the desktop and check the messages saying the program has been loaded. Open a new drawing with the New command. The program initializes the environment and sets the isometric view.

3.2. TITLE BLOCK INSERTION

The title block has the basic function of highlighting and dividing the area dedicated to drawing from that dedicated to bill of materials.

In the ISO / TitleBlock menu choose Insert. The dialogue window for the file choice is displayed. Go to the installation directory and choose ISOA3. Open the “Working Options” window (keyboard shortcut “O”). Choose an existing project. Then type in a Drawing Number and leave the Revision field blank. Such data are required to identify the drawing. They will be used for filing drawn components and executing bills of materials. The title block customization is explained in chapter 6.

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Once inserted the title block, the drawing should be similar to that in figure. Now you can insert the North symbol on the desired direction with the ISO Components / Symbols command.

Advice: if you create and save an AutoCAD model with the above described procedure, this last one can be used as a base for a new isometric with the same title block thus avoiding further initialization and title block insertion procedures.

Save the drawing with the name ISOTEST.

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3.3. PIPELINE LAY-OUT

In this chapter we will describe the procedures and commands for drawing pipelines in space. For this exercise load the drawing ISOTEST created in the last paragraph. We suppose that libraries have not yet been customized and therefore we will refer to the native library. As usual in isometric drawings, lines are drawn out of scale and their length is arbitrarily fixed within the area provided by the title block. As this drawing is symbolic it is better to work on a scale of 1:1 with the printed sheet. Component dimensions are not real. Printing scale will be 1=1 even if nothing prevents from operating in a different way. But, for those reasons explained in the introduction, angles between pipes must be the real ones.

The pipeline drawing is performed in 3D space with the only Pipe command of the ISO menu, keyboard shortcut T, and offers all the necessary options for the positioning of the pipeline. Launch the command and choose Test Class and set ND 80 in the dialogue window. Insert the first point approximately where shown in figure. In the specified point the coordinate system displays whose direction depends on the command last used. In order to draw the first pipe segment press D and Enter and set the Ortho mode, if not already enabled, with the F8 key. Draw the segment from point 1 to point 2 as shown in figure.

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

Continue drawing the pipeline specifying point 3 and then press the E key in order to position the XY plane of the horizontal coordinate system. Disable the Ortho mode (F8) and specify point 4 approximately. Since the pipeline is not parallel to one of the main axes X, Y, Z, the program starts the procedure to specify the angle value. It offers the two components and asks for the value of that colored in magenta.

We point out that the purpose of this process is to determine the pipe angle and not its length therefore even any two components are valid provided they are proportional to the real ones. In this case the angle is 45° therefore you can enter 1 for the first component and 1 for the second. Otherwise you can enter the true components or directly 45° through the option Angle. At this point the program keeps the length of the pipe drawn but redirects the pipe itself according to the angle which has been computed or inserted by the user. Another possibility is to directly draw the pipe with the right angle making use of the polar coordinates in the horizontal coordinate system @50<135 and then press Enter o “I” in order to ignore the request for the components values. Terminate the pipeline drawing with Enter.

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Insert two butt welding elbows with the command ISO Components / Line Components (keyboard shortcut 1) or through the toolbar which offers a dialogue window for the choice of the desired component. Point approximately at points 2 and 3 of the figure below.

Save the drawing.

Continue by launching Pipe again and specify the last point drawn. Use the option Continue line which sets the End Snap and picks up Diameter and Class from the pre-existing pipe. We point out that for proper program operations, connections must be accomplished with the precision which can be obtained through the suitable tools of AutoCAD or ESApro only.

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Set the coordinate system horizontal and specify points 4 and 5 of the figure below.

Move the coordinate system to the right side of the isometric cube and specify point 6. Now we are going to draw a pipe segment to point 7 which lays neither on the axes nor on the coordinate planes. The same considerations made for the third segment already drawn are still valid, with the difference that three components or two angles are needed in order to specify the direction. Let us deal with this problem in the various possible ways:

o Set the coordinate system horizontal, enter the spherical coordinates @50<30<45 in the command line which identifies a point distant 50 from the previous one with angle of 30° in the XY plane and 45° of elevation from the XY plane. The direction of the resulting segment is approximately the desired one. Now the program asks for the coordinates in order to precisely establish the direction. Enter 3200, 1102, 907. The line is repositioned in the final direction.

o Proceed as above but when the program asks for the first coordinate chose the option Angle and enter first the angle in the XY plane and then the angle of elevation from the XY plane, in this case 19° and 15°. (Requested angles are displayed in magenta).

o Use the options of coordinate system positioning in order to draw the line directly in the final position. Set the coordinate system horizontal, and rotate it of 19° with the option Angle. Rotate the coordinate system of 90° around the X axis with the option X (rot X). Rotate the coordinate system of 15° with the option Angle. Set the Ortho mode and draw the line along the X axis with the required length. Ignore the request of components since the line is already correctly positioned.

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At last set the coordinate system on the right or left side of the isometric cube and specify point 8. Save the drawing.

Now insert some branches on the just drawn main pipeline. The Near Snap is pre-set whereby the precise connection with the main pipeline is ensured.

With the Pipe command set the main nominal diameter to 50 and draw the segments shown in figure. Approximately select point 11 and position the coordinate system on the right side of the isometric cube. Use the Rotate Option (R) three times. The system rotates around the Z axis of 15° each time for an amount of 45°. Draw a branch long as you like, ignore the request of coordinates and terminate the command. With the same nominal diameter draw the 90° branch at point 9 keeping the coordinate system on the right side. Set the nominal diameter at 40 and draw the 90° branch at point 10. Save the drawing.

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3.4. COMPONENT PLACEMENT

Except for rare exceptions components are inserted dynamically, i.e. they are attracted by the pipeline and place themselves in a default position. During this process you can enable Zoom, centered on the component, rotate it around the pipeline, reverse its direction (e.g. check valves), set the fit point at the right end, left end or in the middle of the component and finally insert it, through the Pipe-Snap function, both at the current cursor position and at the end or in the middle of a line. Furthermore some component types have specific behaviours, for instance angle valves jump immediately to the vertex of two lines. As we go along with this example we will be looking at all the component typologies and their insertion method.

When a component is inserted on a pipeline its ND and Piping Class are derived from the pipeline itself. Therefore ND and Piping Class pre-settings are not required. During this process several check-outs are performed and in case of inconsistencies suitable messages are issued. This happens for instance when inserting an elbow if the diameters of the two convergent pipe segments are different or when inserting a branch if its diameter is greater than that of the main line. Reducing elements are an exception. Such components are inserted on a line of given diameter. A dialogue window appears where one ND is taken from the line and the other one respects the last set value. Anyhow the offered values can be changed through the pull down menus. Once inserted the reducer the pipe segments on both sides, and those only, take diameters matching the reducer values. Our drawing had been left with two elbows inserted at points 2 and 3. With the ISO Components / Line Components command (keyboard shortcut 1) choose butt welding elbows, and insert the elbows at points 4, 5, 6 and 7 by clicking approximately at the vertex of the two segments. Elbows will take diameter 80. We remind that connections between lines must always be precise. Butt welding elbows have on their extremes the welding symbol which differentiates them from bend pipes which have not. For both elbow types two small axes are drawn which locate the vertex of the contiguous pipes which will be used as a reference point when dimensioning. Once inserted the elbow, pipes are automatically cut. Furthermore you can see how the two last elbows fit

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the angle between the two pre-existing pipes. This is the reason why elbows are not predefined graphic blocks but entities parametrically generated. The true angle representation allows the computation of the elbow development.

Through the keyboard shortcut 1, enable the line component dialogue window and choose a reducing Tee. Click near point 10, not at the cross but at the branch side. The Tee automatically takes the right position and gets the diameters of lines, 300 and 200. To verify all that launch the command ISO / Object Properties (shortcut XL) and select the Tee. A dialogue window displays the component relevant data, in particular main nominal diameter and end to end dimensions.

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Zoom in around point 9 and choose a weldolet. You can see the component while dragging it. The yellow cross represents the cursor. Slowly approach the cross along the branch line, as soon as you overcome the middle of the line the component jumps to its final position. By left clicking the process ends and the branch is automatically cut.

Now choose a 45° reducing branch and with the same method insert it at point 11.

Choose in the menu ISO Components / Straight Valves (keyboard shortcut 4) a flanged check valve which shows the flow direction, and drag it beside point 1. Some options are available. If necessary type in Z while the cursor is close to the insertion point so to zoom around that point. Type in P and the previous viewpoint is then obtained, otherwise use the mouse wheel. Note that you do not need to press Enter. The command is immediately executed when pressing the related key. With the valve close to the desired point try the various positioning options:

o Recurrently type in “R” in order to rotate the component in the various positions.

o Type in “I” to reverse the flow direction.

o Recurrently type in “A” in order to set the fit point at the left end, at the right end or at the valve midpoint. By the way if the valve has been reversed, left and right are reversed too.

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If you left click the valve is inserted in the cursor position. But if in the meantime the function Pipe-Snap has found an extreme or the midpoint of the line the component is released in that point. In this case insert the valve with the fit point on the left and on the line end next to point 1.

With the same method insert a flat gasket and a welding neck flange (menu ISO Components / Flanges shortcut 3). Note that both of them are already in a suitable position to fit the valve. When Pipe-Snap displays the yellow dot terminate the insertion. Save the drawing.

For a better understanding of the insertion of an angle component draw two pipe segments at 90° as in figure. Through the ISO Components / Angle Valves menu (shortcut 5) chose the Flanged Gen–1. Approaching the vertex of the two lines the valve immediately jumps to the right position. By moving the cursor at a certain distance and swinging it between the two lines the valve takes the two possible positions. Erase the two pipes and the valve just drawn.

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3.5. DIMENSIONING AND PIPE LENGTH COMPUTATION

Dimensioning is a fundamental process which contemporarily concerns pipe length computation and drawing documentation. As for other commands the tridimensional environment is managed by the program and the dimension is automatically positioned. The dimension value input and the fine positioning of the dimension itself are left to the user.

First dimension segment 1-2 (see figure below) then launch the command ISO / Dimensioning / Linear on the menu or through the keyboard shortcut XD. Note that on the command line the prompt “Mode: Computation 3D” shows up. That is to say the dimensioning will involve the pipe length computation and that, if needed, its components in space will be required. The Computation Mode Dimensioning also requires the two dimensioning point to be on the same rectilinear piece of pipeline. Zoom in and point first vertex 2 and then the right valve extreme.

Note that the Pipe-Snap function immediately captures the required point. We remind that the component the reference point is taken from is highlighted. This is of great help for the solution of ambiguous situations.

Once the two points have been selected, the program asks for the length (displayed with a temporary magenta line). Type in 6400 and Enter. The dimension is drawn in default position. Note that some

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repositioning options are now available. Type in R (Rotate) and A (Adjust) and drag the dimension (the hooking point is near the text, disable the Ortho mode if you like) to the new position shown in figure. When the position is acceptable press Enter.

The object dimension and the related precision are controlled by the DDIM AutoCAD command.

The program tries then to compute the length of the pipe laying on the dimensioned line. Since in this case just one dimension is required the computation is performed. The weldolet does not involve the need for two dimensions since it does not cut the main pipeline. You can verify that the computed length has been stored into the pipe by pointing at it with command XL as already explained. In this case the displayed length is 5924. Since the computation is performed by subtracting the length of the components from the overall dimension, the obtained value could be different if different components or diameters had been used. Should the computation fail for some reason it is possible to force a re-computation with command ISO / Tools / Length Re-computation by manually specifying the dimensions needed for the correct computation.

It will be possible later on to readjust a dimension in order to change its position or its value. Select the previous dimension with command ISO / Dimensioning / Edit Dimension. Try to reposition it with the Move, Rotate, mIrror commands and change its value. In the last case the pipe length is computed again and the pipe length is updated. The dialogue window which is enabled by the command XL allows to manually change the computed value stored in the length field. We point out that a pipe length, once computed, is independent of those dimensions it was generated from. If for any reason you wish to remove one of those dimensions, you can freely do that but no re-computation will be performed unless you insert it again.

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Dimension the vertical segment 2-3. Launch the XD command and simply point at vertexes 2 and 3. Type in 4662 and position the dimension as in the figure at the side through three rotations. Terminate the command. In this case also one dimension is enough for computing the pipe length. Now let us see the dimensioning of segment 3-4 which lays on the XY plane but not on a coordinate axis. Launch the command and point at vertexes 3 and 4; take care to select just point 4 since it

lays close to the elbow extremes.

In this case the program realizes that the dimension does not lay on an axis and draws the components asking for the related values. The first requested component is that displayed in magenta which you can see in dash line in the figure at the side. Type in 738 and use the repositioning options, then press Enter and Enter again in order to ignore the second component. Since angles are known, that in matter was 45°, once

given one component all the others are computed by the program. In this case the computed value is 738 again. Use the repositioning options and terminate the command. One possible arrangement is shown in the figure at the side.

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The pipe length computation is performed and the diagonal is inserted whose value is 1044. You can delete all or part of the parallelogram of the dimensions or the diagonal itself if you like. While the computation was performed you should have seen for a short time a dimension aligned to the pipe. This is necessary for the computation and is automatically put on the set off layer ISO_HDIM.

Now dimension the segment 4-5 and enter the value 3432. Position the dimension as in figure through a rotation and a mirror operation. Now we are going to position the dimension 4170 of the figure below. It is quite clear that such dimension is unnecessary to the purpose of length computation, which by the way has already been performed, since it can be obtained by adding the two already present dimensions 738 and 3432 and therefore does not bring any further information. Furthermore, if inserted as a Computation Dimension, it would cause an error message both because it is out of the segment in matter and because it is redundant anyhow. In order to insert such type of dimensions whose use is for annotation only, Reference Dimensions serves the purpose. As far as the insertion method is concerned Reference Dimensions works like the computation ones but do not start the computation process itself. Launch the XD command and enter R (Reference).The writing Reference Dimension displays on the command line. Specify the two points in figure. Since one of them does not lay on a line-element the Pipe-Snap function is not able to get it. Use the Snap option in order to pass to the standard AutoCAD Snaps. Re-position the dimension with a Rotate and an Adjust operation. The computation process does not start. The reference dimension mode remains set in the command until the user does not explicitly change it.

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Then, with this setting, dimension the branch in figure from its insertion point 9 to vertex 6. Reposition it with three Rotate operation and terminate the command. This dimension would not be correct as computation dimension since point 9 does not represent a node as the pipe is not broken off.

Now dimension the Tee from point 5 to 10. Launch the dimensioning command and set the Computation Dimension by pressing C. Point at vertex 5 and at the midpoint. Be careful when pointing, zoom in if necessary. Enter value 1220, reposition the dimension with three rotation operation and press Enter.

This time, after trying to perform the computation, the program gives a warning: Not enough dimensions for computation. Complete segment dimensioning. It is clear that the dimension between point 5 and 6 is missing. As a general criterion we remind that the number of dimensions necessary and sufficient to compute all lengths of a rectilinear segment of pipeline is

equal to the number of pipes of that segment.

Then dimension segment 5-6 by pointing the related vertex, entering 4985 and re-positioning the dimension as in figure at side with three Rotate and one Adjust operation. Now the computation is performed.

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Now we are going to dimension segment 6-7 which does not lay either on the coordinate axes or on the coordinate planes (see figure at side). Launch the Dimensioning / Linear command and point at vertexes 6 and 7 (if you select vertexes in a different order the components required by the program may be different from those exposed in this exercise). A parallelepiped displays whose diagonal is the pipe and the program asks for the first component. As already told, since the pipe slope is already defined, once one dimension is required, the others are computed by the program

In this exercise skip the first component insertion with Enter and pass to the second one. Type in 1080 and press Enter, without taking care of the positioning for the time being. Then the program computes the previous component and offers the re-positioning options, press Enter again in order to pass to the third component and terminate the command. The diagonal value is displayed and the pipe computation is performed. Through the ISO / Dimensioning / Edit dimension command re-position the components until the configuration in figure is achieved.

In this case the option Move, not yet used, will shift the dimensions from one side of the parallelepiped to the other. This option has the Snap End preset and for clearness reasons the Ortho mode should be disabled. Once done that, delete that part of the parallelepiped not required and you will get the configuration as in figure. Now with the ISO / Dimensioning / Angular command insert the two angular dimensions in figure selecting the two lines delimiting the angle, as usual in AutoCAD, and then drag the text to its final position. Be careful not to select the axes which define the elbow vertexes. As an exercise insert a radial dimension too (ISO / Dimensioning / Radial) by selecting the elbow at point 6. Save the drawing.

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Now perform the altimetrical dimension of the figure at the side. Choose Altimetrical on the menu ISO / Dimensioning and point approximately the extreme of the vertical dimension at point 2 and with the Ortho mode enabled draw the base line of whichever length you wish. The dimension symbol displays which can be dragged on to the previously drawn line and released in the desired position. The program asks

for the dimension value, enter 6600.

Now repeat the command in order to position an altimetrical dimension at point 3, as in the figure below. But when the program asks for the value, type in C to start the computation. Then at the request of the base dimension point at value 6600 of the previous dimension.

Now the command is in addition mode and is waiting for the selection of a certain number of vertical dimensions to be summed to the base dimension (6600). Point at the dimension of value 4662 and note that the temporary result is displayed. Press Enter to terminate the command, the altimetrical dimension gets the value of the computation result. Since a part of the reference dimension of value 4170 has been taken as a base line, the base line drawn by the command can be deleted.

Notice how it is also possible to determine the difference between dimensions, sum and subtraction operation works in a way similar to that of the AutoCAD Area command.

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As an exercise perform the altimetrical dimension at position 7 in the figure below.

If for some reason you want to change the position of symbols or the values of altimetrical dimensions, first set the coordinate system on the plane of creation of these objects through the ISO / Tools / Set UCS command. Then set the suitable option for positioning the XY plane parallel to the symbol and terminate the command. From now on you can use the commands normally used on plane as Move, Rotate an so on, or more simply the grips. By the way this is a general criterion which can be adopted for whichever drawing not managed by ESApro Isometrics. Once set the suitable coordinate system you can perform the standard bidimensional drawing without any problem. Save the drawing.

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3.6. ANNOTATIONS AND FINISHING TOUCHES

Now let us see how to use a series of tools for the finishing touch to the drawing. Through the ISO / Tools / Set UCS command position the UCS approximately in the middle of segment 7-8 and set the coordinate system horizontal with the option E. With the standard AutoCAD commands draw a rectangle as in the down left figure.

Now position the coordinate system on a vertical plane with the Set UCS command option D and copy the two lower sides further down below. Join the edges with the Line command in order to represent a floor. Launch ISO / Tools / HidePipe and select two points on the vertical pipe to identify the segment to hide as in the above right figure. The program generates a small matt cylinder on the ISO-HLINEA layer which hides the pipe without cutting it (and therefore without corrupting its characteristic data) and performs the hidden line removal in order to check-out the operation result. Reset the standard visualization mode with the AutoCAD Regen command. Once printed, the result will be visible since the hidden line removal is set in the viewport. In case of modifications which require the removal of the small cylinder, switch the layer ISO_HLINEA on and delete it with the AutoCAD commands.

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Launch the command ISO / Tools / Highlight Revision and draw a counter clockwise contour around the area shown in the figure at the side. The program generates a cloud highlighting the revised part of the drawing

Launch ISO / Annotations / Setting. Then set the options on the dialogue window as in the figure and check the No Leader box. Place the UCS on the right side of the isometric cube and position the origin on the branch at point 9. With the ISO / Annotations / Setting command position the cursor close to the branch and write anything you like. As the leader is disabled you will see that the text only has been inserted.

With the ISO / Annotations / Box command write a text on the line below. The result is shown in the figure.

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Uncheck the No leader box in the annotation dialogue window and, without moving the coordinate system, position the annotation shown in the figure with the ISO / Annotations / Label command. The behaviour is similar to that of the leader of AutoCAD.

Launch the ISO / Symbols command (keyboard shortcut 2) and insert the flow direction symbol. The insertion method is analogous to that of the components.

The drawing should be like that in the figure at the side.

The drawing is almost ready now for the bill of materials generation. But we suggest first to check that the dimensioning is complete and that all pipe lengths have been computed. Launch the ISO / Tools / Pipes without Length command. The program displays on the command line the number of pipes whose length has not yet been

computed and highlights the pipes themselves on the screen. In our case the branches and the last pipe in position 8 had voluntarily been left without dimensions in order to specify that they are not part of the present sketch. Use the ISO / BOM / Exclude from BOM command to exclude such pipes from the bill of materials. Select all components to be excluded. They

are moved to the layer ISO_RIF whose color and line type can be freely set. To the bill of materials purpose said components behave as the annotation symbols. In the figure above the branch starting from point 11 has been highlighted with a dash line. Save the drawing.

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3.7. BILL OF MATERIALS EXTRACTION

The Bill of Materials extraction is an almost fully automatic process which includes just a few initial settings. As already told, first of all a title block must exist which is valid and filled in at least with the necessary data, i.e. Project Code and Drawing Number. Such data are needed to the program to correctly recognize the sketch components. Furthermore a template must be defined so that the bill of materials fits the title block. This subject will be discussed further on. Just remember for now that the bill of materials can fit whichever title block. Furthermore you can set the style of the item balloons which will be automatically attached to each component.

Launch the ISO / BOM / BOM Setting command and press the Balloon Style button. Keep the option No Leader disabled. Set colors for leaders, texts and boxes as you like. In the BOM / Balloon Type box choose Label and terminate. Zoom all over the drawing and launch the ISO / BOM / Total BOM command. The Bill of Materials is performed.

In case the drawing is modified a new Bill of Materials extraction automatically updates the old one, deletes balloons referring to no longer existing items, adds balloons required for new items and updates the existing ones without deleting them. If for some reason (e.g. change of balloon styles) you need to delete the Bill of Materials launch command ISO / BOM / Reset BOM.

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The standard positioning of item balloons might need a retouch manually made. The ISO / Edit Annotations command has such purpose. There are two operating modes:

o By selecting the leader you can parallely shift the whole annotation.

o By selecting the balloon or the text you can move it while the leader keeps its original insertion point.

With the above described options try to adjust balloons of segment 1-2 so to achieve the same configuration as in the figure at the side. Unless a Reset is performed the new balloon positions are not changed by the program when a new Bill of Materials is extracted as a follow-up to the drawing modifications. Therefore the balloon manual repositioning does not need to be performed a second time. Save the drawing.

Bills of Materials can also be extracted from outside the drawing in the Project management environment. To do that launch the ISO / Piping Specs command (keyboard shortcut SP) and press the Lists button. Then select the Project on the related list, one or more drawings on the related list and the list destination which can be either the screen, the printer, or ASCII, Excel file.

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Other possibilities to customize the material list are available in the list option tab Libraries/projects as for example the use of alternarive languages or the insertion in list of the weight, and the total surface. It is also possible to define the titol, and to subdivide it in “Prefab material list” and “Erection materials”. (For more information about the options see Chapter 6.15 Projects).

CCOOMMMMAANNDD RREEFFEERREENNCCEE


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 are expounded. Then come back to this chapter for an in-depth study of the available options.

4.1. PIPE

Choose PIPE, keyboard shortcut T on the ISO menu or on Toolbar or on Ribbon.

This command is used for drawing a pipeline of given Class and Nominal Diameter. It provides a series of options, which will be expounded further on, for positioning the coordinate system while drawing the pipeline and setting its slope when it does not lay on the coordinate axes or planes.

A dialogue window displays to set the line’s basic parameters.



The first page is identified on the pull down menu as “Identifying & Descriptive”, and contains the line’s data, Class, ND and other parameters.

When creating a new line it must be assigned a Line Number, Class, and ND, highlighted in light blue . All preassigned data in Class will be then determined . The Line Number, together with System Unit and Branch, is the identification name of the line which must not be doubled. Each identification name can be filled with any combination of alphanumeric characters and it determines the continuity of the line. The Fluid Type can also be a part of the identification line tag otherwise it has to be considered as a descriptive. Unit/System can be loaded from the pull-down menu, when available, or otherwise they have to be filled in . The “Branch” tag can be filled in only.

As a rule, when continuing a pre-existing line the identification number and all other data must not be changed . Just press “Continue Line” on the creation mask and draw the line starting from the data of one of the ends . All data of the continuing line will be uniformed to the pre-existing one.

When the combination of Unit/System, Number and Branch of a new line is the same of an existing one the program sends an error message . However the generation of two lines with the same name is allowed as in some cases it can be necessary. For example when two broken branches of the same line have to be re-connected or when it is necessary to continue the same line but with different characteristics,. And again in case of two doubled or disconnected lines .Then the system of all the parts and the components of a line with an identifing data must be made of a continuos of logically connected unifiliar elements with a direction, one starting point and one only end.

The tags “Service”,”Area”, “Fluid Type” and “From” and “To” can be filled in the descriptive data.

In “Class and ND” two pull down menus are available, one for the Classes of the system and the other for the Nominal Diameters allowed by the selected Class.

“Line status” is a parameter representing the line’s working progress. The commands are “Working progress”, “Under revision”, “Supported”, “Stress Analysis“, “Generated sketch”, and “Finished”



The Pressure, Temperature and Insulation data can be found in the second page of the pull down menu, called “Process and Insulation”. Insulation is defined by a tag, the “Insulating Class” , the material and a phisical thickness. The Insulating Class can be defined in “Specifics Management” described further on. If you select it the predefined materials and thickness will fill the creation mask.

In the third page, identified as “Customisation and Notes” there are up to 8 fields available to such purpose. The “Custom 1-8” prompt can be customized in the “Specifics Management “ envinroment as it will be explained further on.

Then the command asks for the first pipe end

First pipe end:

Snaps Near and End are set in order to make easier to join the end of an existing line or to draw a branch.

Once given the first point the following options display:

Point or [Left/riGht/Top/Angle/ Rotate/rot X/ rot Y/ rot Z/Object/View]:

Each option can be selected by typing in the related capital letter followed by Enter.

o Point, enables the insertion of other pipeline points in sequence.

o Left/Right/Top, sets the XY plane of the coordinate system on the left, right and top side of an imaginary isometric cube as shown in the figure. The origin of the coordinate system is brought to the current point. Once set the orthogonal mode and dragging the mouse vertically AutoCAD draws the line along Z axis. The correct XY plane must be set manually vhenever a new inclined line is positioned on that plane. Since the XY axes are quite relevant for the positioning of the drawing plane, we previlege for their orientation the rotations around the Z axis, as described in the following options.



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

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

o rot X, Y, Z rotates the coordinate system of 90° around the X, Y, Z axis respectively.

o Object: through Pipe-Snap gets the direction of the specified Isometric component and positions the coordinate system with the X axis parallel to it. In such a way it is possible to continue a line assigning to it the same direction of whichever element of the sketch.

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

The command presets the snaps Near and End so to ensure the correct connection of a line to a component end or of a branch which starts from an existing line. But we remind that, in order to continue an existing line with the same ND and Class, it is better to use the already explained option Continue.

When drawing lines which lay outside of the coordinates axes or planes, a process starts which specifies the pipe direction in space.

Specify component value or [Angle/Slope/Ignore]:

o Specify component value, the components display and the program asks for the value of that displayed in magenta. two components will be required on a plane in order to specify the angle, and of course three in space. Since the purpose is just to specify the angle the components can be fictitious so for a 45° angle you can enter 1 and 1.



o Angle, asks for the highlighted angle between the two magenta components. In space two angles will be required, one for the XY plane and the other for the elevation from the XY plane.

o Slope, sets the slope in percentage.

o Ignore or Enter, ignores the request of input of coordinates or angles thus going on 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.

In each case the command goes on keeping the entered pipe length but changing the direction in accordance with the set angle if necessary.

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 on the right of Line Number). Through the combination Line Number/Branch Code the program will be able to univocally distinguish these lines one from each other. The same considerations are valid for System (the field on the left of the Line Number). In two different System of a plant are allowed two lines with the same number and branch code. In general therefore the complete line name is constituted by “System” + “Line Number” + “Branch Code”. Two lines will be considered not duplicated provided that at least one of this data is different. ”Area” has a different meaning where a line belongs to a specific area of a plant. For this very reason it changes within the same line, identified by the same System+Number+Branch Code, when passing through different areas.

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. A mask displays with the list of the lines to be renamed. The program assigns to these lines the name “#...” followed by the original number or, when the option “line

automatic number” is operative, the first available line number. The user can accept these names at first and then modify them with the “Object Properties” command or either enter directly the new name. Let us observe that besides the Line Number, the renumbering process may involve Branch Number and System also since, as already told, the whole line identifier is constituted by the combination of the three fields.



4.2 LINE MANAGER

The use of the line, as explained in the previous paragraph is submitted to the management of the wholness of data that can be handled in the modify/creation mask . The centralized management of all the lines of a project is based on an external application named “Line Manager”, that can be seen by all 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 inizialized 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 “Prroject Pressure” whose choice is up to the Supervisor.

In the following diagram are available some lines data , and the two tipologies 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 (P&ID only)

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 of 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 iniziailized 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 ISO 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 inizialized in “Line Manager” or in “Graphic” In the first case the line is inizialized by the insert button, while in the second case as soon as the 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 appearing in the line library of the project. The procedure is carried out through the “Data Extraction” command which will also 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. Bare 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. In the modifying process of 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 when opened and 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 returns into “Line Manager” and its colour turns into 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 inizialize it and its colour is white. If a new line is filled with data already present, the program sends 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 uptaded



and the colour remains White. When a line is engaged (Green) its colour changes only if a “General” data 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” the line 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 (ISO 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 teminates the procedure. “Update Dr “ launches the



update and “Database Management”opens the application “Database Managment described further on.

4.3. 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 the generation of composite pipes does not exist. The pipe is created with 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 in the data tables (e.g. male-male) 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.



4.4. ELBOW

Press ELBOW on the toolbar or on the ISO-Components menu.

All necessary information are provided after the selection of a pipe, class and the suitable elbows are then inserted. When necessary alternative elbows typologies (butt welding, threaded and socket weld elbows) are provided. Then from alternatives in the same typology (short or long radius butt welding elbow)

There are several types of elbows. Butt welding elbows, those obtained bending pipes and miter elbows, which will be described further on, are parametric and automatically take the angle between the axes where they are inserted. They are not mere graphic symbols and therefore they can not be customized. Also present are the reducing elbows. The related commands are available on the ISO / Line components menu. Two insertion modes are provided. The first requires the approximate selection of the vertex of two intersecting lines. As a consequence the elbow will be drawn on the plane of the two lines and will get the angle from the lines themselves. In case of reducing elbows the axis with a larger diameter, near the vertex, must be selected, to indicate the orientation. The second mode is available through the Fit option and gives the possibility to fit up the elbow at the end of whichever component without the need of pre-existing axes.



The selection of the component end is performed through Pipe-Snap. The elbow is drawn in default position and with default angle which can be changed with the following options appearing on the command line:

Enter to end 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 current angle width, butt welding and miter elbows are limited to 180°, bend pipes to 360°. For elbows of angle width larger than 135°, axes are represented by convention like said elbows were constituted by an elbow of 90° plus another whose angle width 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, whose axes vertex would not be included into the bend’s drawing as too far away. Butt welding and miter elbows have the weld symbol at their ends. When they are inserted two axes also are drawn in order to visualize the elbow vertex which is a reference point for the dimensioning operation. The angle between two pipes must be the real one in order to subtract the correct value when computing the pipe lengths and, in case of bend pipes, in order to correctly compute their development. While executing the command several congruency checks are activated as expounded in detail in the description of the Working Options menu. Other elbow types whose angle is fixed, such as 90° and 45° elbows, behave like generic angle components. Therefore see that paragraph for details.



The insertion options are the same as in the previous elbows. The elbow is dynamically dragged with the cursor. It automatically snaps to its position when it is close enough to an existing component end . The insertion is terminated with a left click.

To solve the situation shown in figure click on the component and choose an alternate solution. Butt welding elbows can have a straight part at their ends. Therefore the related tables have a column for the value of straight part length. If such values are blank the straight part length is assumed to be zero.



All commands of insertion of this type of elbows on the axes, fit to fit and for whichever angle width, respect this setting.

A specific function is provided for butt welding elbows of 45°. This because 45° elbows according to standard ASME, ISO or DIN do not fit the bent radius of elbows of 90° and 180°. This causes inconsistencies of some millimeters, particularly important for small diameters. Thus the tables of these elbows contain the center-to-end dimensions provided by the standards while the radius is computed from time to time by the program and de facto it is not exactly equal to that of 90° or 180° elbows. Let us clarify that the general function which builds butt weld elbows of whichever angle width agrees with the geometry of an arc of given radius. Therefore it is suitable for the creation of 45° elbows obtained by cutting 90° elbows. Vice versa the 45° elbow strictly in agreement with the standards must be built with the above graphic function. The automatic dressing commands fitting whichever angle do not use this function.

Elbows obtained by bending pipes can also generate branches radiused according to the bent radius on the dimensional tables.

When drawing an elbow if 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 on figure point 2 has been specified at the right of the crossing. Pay attention to the relation between dimensions. In fact if the main line diameter is much larger than that of the branch and the bent radius short enough the radiused part could completely sink into the main pipe. This would be more clear in the 3D plant but not in the symbolic representation used in isometric drawings.



4.5. 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. In the isometric environment a symbolic representation is used which does not respect the real number of sectors. The figure shows two 90° elbows in real (Piping 3D) and symbolic representation (Isometrics). The drawing method is the same as for other variable width elbows, i.e. butt welding and bent ones. For a series of standard angle width angles the number of segments is written in the related data tables. In case of other angles the user specifies the number of segments at the moment of 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. The first type elbows have at least three segments, the second type just one.



4.6. BRANCHES

Choose a branch from the toolbar or from the ISO-Component menu.

Once selected a pipe, all the necessary information are provided. Amongst the possible ones the most suitable is then inserted, in conformity with Pipe Class and Branch Table. If there is not only one solution alternatives are provided amongst the branch typologies (ex: butt welding or threaded elbows), and then also alternatives in the same typology (threaded 150#, 300#).

This type of components is constituted by equal and reducing Tees, Crosses, Wyes, which also cut the main pipeline, and 45° and 90° branches as weldolet, half couplings etc. which cut the branch pipe only. Three-way and four-way valves belong to this group since they have the same insertion behaviour as Tees and Crosses respectively have.

Equal and reducing Tees, Crosses and Wyes are dynamically inserted on lines. When selecting a branch line near the main one, the object moves to the lines crossing point and therefore no options are available. The main and reduced diameter are deduced from the lines. But once selected the option of the line’s placement, the two diameters are selected first and then, dragging with the mouse, they match the configuration below. In order to have a better representation of fitting components, when necessary graphic alternatives are provided, as for branches.

If the component is laid upon a line it behaves like a straight component and the command line provides the following options:



Select a pipe, a component or [Zoom/zoom Prev./ Rotate/Angle/Invert]:

Beside zoom, in this case Rotate and Angle only are applicable. The first rotates the component of steps of 90° while the second rotates it of the entered angle. If the cursor is drawn near the right or left side of a pre-existing component on the line, the component automatically fits it and cuts the line.

At last if the cursor is drawn to the end of a line or of whichever component, the Tee fits it. In this case the option Reverse changes the Tee extreme which fits the component or the line and the option Rotate rotates the Tee around the axis.

By left clicking the insertion terminates with the line cutting if required. If the branch is of reducing type and if the configuration requires it, the main or reducing diameter must be correctly set through the pull down lists of the dialogue window.

Half couplings and O-let can be inserted only at the crossing of two lines, therefore they snap in the only possible position and get ND and Class from them.

In particular elbolets need a branch which starts from the vertex of a butt weld elbow as shown in the figure at side.

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 or System codes.

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



4.7. STRAIGHT COMPONENTS

Choose a component from the toolbar or from the ISO-Component menu.

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 we will be looking into the details of behaviour of same particular objects. Select a pipe axis and all the related information are catched. The typology matching the pipe Class are inserted. Alternative component typologies are provided when the solution is not the only possible one (ex: globe or sphere valve) Alternatives are provided also for the same typology (sphere 150#, 300#).

The command is described through a generic valve equipped with handle and flow direction indication in order to show all the available options during the insertion



The command reqires first the selection of a line for the reasons already explained. Then the object is displayed with a yellow cursor and dynamically dragged. At a given distance from the line the object is attracted on it and takes a default position as shown in figure at side. Now the command activates a series of options enabled by the corresponding capital letter which, as all options between round brackets, do not require the subsequent Enter:

Insertion point or (Zoom/zoom Prev./Fit/Invert/ Rotate):

o Zoom, zooms in around the current cursor position

o zoom Prev., goes back to the previous zoom

o Fit, changes the position of the cursor which represents the component insertion point from center to left, to right, to center again an so on as shown in the figure on side. Not all components have the central insertion capability (e.g. branches). This setting pre-arranges the object to the insertion with the following methods.

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



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

o aNgle, rotates the component of the angle set either with the cursor or numerically.

While being inserted the component has a different behaviour depending on whether it is located on the line, close to another object or at the end of a line or one whichever component.

When the component rolls over the line the Pipe-Snap function is enabled. Therefore if the cursor approaches a reference point the component is positioned there.

If the reference point provides the fitting with an existing object the component takes the most likely fitting position. See an example for flanges further on. Such position can be forcedly reversed with the above described options or by simply getting the reference point of the contiguous element with Pipe-Snap.

At last if the component approaches one end of whichever element it is positioned tangent at the element end itself.

Anyhow as soon as the pointer button is clicked the component is released in the current cursor position and the line is cut if necessary.

The component gets Diameter and Class from the destination line. You can observe that while the component is dragged along the line most positioning settings occur automatically without the operator’s intervention. Therefore the options of the insertion commands are only a few.

Reducer: is an exception since it can take only one diameter from the line. A dialogue window appears for specifying the NDs through pull down menus. Furthermore once the reducer has been inserted in the middle of a line, the adjacent line segments, and them only, take



diameters complying with the reducer direction. Since the line’s parts only closed to the reducer are updated , it is not useful, as a general rule, to insert a reducer on a line if not around a regulating valve. In fact in this case the couple of reducers of opposite direction determines only a local diameter change and then it si not necessary to update the whole line. It is preferable to insert the reducers while proceeding with the assembly. In this case the insertion direction is determined by the chosen NDs and the existing line’s ND. Therefore in this case the invertion option is not operative. The writing “main diameter x reducing diameter” displays beside the reducer. Moreover for eccentric reducers the offset between axes displays also.

Gasket: is a component of very thin thickness. When printed it is hidden in order to show the gap between the contiguous flanges as described further on. It is symbolized by a cross protruding out of flanges and by a segment along the line axis. Since gasket implies the presence of a flanged joint it is used for recording bolts and nuts data required for the bill of materials extraction. Since this mechanism can be disabled, for example when a special set of bolts and nuts is directly linked to a wafer valve, errors can occur i.e. bolts and nuts can be forgotten or inserted in surplus. In order to make the check of bolts and nuts easier the program displays gaskets containing bolts and nuts with thick line and gaskets which do not with thin line (provided that line thickness visibility has been enabled through the LWT button on the AutoCAD status bar). The gasket insertion is performed in such way that, while approaching the component to be joined at, the yellow cursor symbolizing the insertion point is always in the correct position, i.e. the gasket fits the component but does not overlap it. Colour and visibility of the gaskets are managed through the layer ISO_GU where they belong to so to change the colours in accordance, once printed,with the various thicknesses. By default the layer ISO.GU is not provided with a print option



Flange: is a straight component at all effects but it always comes with the yellow cursor on the coupling side. When approaching a component, either from the left or the right side, they correctly position themselves regardless of the approaching direction. If you change the fit point position through the above described options, it will be always maintained no matter what the approaching direction is.

Stub end: it is at all effects a flange but it automatically inserts the lap joint flange also. For further information see chapter “Customization”.

Support: there are three ways for inserting a support into the isometric drawing. o The first is the automatic isometric generation from ESApro

Piping 3D which will be discussed further on.

o The second is through the command available in the menu ISO Components / Support or in the toolbar. It allows the insertion of support of logical type, i.e. which does not represent any particular type of physical support. The insertion method is similar to that provided for straight-way components. The various symbols represent an anchor, an adjustable support, a spring support and a guide. The support position can be dimensioned but no information about its typology can be added. Therefore no support list can be extracted.

o The third possibility is to customize a generic

straight-way component to be used as a support. In this case it will be taken in account in the bill of materials as any other line component. Its insertion is analogous to that of whichever other straight-way component with the possibility of putting it, besides on lines, on other components or fittings also (see figure).



Insulation: through the menu ISO/Annotations/Insulation or in the toolbar a command is provided for visualizing the insulation or the tracing of a line. Once touched a pipe, it draws a dash or a dash-dot line parallel to the pipeline itself. If in the “Working Options” mask is checked “Use blocks to represent Insulation/Tracing” the program employs the two symbols in figure. The existence of insulation or tracing is deduced from what indicated in the Line Creation/Modification window.

Instruments and regulating valves : are those components that in the definition of the typology (see Components Library, Typologies) present a barred icon of the option “Instrument or flux regulation”.

They are regulating valves between valves and the instruments of the Family of “Generic straight components”. Two types are available :



those in line (regulating valves or flow meter and similes) and the connected ones (manometers, thermometers) as in the figure. The first ones must always be drawn in a realistic way so to precisely calculate the length of the pipe while the second ones are the last components of a part of a main line and in some cases the user can decide not to draw them. But it is better to do it when the user wants to tag them with the yellow dot with the loop number as well as the instrument type. For this kind of instruments you can enable the symbolic drawing procedure in “Working Options”. The symbol displays as in the figure at the side and contains the instrument data as well as the physical ones The following figure shows the final result with the TI-001 reported in a symbolic manner.



4.8. ANGLE COMPONENTS

Angle valves and angle strainers belong to this category. They have the same behaviour as the already described 45° and 90° elbows. Two insertion modes are provided.

When dragged close to the vertex of two concurrent lines they are attracted by the vertex itself and snap in the default position. By swinging the cursor between the two pipes they take the two possible positions (see figure above). Left click in order to terminate. In this case all options, except Zoom, are disabled.

When dragged to the end of a line or a component they fit the line or component itself while the command line offers the following options:

Select a pipe, a component or [Zoom/zoom Prev./ Rotate/Angle/Invert]:

Rotate and Angle rotates the component of steps of 90° and of the numerically specified angle respectively.

Invert switches the extreme connected to the line or the component.

As usual the insertion is terminated by left clicking and the lines is cut if necessary.



4.9. SYMBOLS

In this category various symbols are available as North, Welding, Flow Direction and others which behave like straight components and are customizable. They can be accessed through the menu ISO / Symbols. In particular we mention the Spool symbol which can be inserted at a pipe end with the usual method. It specifies where to position a welding and an extra length for assembly purpose. Its value can be pre-set in the Working Options or manually entered by the information panel. If the extra length is different from zero close to the flag an asterisk appears. Such length will be added to that nominal which derives from the pipe length computation.



4.10. BOLTS AND NUTS

These components are defined through the coupling concept and have no graphic representation. Let us consider one 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 denomination, length and quantity of bolts or stud bolts characteristic of a given joint. 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, launch the general command Object Properties and select the gasket. In the related dialogue window you can modify the item Bolts & Nuts Type and assign a customized one. The automatic bolt and nuts insertion can be disabled. This last option is of use, for example, for a wafer type component between two flanges where bolts and nuts must be disabled on one of the two gaskets in order not to compute them twice. Another solution is to link the bolts and nuts set directly to the wafer component 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.

When bolts and nuts cannot be easily determined through the two previous procedures as depending on the couple of objects to fit each other (ex: two fixed flanges or a fixed and lap-joint one ) or when the gasket is not required, it possible then to insert the symbol represented on the figure. All related bolts and nuts, as for implicit materials, are displayed. The right coupling is chosen amongst the available alternatives.



4.11. STRUCTURE DETAILS

A specific program module is available for the drawing in detail of most common beams. Beams is accessible through the ISO/Beams menu

Here are listed the most common types of beams such as the double T-IPN, IPE and HE etc. The drawing is performed on the basis of the commercial dimensions of the program. Different denominations and dimensions can be added in the “Beams” library . in the “Specific Managment” commands described further on.

Drawing procedure of beams:

o Enables the beams dialogue window

o Chooses the beam type

o Chooses the representation in Section, Plant and Side

o Chooses a scale factor: as the scketch is out of scale. The dimensions of the detail must comply with the title block.

o Chooses the wished commercial dimension.

The performance mode will be different when drawing Sections or other views.

In fact the program draws a beam, once selected a point, with the chosen dimensions and allows its repositioning or rotation through a symbol as in the figure and asking:

Move with numeric pad arrows or (Rotate/aNgle) <Enter to Terminate>:

Rotate: allows the rotation of 90° degrees at a time around the current ax or any other degree with the option Angle: It is also possible through the Bloc Num/Num Lock enter digits to shift the section of the profile of the beam in order to make it coincide with one



of the nine points of the diagram as represented in the figure. The red arrows are moved by the keyboard’s horizontal arrows and the green arrows by the vertical ones.This can be done even when after a rotation the arrows of the beam are inclined. Such procedure is very useful in order to find the alignment point of other beams.

In order to draw the section of a beam or the lateral view will be required two points.

Insertion midpoint or [Corner] <Enter to Terminate>:

The “Edge” option supposes that the ax is at the low corner of the beam or otherwise at its middle point. The “ Hidden Edges” icon operates when the edges are positioned to the right as in the figure below .



4.12. TOOLS

This item of the menu ISO contains a series of utilities :

o ISO View, sets the viewpoint for the isometric sketch. We remind that the title block lays in the paper space while the pipeline sketch lays in the model space. The program synchronizes the two environments so that the standard commands Zoom and Pan operate contemporarily on title block and sketch. On the contrary this command operates selectively only on the sketch and is useful for particular geometries where the standard viewpoint is not satisfactory. The following options are available:

Select option[SW/SE/NE/NW/Orbit/Pan/zoom Real /zoom Extension] <Reset>:

SW/SE/NE/NW, position the viewpoint in the South West, South East, North West, North East with respect to the Y axis, assumed as North.

Orbit, launches the AutoCAD command 3D Orbit so that you can freely set the viewpoint.

Pan/zoom Real/zoom Extension, set the corresponding AutoCAD commands on the pipelines only (i.e. on the model space viewport).

Reset, resets the viewpoint to the default.

We point out that some parts of the drawing, in particular annotations and dimensions, when looked at from a point of view different from that they were generated from can become meaningless. Therefore we suggest to place them after the final viewpoint has been set.

o Set UCS, sets the coordinate system. It has the same options as the Pipe command (see it for further information). It positions the origin of the coordinate system at the current point with a left click. This command does not perform any drawing operation.

o Pipes without length, highlights all pipes whose length has not been computed through the dimensioning process. Furthermore it shows the number of pipes without length on the command line. We



remind that a modification of an already dimensioned segment, for instance the adding of a flange to a valve, causes the old pipe to be substituted by a new one which must be re-computed. In such case use the command below.

o Length Recompilation should the automatic computation function embedded within the dimensioning fail or in the previous case, a re-computation of the whole rectilinear segment must be performed. This command asks the user to manually specify the necessary dimensions (as many as the pipe pieces) and then it performs the computation.

o Highlight Revision, This command asks the user to draw a counter clockwise broken line which is transformed into a cloud. The purpose is to highlight the area of the drawing in phase of revision.

o Find Uncertain, highlights all the components marked as “Uncertain”

o Hide Pipe, this command is used for hiding a pipe piece in printing for aesthetical reasons without cutting it (and therefore without corrupting its characteristic data). This command asks the user to select two points on a pipe and then it generates a small matt cylinder in order to hide the specified segment. At last it executes the Hide command and displays the result. The standard visualization is obtained through the AutoCAD Regen command. The small cylinder is drawn on the layer ISO_HLINEA which is normally Off. In case of modifications requiring the small cylinder removal, switch the layer ISO_HLINEA on and delete it with the AutoCAD commands.

o Line Update, updates components and pipes of a line after its Class has been modified. The program contemporarily performs the components check and highlights those eventually gone out of Class. We point out that this situation is different from the change of Class of a line, in which case you have to use the “Object Properties” command which changes the old Class with the new



one and updates components. On the contrary in this case the Class name does not change while its objects are updated. If changes concern the end to end dimensions of some component also, the previously evaluated lengths are no longer valid and must be updated with the “Length Recomputation” command.

o Define Length this command is used for the customization of components as explained in detail in the related chapter. It defines two lengths for every modified or added component which will be used by the program when inserting the component itself and cutting the line. The second length is needed for angle components only and can be ignored for the straight-way ones. At first the command asks for the selection of a component from the Isometrics library, opens the drawing and asks for the first length. As usual in AutoCAD you can directly enter the length numeric value or specify two points. Then the program asks for the second length needed for tees and angle components only. The program stores the new cutting values and terminates.

4.13. EDIT COMPONENTS

This command, available through the ISO / Edit Components menu, modifies the characteristics of components.

o Data, similar to the XL Command displays the selected component data. If this is a pipe you can overwrite the computed length adding an extra length.

o Invert, reverses the component direction, useful for the change of the flow direction of valves.

o Rotate, rotates the component around the line.



4.14. OBJECT PROPERTIES

This command is launched through the ISO / Object Properties menu or the keyboard shortcut XL: It displays a window containing the selected component characteristic data.

Besides the other data, for straight and angle components the end to end dimensions are displayed while the angle width is displayed for variable angle elbows. For socket or threaded components the end to end dimension is considered from socket/thread end to socket/thread end. Data come from the component tables and can not be modified.

In the tabs second page there are 8 custom fields plus the note field. The procedure for the customization of such fields will be described further on in the “Specifics Management “ environment.

Gaskets have an addendum where bolts and nuts data can be examined and modified.

Pipes displays, besides the other data, three fields dedicated to three characteristic lengths;

o Nominal Length, which derives from the dimensioning procedure, or automatically from the ESApro Piping 3D model. The modification of such data is allowed only for particular needs.



o Extra-length for spool, is inserted through the previously described symbol and its value can be pre-defined in the Working Options dialogue window or manually entered.

The two above mentioned lengths are added in order to get the total pipe length. Such value will appear on the Bill of Materials and on the Cutting List.

The field Tag is used for the insertion of an identifying code for each component. Furthermore the check box “Undefined” is used for specifying that the component in subject has not yet been fully defined. Such value can be displayed in Bills of Materials.

Also the characteristics of a line, i.e. ND, Class and other possible data entered at the line creation, can be modified through the Object Properties command. Since in the isometric representation the line axis and the pipe coincide, it is necessary to specify whether you want to select the single pipe or the line.

Therefore launch the Object Properties command, choose the <Enter to modify line> option and select whichever component of the line: you will access the Modify Line Data window. We point out that while the modification of descriptive data as “Service”, “Fluid Type”, “Insulation” etc. does not cause particular problems, the change of ND or Class causes variations in the end to end dimensions of components. Therefore computed lengths are not yet valid and the computation needs to be performed again with the “Length Recomputation” command.



4.15. SPECS MANAGEMENT

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

4.16. WORKING OPTIONS

In the menu ISO choose Working Options, keyboard shortcut O.

A dialogue window displays for the set-up of many parameters which affect the program operation:

In the section Drawing Identifying Data the following parameters are set:



o “Current Database”, is the Working Database displayed 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 a 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 the drawing closure the current database is recorded and set as a default once the drawing will be opened again. The database of a drawing can be changed but afterwards new Classes mus

o t be re-assigned to the lines.

o “Project", "Drawing N", "Sheet" ,"Revision”, are mandatory identifying data used for storing drawing data into the Project Database. At first the Revision field can be blank. In case said data are not set they will be requested at the moment of data extraction. Note that the Project name cannot be typed in but must be selected from the related list. Usually a new Project is created through the “Piping Specs” procedure.

o “Update Title Block Attributes” synchronizes the Title Block with the values of Project, Drawing Number and Revision set in the “Working Options” window.

The following parameters are set in the Components Insertion section.

o Automatic insertion of Counter flanges, Gaskets and Bolts and Nuts. This procedure regards the interactive drawing mode only and not the automatic import from ESApro Piping 3D. Through the suitable options you can choose flanges, gaskets and bolts and nuts compatibly with those provided by Piping Class. The following hierarchy is established:

1. If the automatic bolts and nuts insertion has been set, then bolts and nuts are automatically attached at the gasket insertion.

2. If the gasket insertion has been set, then gasket and bolts and nuts are automatically attached at a flange insertion like in the previous point.



3. If a counter flange has been set, then one flange, complete with gaskets and bolts and nuts if set, will be attached at each extreme at the insertion of a flanged component.

All inserted components are subjected anyhow to the congruency control with the Piping Class. The macro element generated by the just described procedure is normally inserted with the same method used for components without flanges.

o 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 Rating) 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 items where the user can make a choice.

o Use blocks to represent the Insulation/Tracing map of a line through two symbols as in the figure. When the option is disabled a dashed ( or dotted dashed) line displays parallel to the pipes. The command can be found on the ISO/Notes/Insulation pull down menu.

o Use Symbol for instruments , enables the symbolic drawing of the connected instruments. See straight components insertion.

In the Symbols Scale section you can change the scale of components, welding symbols and welded and bent pipes. If the related value is set



to 1 the original symbol dimension is respected otherwise said value works as a multiplying factor. Once set a new value, it affects only the components drawn from that moment onwards while the already present components are left unchanged. That is of particular importance when importing isometrics from Piping 3D. For further information see paragraph 4.2.2.

In the “Pipe Extra Length” section the default extra-lengths values are set for spools.

The above settings are saved in the drawing and maintained.



4.17. DIMENSIONING

In the ISO menu choose Dimensioning or select it from the suitable toolbar. Commands are provided for linear, angular, radial and altimetrical dimensioning.

Linear, are used for contemporarily dimensioning the isometric sketch and computing the pipe lengths. Several options are available which will be expounded in detail. The command will answer:

Mode: Computation (Reference), 3D (Aligned) First dimension point or [Zoom/ZoomPrev./3D/Aligned/Computation/ Reference/Snap/Pipe/Object] <Object>:

o Zoom, zooms in around the current cursor position

o zoom Prev., goes back to the previous zoom

o 3D, in case the line does not lay on coordinate axes or planes this option will force the program to display the dimension components and ask for the related values.

o Aligned, on the contrary, in case the line does not lay on coordinate axes or planes this option produces a dimension parallel to the line itself.

o Computation, once inserted the dimensions, this option enables the pipe lengths computation.

o Reference, this option performs a reference dimension which does not imply the pipe lengths computation. It is used for inserting dimensions either unnecessary for the computation or not laying on a rectilinear segment which is required in the computation mode. It is performed like the Computation mode explained further on. It can be both Aligned and 3D.

o Snap, this option sets the standard AutoCAD snaps in order to get the dimension points from objects extraneous to the pipeline. By the way the standard dimension points of objects belonging the pipeline are more easily selected with the Pipe-Snap function.



o Pipe, this option requires the selection of a pipe and automatically gets its end points and pass them to the dimensioning command. The resulting dimension type depends on the current Mode.

o Object, this option requires the selection of a pipe or a component and performs a reference dimension of the object length. If a pipe has not yet been computed the resulting dimension will be zero. In case of non straight components (elbows, tees, angle valves) the branch closest to the selected point will be dimensioned.

o First dimension point, is the default value for the dimensioning points insertion. It automatically looks for the line nodes through the Pipe-Snap function. If in particular cases you need the standard AutoCAD snaps use the previously described Snap option.

The dimensioning Mode, i.e. 3D or Aligned and Computation or Reference, is kept by the command until it is not expressly switched off by the user. Computation and Reference are opposite modes. In Computation Mode the command gives origin to the dimensions, whose color is conventionally set as magenta, suitable for the computation of the length of pipes belonging to the rectilinear segment in matter. In Reference mode the command gives origin to additional dimensions, whose color is conventionally set as yellow, which are unnecessary for the computation purpose. In both cases if the segment to be dimensioned is sloping, the dimension can be 3D or Aligned, i.e. the base parallelogram or parallelepiped for the components will be drawn or otherwise a single dimension parallel to the segment will be performed. Once inserted the two points the command asks for the value of the dimension which is highlighted in magenta. Since the isometric is usually out of scale the dimension value must be the real one. If the segment lays on one of the coordinate axes or the option Aligned is set, once the user has entered one value the command terminates. If the segment lays on one of the coordinate planes (XY, YZ, ZX) but not on an axis the base parallelogram is drawn and the program asks for the values of the two components. If the segment does not lay even on a coordinate plane a base parallelepiped is drawn and the program asks for the values of the three components.



As already discussed, since the sloping of a pipeline segment in the space must be the real one, the value of whichever component is enough for the program to compute all the others. Therefore while defining the dimension components you can type in a value or press Enter in order to jump to the next component. As soon as a value is typed in the program computes all the others. In all cases dimensions are drawn in default position and options for repositioning them are displayed:

Enter to exit or (Adjust/Rotate/mIrror/Move):

o Adjust, with this command you can reposition a dimension parallel to itself by dragging it by a point close to the text. In order to work in a more proficient way we suggest to disable the Ortho mode

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

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

o Move, effective only for components of a line not laying on coordinates axis, 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. Once all dimension components have been drawn the program for pipe length computation starts.

The program tries the length computation by examining the rectilinear segment and deducing the number of pipe pieces, the number of components and the number of dimensions. If the number of dimensions is equal to the number of pipes the computation can be performed otherwise the program will ask for additional dimensions. The known length of components laying on the rectilinear segment is subtracted from that specified by the dimension in order to get the lengths of pipes. The set of dimensions must be logically correct, i.e. dimensions which can be deduced from the other ones are not valid (dependent dimensions) and numeric values must be congruent (e.g. a pipe length can not be smaller than that of a component contained within it). At the process end if the dimension does not lay on a coordinate axis the diagonal dimension is inserted, then the unwished part of parallelogram or parallelepiped can be deleted.



Angular, dimensions the angle between two straight lines in space. The program automatically finds a suitable plane for displaying the dimension and then enables the repositioning of the text. This command can not be executed on parallel or skew lines. The option “Object” is used for specifying the slope of a component with respect to the vertical.

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

Altimetrical, inserts the altimetrical dimension of a plant node and the related symbol.

The program requires the altimetrical dimension base point. Click on the point (the Snap End is pre-set by the program). Then draw the base line while keeping the Ortho mode on above which displays the triangular symbol Slip along it with the triangular symbol, and then release it in the desired position. Now the program asks for the dimension value. There are two possibilities: to enter the value or to start a computation. In the first case the command terminates as soon as you enter the value. In the second case first select an existing altimetrical dimension whose value is taken by the program as a base. Then sequentially select a set of vertical dimensions in addition or in subtraction in order to define a path which goes from the base altimetrical dimension to the current one. At each step the mode addition or subtraction and the intermediate result are displayed. You can switch from addition to subtraction by typing in A or S and Enter. Once terminated the process the computation result is inserted on the drawing and Symbol-Value can be pulled to its final.

Edit Dimensions, this command can reposition linear dimensions and diagonals with the same modes provided for the creation. Furthermore you can change the value of a dimension. In such case the program ends by automatically re-computing the pipe lengths of the segment the dimension belongs to.



4.18. LINE AND COMPONENT TAGGING

Since the line tag is usually a combination of line data, a tool is provided to generate tagging templates. Therefore this process develops itself in two steps:

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

2. Automatic or manual insertion of line tags through the command “Line Tag” from the “ISO” menu or through the related toolbar.

The tag appearance and its composition are ruled by the dialogue window Piping Specs / Project / Tag in “Project Option”.

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 press 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. Prefix and Suffix columns are optionally used for inserting 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.

The tagging template is used by the “Line Tagging” command which enables the quick insertion of tags by simply touching the line in the desired position. The option “Auto” is also available and allows the insertion of all line tags into ( within) the sketch.

The Tag template is valid for all drawings in 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. Also in case that line data are modified, line tags are automatically updated. At last we point out that since data of a line can change along its run (e.g. the nominal diameter) a tag does not generically depend on the line but more precisely on the segment specified at the tag creation. Therefore if the segment a tag was referring to is deleted the link is lost and the tag become meaningless. In such case delete the orphan tag and recreate it on a new segment.



4.19. ANNOTATIONS

This program is used for inserting various types of annotations on drawings. In the menu ISO 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 window “Annotation / Settings".

- Annotation Type, chooses the type of text to be written inside the tag:

- Free text,

- Component tag,

- Line tag,

- 3D coordinates of the endings (only for the ESA Pro 3D Piping sketches),

- References; the tags of lines or equipment connected to the ends (only for sketches from ESApro 3D Piping)

- Automatic numbering.



Tags must be inserted first through the command “ Data Correction” or otherwise in ESApro 3D Piping if the sketch is imported. Once set the command “Component tag” or “3D Coordinates” the option “Auto” becomes available which automatically displays all the component tags or the coordinates of the endings of the sketch. The tag values visualized on the tag are automatically updated if the components tags or the related line tags are modified.

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

- Colors, sets the colors of leaders, boxes and texts each independent from the others.

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

The command “Edit Annotations” is used for repositioning annotations. By pointing the text or the box the label can be dragged elsewhere. The leader point is left hooked on to the original point 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.



4.20. TITLE BLOCK

The title block has the basic function of highlighting and dividing the area used for drawing from that dedicated to bill of materials. Commands dedicated to its insertion, modification and to the definition of the mode of the data list will be described further below. The command in this case is “Insert Title Block” or from Ribbon or from the ISO/Title Block menu.

The command allows the insertion of a title block through the opening of a standard dialogue window for files searching. Once selected the title block is positioned on the drawing. Mind that the title block insertion command enables that environment where a new sketch will be performed through the setting of the lay out and the opening of a window for the assonometric model . The insertion only of the title block through the Auto CAD command “Insert Block” will not enable the procedure



4.21. BILL OF MATERIALS

All components and pipes are listed on the Bill of Materials window. All equal components are identified by a tag and a progressive number reported on the tab as well. The full procedeure is completely automatic and only requires the Title Block insertion and the Project and drawing number data. . In the menu ISO choose BOM or select the options from the related toolbar. The following options are available:

• Total BOM: a lot of operations are automatically performed by this option. It extracts data from the drawing and feeds the project database, it fills the Tiltle Block with “Project”, Drawing Number”, “Title” and “Revision”. it erases a previous BOM, if that is on the drawing, it fills in the BOM and generates or updates the item balloons on each component. This BOM cannot be excluded.



• Cutting List, creates the cutting list table for pipes as shown in the figure. To the nominal length computed by the program through the dimensioning process, as already explained, extra-lengths for spools and welding shrinkage are added. Shows the ND, length, and the end types, plus the values of the cutting angle of the extremes if needed, This is useful for miter joints (see also Cutting Angles Computation further on). In case of bend pipes the program computes the total length of the pipeline axis.

• Welding List, creates a list of all the weldings and joints of a sketch. It

is necessary to go through this procedure in order to tag weldings or perform further computations. But the set up of drawings will be faster. in “BOM Setting”, as described further on, the “Welding Numbering” command displays a mark to tag each welding.

• Insulation list is a list of the surfice and the linear meters of the insulation on the sketch. The lines generated are as many as for each different ND, Class or Thickness

Reset List erases table and item balloons form the drawing. This operation is necessary if you want to change the character style of the item numbers which otherwise are simply checked or redrawn with the previous style.

Exclude from List, moves all selected objects to the layer ISO_RIF. Components belonging to this layer are excluded from the Bill of Materials. This option is used for representing pipes or components as a part of another drawing which therefore must not be taken into account on the Bill of Materials. You can freely assign whichever color and line type to the layer ISO_RIF. Two options are provided: Include/Weldings.



Include allows to restore previously excluded elements. Welding manages the joint between two adjacent components belonging to two different sketches. The matter is that if there is a welding between the two of them it would be computed twice, once in the present sketch and another time in the contiguous one. The option Welding allows to assign the welding just to one of the two sketches. To help recognize such assignment the excluded component takes the color of the ISO_RIF layer and if also the welding is excluded it is shown in gray.

BOM Setting, sets parameters for the various lists.

Marker type for Total / Cutting / Welding, sets the shapes of labels for the various lists.

o Item marking, three modes are provided for the management of drawings particularly crowded with balloons:

o All, inserts a balloon for each component.



o None, does not insert any balloon. Subsequently you will be able to use the command “Add Balloon” which, once selected a component, allows the manual insertion of the related balloon.

o One per type, inserts one balloon only for each type of component thus drastically reducing the number of balloons. If some must be added for clearness reasons use the “Add Balloon” command.

Add miter for Total / Cutting, for extremity angles of pipes different from 90° this option tells the program to compute the additional length, with respect to that computed on the axis, needed for the manufacture of the pipes.

Cutting List / Pipe tagging, the cutting list performs a new ballooning of pipes only. With this option item identifiers can be set as numeric or alphanumeric.

Cutting Angles, in case of extremity angles of pipes different from 90° their value can be displayed in different modes on the Cutting List:

o Inner Angle, this option displays half the angle included between the pipe axes.

o Machine Angle, this option displays the angle complementary to the one above, understood as the angle required for the cutting machine head.

o No angle, once enabled this option the pipe extremity angles will not be displayed on the Cutting List.

Welding List / Welding Numbering, while generating the Bill of Materials this option tells the program to perform the welding marking on the drawing.

Reference, shapes the automatic coonection labels, but only those generated by ESApro 3D Piping.

Components, shapes the automatic components tagging labels, but only those generated by ESApro 3D Piping.



Welding List / Numbering Parameters, provides access to the setting of two parameters:

o Prefix, sets an alphanumeric code which will appear before the welding numbers.

o Automatic Numbering, if this option is enabled the program numbers the weldings starting from one. If it is disabled you can enter a number in the “Last Number” field so that the numbering will start from the next one. This is useful for numbering in sequence more drawings of the same Project.

o The Balloon Style button, offers a mask for setting the balloon parameters:

o Scale Factor, uniformly enlarges or reduces the size of the balloon keeping constant the ratio between its elements.

o No Leader, draws just the balloon without leader. Otherwise the leader can have at its end an arrow, a dot or nothing.

o Color, sets the color of the leader

o Balloon Radius, sets the radius of the round balloon.

o Color, sets the color of the label contour.

o Text Style, sets the style for the text of the label.

o Height, sets the text height.

o Color, sets the text color.



The Edit Annotations command available on the ISO menu or the related toolbar enables the manual modification of the default position of the item balloons. Two operating modes are available:

o The label can be dragged elsewhere pointing text or box. The leader point is left hooked on to the original point 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.

o The contemporary movement of leader and label can be achieved selecting the leader.



4.22. IMPORT FILE .ISO FROM ESAPRO PIPING 3D

If a 3D model built with ESApro Piping 3D is available, it is possible to import data and geometry of lines into ESApro ISO and automatically generate the isometric drawing. The necessary condition to do that is the availability in the two environments of the same Piping Classes and in the Isometrics environment of all symbols corresponding to the components used in the 3D model. From the ISO menu choose Import ISO file. The mask below displays.

The command “Browse” on the first line selects the name of the file to import. As a follow up in “Data and Options” will be displayed the anagraphic data as set for the export of lines into the 3D environment as well as the releted project options

“File DWG name” , displays the name of the file .dwg the program will create.



“Title Block File Name” displays the name of the title block as chosen in project options (for further information see chapter 6.15 Projects). The available title blocks must be customized first through the procedure described in Chapter 5.

On the lines Title, Project and Drawing Number, Page Number and Revision, are displayed the parameters as set at the moment of the definition of the ISO groups in the ESApro Piping 3D environment.

The “Isometrics Generation” section contains a set of parameters which control the appearance of the drawing.

“Automatically Correct planes perpendicular to the screen” alters the angles of objects which cannot be seen as laying on planes perpendicular to the screen. This is typical of 45° lines. If the operator is sure there are not such angles in his sketches the option can be disactivated and the procedure faster.

“Title Block Border Percentage” sets the amount of blank space between the isometric drawing and the title block borders. Such space can be affected also by other factors and therefore it has to be considered just as an indicative value.

In the “Pipe Length” section you can set the “Maximum Length” and the “Minimum Length” for the segments representing pipes in the isometric drawing. Values are expressed in millimeters. As a consequence pipes which, if uniformly scaled, would result too long or too short, will be adjusted in order to optimize the drawing readability. If this mode is enabled the isometric scaling is under the control of the program. This mode is not applicable if the “Keep in Scale” option is enabled. In such case you can fit the isometric dimension into the title block, by using the previously described “Title Block Border Percentage” or set an explicit scale value.

The “Object Scale” parameter is used for setting the dimension of components, welding symbols, bent pipes and elbows. If its value is 1 the original objects dimensions are respected while if the value is different from 1 the original objects are scaled in accordance with such value.



In the “Isometric Rotation” section you can choose one of the four available view-points. Once chosen a viewpoint, a suitable icon shows the new position of the global UCS.

In ”Project Option” the automatic quotation of the sketch is carried out with the same procedure as for “Automatic dimensions” that can be adjusted with the usual commands for the manual dimensioning. Furthermore we remind that dimensioning commands apply to drawings coming from Piping 3D also and that dimensioning values are not required as they are already known. If necessary automatic dimensioning can be manually re-executed. The old dimensions are removed.

The dimensions generated when importing isometrics from a 3D model are in color green in order to differentiate them from the other dimension types. During the automatic dimensioning are inserted also altimetric dimensions at each altimetric variation. Altimetric dimensioning can be inserted also manually and the dimensioning value is not required. If stakes are inserted in ESApro 3D Piping so are the symbols and the points values. In the figure are represented a punctiform and a linear stake . Through the same procedure the stake labels and, when punctiform, the coordinates as well are displayed.

Before generating the Bill of Materials it is mandatory to save the file. The default file name will be the same of the .ISO file but you can overwrite it. It will be possible anyhow to generate the Bill of Materials later on with the suitable manual command.

“Automatic References”, if enabled in “Project Option” and provided that equipment and nozzles are tagged in the 3D model, in the phase of isometrics generation such tags are put at the end of the lines connected to their equipment and nozzles. If lines start or end on other lines or different isometrics, line identifiers or isometric names respectively will be reported on the tags.

“Cutting List”, if enabled in “Project Option”, creates the cutting list table of pipes as shown in the figure. It can be re-generated or updated with the manual command.



“Tag Wildings” tells the program to tag the weldings in the drawing. This operation is performed each time the “Total BOM” command Is launched.

In order to start the isometric generation press the “Import” button.

In case that the whole generation process needs to be re-executed due, for example, to a model modification or to a change in the generation parameters, the old isometric is deleted and re-created ex-novo. Now let us examine in detail the isometric generation mechanism in order to learn how to use it in the best of ways.

Two isometric generation modes are available depending on whether the “Maintain Isometric in Scale” check box is enabled or not.

If the check box is not enabled the positions of the nodes (elbow vertexes, branches and pipe ends) will not necessarily be kept in scale. In case of need pipes too long or too short in size are adjusted and components are moved in accordance. In most cases this mode of isometric generation gives the best aesthetic results. In this case scaling is fully determined by the program but sometimes the setting of “Drawing area margin percent” could not be strictly respected. In case of loops, meant as lines having both ends connected to other lines, this mode of isometric generation could fail. In such case it must be used the other generation mode.

If the check box is enabled the positions of the nodes are kept in scale. The scale can be evaluated by the program or set by the user. In this mode nodes are considered unmovable and therefore the correct loop connections are always guaranteed. Nodal components such as elbows, tees, three-way valves and so on, are positioned on a node and are unmovable themselves. As a consequence pipes too long or too short cannot be adjusted and the following aesthetic defects could occur.

o Sequences of components between two nodes without pipes, which would allow some kind of adjustment. For instance elbow and counter-elbow or components packed as in figure. In such case the program scales the component symbols so to exactly fill the gap between the nodes. Therefore it can happen that the dimension of a symbol varies



within the same isometric

o The distance between two nodal components is shorter than the dimensions of the symbols which therefore overlap each other. Sometimes a manual retouch could be necessary, due either to the above mentioned reasons or to the arrangement of pipes on the model or to the scale setting.

o The isometric drawing goes off the area reserved to it, while importing the .ISO file the scale factor can be set to an inappropriate value. In such case you can choose a larger title block or enable the “Fit to page” option. Otherwise you can stretch some lines in order to bring them back within the reserved area. Such operation does not affect the pipes real length which keeps the value matching with the 3D model. Before stretching a line we suggest to position the coordinate system in the most suitable way, i.e. the pipe along the X or Y axis, through the “Set UCS” command. Then, since the pipe to stretch is not visible, unlock the model from the title block with the Tools / ISO View command, move the model with Pan and stretch the line. A quicker alternative is to temporarily enable Model Space which does not display the title block so to make the handling of pipes quite easy. We remind that the program does not allow to execute isometrics in the Model Space and therefore the above described method must be considered as an exception.



o Pipes are crossed over, such configuration can be made more visible with the Tools / Hide Pipe command. Otherwise try to disentangle them with the Stretch command as in the previous case. The described problem may occur also when the the “Maintain Isometric in Scale” mode is disabled.

o Adjacent components overlap each other or are larger than the lines they belong to, perhaps you have chosen a far too high reduction scale or either the components of the model are too close to each other. Usually this problem can be solved using a larger title block, lessening the reduction scale or the Component Scale value in “Working Options”. We remind that such value multiplies the original symbol dimensions. The figure at side clearly shows the effect of reducing the component scale from 2 to 1. Otherwise you can stretch the lines as at the previous point.

o Dimensions of components packed between two nodes are exceedingly different from the others, also in this case you can act on the component scale. We remind that packed components dimensions are established by the program therefore you will enlarge or reduce the free components scale according to your needs. The figure at the side shows that the free elbow gets similar dimensions to those of the packed ones by changing the component scale from 2 to 1.



o Some lines look bare of components, in an isometric view lines at 45° or multiples can have components on a plane which is perpendicular to the screen. Use the “Edit Components” command in order to reposition such components on a different plane or otherwise use the previously explained “ISO Views” command so to drastically change the viewpoint or the “Orbit” option so to slightly rotate it until the hidden components become visible.

At last we point out that the work-flow goes from the 3D model to Isometrics and not vice versa. Manual modifications performed on isometric drawings do not update the 3D model. Therefore we advise against additions or geometry modifications through the interactive commands which can cause malfunctions in the program and furthermore misalignments between the 3D model and the related isometric drawings. We strongly suggest to modify the 3D model and then to regenerate isometrics.



4.23. GENISO PROCEDURE FOR ISOMETRICS GENERATION

Geniso is a batch procedure for automatically generating isometrics starting from files extracted from ESApro Piping 3D.

Geniso is an external application which is available through the icon generated at the installation of ESApro Isometrics. It offers a mask for the full management of isometric drawings.

In the left window the Database list is displayed showing for each database the tree-list of the related 3D drawings.

In the right side there is the detail of the .ISO files complete with date of extraction and other characteristics which will be described further on. Each .ISO file will generate an isometric drawing. No new record can be added in this mask; records are created by the automatic extraction program of ESApro Piping 3D.

Let us examine the columns on the right side of the mask:

St. Displays the drawing status with colored balls with the following meaning:

o Ready to be generated. The isometric drawing is ready to be generated.



o Regen (.ISO modified) . The isometric drawing had already been generated but the 3D model has been modified and a new .ISO file has been extracted. The isometric drawing date is prior to that of the .ISO file.

o Correctly generated. The isometric drawing has been correctly generated.

o Generation Error. An error has occurred in the generation phase so that the isometric drawing has not been completed. The column Notes reports the cause of the error.

ISO File. It’s the file with ISO extension created by Piping and used in order to generate the isometric correspondent. This file name is that of the ISO group automatically set by the program while creating the automatic groups ( for further information about the rules for the generation of the ISO files refer to chapter 6.15 Projects)

Date, reports date and time of creation of the .ISO file.

Notes, reports messages of possible errors occurred while generating the isometric drawings. In case no error occurred the message is “Drawing correctly generated”.

.DWG Date, reports date and time of generation of the Isometric DWG file by the Geniso procedure.

Drawing N. It is the number of the drawing/document to insert in the title block of the isometric sketch. Such parameter is set on the management tab of the ISO groups in the ESApro Piping 3D environment and cannot be modified.

Sheet N. It is the number of the sheet which will be inserted in the title block of the isomentric sketch. This parameter has been set in the ISO groups management form in the ESApro Piping 3D environment and cannot be modified.

Rev. Reports the Isometric Revision Number. It represents the revision of the ISO file generated by ESAPro Piping 3D . If the revision of the



sketch has later to be changed independently from the 3D model , it must be modified in the “Working Option “ mask in ESApro. ISO.

Drawing Title, the title of the isometric drawing depends on the composition imposed in “Project Option” during the creation of the ISO file. In the lower part of the window are vizualized the current project parameters, the title block and the prototype drawing which together define the saving procedure of the ISO file. All theese, toghether with other parameters valid for all sketches, can be modified through the command “Options”.

Generate, once selected one or more .ISO files, the Generate Isometrics button launches an AutoCAD session that automatically generates the corresponding Isometrics. In the Geniso mask you can see the result of the process and possible error messages.

Modify parameters. When selecting one or more sketches the same generating parameters on the “File import .ISO” window( as described at the paragraph 4.21) can be re-arranged through the command “Modify”.

Options. Allows the modification of the project options for the generation of the sketches ( lists, quotation, annotations ecc)

Delete Isometrics, this command deletes the selected .ISO files.

CCUUSSTTOOMMIIZZAATTIIOONN


5. CUSTOMIZATION

The customization of the Isometrics environment basically regards the creation of new components and title blocks.

5.1. COMPONENT CREATION

All graphic elements of Isometrics, except pipes, bend pipes, butt welding and miter elbows, can be customized, i.e. they can be modified and new ones can be created. The creation of a new component implies the definition of its typology and the drawing of the symbol in a plane view.

First of all you need to insert the new typology in the component database and feed the related detail tables. Then you can draw the symbol, give it the same name as its typology and store it in the Isometrics library (…\ESApro 2006\ISO\LIB).

This will explained more clearly with an example.

Let us suppose we need to add a membrane valve, a typology which does not exist in the native library. In order to access the data entry procedure launch the ISO / Piping Specs command, shortcut SP, choose Tables / Components and select the straight-way valves family on the list.



In the typology box press the “New” button. Type in the description and select one graphic function. This, beside specifying the shape which would be modelled by ESApro Piping 3D, determines the data structure of the new valve. The program creates a new typology and gives it the code VLVDRxxx, where xxx is an alphanumeric random code displayed in the upper left part of the mask. The reason why random codes are used is to prevent two users from creating typologies with the same name. This ensures the possibility of exchanging data between different databases without risk of overlap.

In the new typology whichever number of component tables can be created. This subject will be discussed in the next chapter, now just take note of the code name which will be the name of the related graphic block too. Let us pass to its creation. First of all set the coordinate system parallel to the screen with the ISO / Tools / Set UCS command, option View and draw the object below.

With the AutoCAD command Wblock store the new component in the subdirectory ISO\LIB of the installation directory with the name VLVDRXXX as previously said. In this case the insertion point is in the



middle; in general we suggest to refer to an analogous component already existing in the library.

In order to be able to cut the line at the component insertion the program needs the symbol length (that out of scale not the real end to end dimension of the component). Through the ISO / Tools / Define length command open the symbol and suitably position it on the screen. Then the program asks for the cutting length. Point exactly at the points 1 and 2 using the suitable Snaps, otherwise you can enter its numerical value if known. The program asks for a second cutting length which is needed for angle components only (see figure at side) and in our case is ignored. The program stores the two lengths into the library and terminates.

Now the new valve is ready to be used. In order to change the appearance only of an existing valve it is enough to re-draw it, save it with its old name and launch the ISO / Tools / Set Length command.

Now let us make some observation about the component drawing.

o Flanges and components fitting them should have the same

dimension. The module used in the library supplied by the program is 6 drawing units.

o In the figure at side you can see a red vertical axis. In general we suggest to draw components on the layer 0 with characteristics and line type by-layer while the axis can be drawn for example on the ISO_ASSI. The already explained layers management system ensures that, when inserted, components will get the characteristics of the destination layer while axes will lay on ISO-ASSI.

o If you wish to leave a gap between the flange and the fitted component draw an entity (e.g. a point) on the flange insertion point facing the fitted component in order that both cutting points correspond to physical entities of the component. By the way the



gap is usually obtained through the gasket which can be hidden in print.

o Lap joint flanges are drawn by the program at the same insertion point as their stub end. Therefore their insertion point must be located in a suitable position. These components do not cut the pipe then the first cutting distance gets the meaning of distance between the insertion point and the point where the item balloon for the BOM will be positioned.

o Due to requirements of the mechanism of automatic import from ESApro Piping 3D, the second length of the eccentric reducer must contain the value of the distance between the symbol axes.

o Components which have a particular

direction or orientation must be created in a conventional position in order to work properly (see figure at side). Refer to similar components of the standard library supplied with the program.



5.2. TITLE BLOCK CUSTOMIZATION

ESApro Isometrics can use whichever title block. A valid title block is just a drawing with a quantity of information that enable its function within ESApro.ISO. The information are contained in attributes and inserted and maintained by the program in a block with a series of attributes, in particular Project, Drawing Number, Sheet Number and Revision whose values are taken from the “Working Options” settings. Title block functions are to locate the area reserved to the model and that reserved to the Bill of Materials as well as its starting point and whether it flows from top to bottom or vice versa. The procedure for generating a valid title block is explained below.

- First of all draw the title block as you like or take an existing one. Insert your desired attributes and further more those predefined by the program (Project, Drawing Number, Sheet number , Title and Revision) and save it with a name of your liking.

- Launch the customization procedure through the menu ISO / Title Block / Customize and select the previously created title block. Select attributes Project, Drawing Number, Sheet Number Title and Revision. Then the program asks for two points in order to locate the area dedicated to the drawing and another one in order to specify the starting point for filling in the Bill of Materials. At last select all elements and save the file.

Now the new title block is ready to be used.

Attribute Tag Description COMM Project Code NDIS Drawing number TITOLO Drawing title REVISIONE Revision Code NFOG Sheet Number

The required attribute Tags for Project, Drawing Number, Sheet Number Title and Revision are listed below.

SSPPEECCSS AANNDD DDAATTAA MMAANNAAGGEEMMEENNTT


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 ISO / Specs Management or the keyboard shortcut SP. The control panel in figure provides access to the commands. A password protection is provided (see further on) in order to prevent unauthorized access.

6.1. PARAMETER TABLES

They manage the data, filtered and controlled by Piping Class, activating the graphic function for the components drawing. Geometric data, as well as descriptive data such as ND, Material, Part Number are stored by the components and then used to be identified by the user and in the material lists. 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 recommend to verify data before using them. ESAin s.r.l. does not take any responsibility for the consequences of the use of 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 can not 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 on the pull down list. Even if this last one mainly concerns the representation in ESApro Piping 3D environment it must be specified since it also fixes the data structure of the new typology. Actually from the point of view of ESApro Isometrics the only needed datum is the end to end dimension which is used for the computation of the pipe lengths.

“Custom” and “Flow Controller” check-boxes only concern ESApro Piping 3D and the Head Loss module.

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



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 also erases all data tables of the typology. Native typologies supplied with ESApro can not be deleted. In case a typology is used in one or more Classes, its deletion is inhibited. All operations are controlled by a password.



6.5. CREATING DATA TABLES

In order to create a new 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,2nd,3rd,4th e 5th language, are short descriptions which will be used in Bills of Materials. Long Description: 1st,2nd,3rd,4th e 5th 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 thikness values and the rating of butt welded components. Theese 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.

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”: Therefore 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 “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 millimeters 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 controlled.

New values can be added to the diameter 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 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 millimeters, weight in kilograms. Data must be entered for all diameters. Mandatory, null or incomplete data may cause program malfunctioning.

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



6.7. REMARKS ON SPECIAL TABLES

BUTTWELDING ELBOWS, dimensional data are required only for the 90° elbow. For 45° and 180 just the part number can be filled in. Weights for angles different from 90° are computed by the program.

MITER ELBOWS, in spite of butt weld 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 the pipe from the pipe tables and the and second terminal from the flange tables. In the detail area the part number only of the composite pipe is required. In the bill of material extraction the program automatically computes length and weight of the composite pipe.

BOLTS, these components, belonging to “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 following chapter.



6.8. IMPLICIT MATERIALS

In order to compute materials not graphically represented in the model a further concept 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 Material” 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”, as an option select a new typology, 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. With 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 right while weights are those of pipes and must be corrected. Bent Radius column is empty since such values can not be taken from pipe table.

6.10. MODIFYING TABLES

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

6.11. DELETING TABLES

In order to erase a table select it and press the “Delete” button. This operation is inhibited if the table is 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

Piping Class defines a subset of components which meets specific plant design criteria. Classes feed graphic functions which model 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 allows 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 provides through the up right buttons Insertion, Modification, Deletion, Duplication and Printing of Classes. Furthermore a button is available for checking in which drawings a given Class is used.



NEW, this mask is for inserting a Class and its characteristic data. Name, which will be displayed in Bills of Materials, Version, Long Description, Date of creation, Schedule / Rating, Material and Design Temperature and Pressure.

Fill in the mask and press OK. At first the typology list is empty. The procedure for feeding it 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.

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, 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.

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.

Buttons in the left part of the mask are used for the detail definition of typologies and components of the newly created Class.

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 will automatically choose the first item. This behaviour depends on the suitable setting of the Working Options. In order to use this mechanism at its best, 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. LIBRARIES

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.

It is possible to delete data or add new ones The libraries 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 the instrument list of materials. The library can be fully customized.

Insulating Class Table

It is an archive containing the Insulating Class’s code, material, 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 both metric and imperial representation. Imperial representation is optional. 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 Library

With End-Type we mean the type of extremity of components which determines their coupling to other components. Usual examples are butt weld, socket weld, threaded ends or raised face and ring joint flange finishing.

In order to access 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 coupling checks, specifies precisely the coupling type for example it distinguishes between male threaded and female threaded. Description is the code used in bills of materials and 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-Types to be assigned only to pipe data tables. It provides the pipe to automatically fit the adjacent component (threaded, socket weld, etc.)

• BR (Branch): This End-Type must be assigned to the extreme of all branch components (socket weld or threaded half-couplings, sockolets, threadolets, elbolets etc.) which is welded to the main line.

In case a component has different End-Types to its extremes, End-Types themselves must be specified in component tables 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 1 END-TYPE

2

END-TYPE 1 END-TYPE 2

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

ELBOWs 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.

Dimension Style Table

This library is used to define the automatic quotation mode whenever the sketches are imported from ESApro 3D Piping. The automatic dimension style is a distinctive feature of Project and in this last environment it is then selected. The styles are listed on the check mask. Those provided by the program cannot be changed and are marked as predefined.



To cancel a style press “Delete”. To create a new style select “Copy”. Give the style a new name and through “Modify” change it at your request.

There are two sections on the mask: The first relative to Dimensioning Criteria and the second for Settings.

Dimensioning Criteria. The modification mask is divided into five sections. In each section there are the component families satisfying the required quotation criteria. It is possible to shift the component families from one section to another with the arrows at the bottom of each column. One family cannot be a part of two section at the same time. The explanatory quotation criteria for each section are the following ones.

1. Dimension if Ending, the dimension is not applied to the components of this section unless they are one of the terminations, start or end, of the straight part affected by the dimension.

2. Side Dimension, depending on the dimension flux it gives the position of the components and one side only, the right or the left , is dimensioned



3. Center Dimension, shows the position of the components and it dimensions the center, (middle point…..)

4. Length Dimension, as in Side Dimension gives the positioning but it applies the dimension to the length also.

5. No Dimension, such objects are not acknowledged by the dimensions.

As in figure:

• The pipes are ignored by the dimension because they are not the extreme of a line. But it were not present right above the flange, the dimension would start or end from or over the pipe’s extreme.

• The flange position is quoted on one side. whenever they are not extremes of a flange the quotation is equal to the thickness of the flanges so to ensure the continuity of the quotation of the following component. The system in fact does not admit empty spaces in between one dimension and the other so to obtain a total univocal length.

• The valve is dimension in position, in length and on one side. An other dimension appears on the other side to ensure continuity with the contiguous items.

• The T position is dimensioned through its middle point.

• The support below is an example of an object ignored by dimension.



In the Dimension Settings section there are three sections:

Slope, defines the pipe’s inclination angle. The slope symbol is inserted below the angle and replaces the dimension parallelogram. This value can be defined in degree or in percentage.

Mind the behaviour of the automatic quotation of the sketch imported from ESApro 3D Piping and that of the manually drawn sketch. The latter requires to be filled with the dimension values in order to calculate the pipes. So, once deleted the unnecessary parts of the dimension the final drawing displays as in the figure. If the inclined pipe is also rotated on the plane, it is necessary to leave the dimensions in order to find such angle.



Show components values

There are two options:

With text, in case of oriented pipes, to simplify the representation, suppresses the two/three necessary components and writes the value of the component directly on the parallelogram/parallelepiped.

With linear dimensions, in case of oriented pipes performs the classical dimensioning of all components.

Linear Dimension

There are four options:

Only partial lengths, for each section performs continuous dimensioning in the selected dimension style.

Total and Partial lengths, for each section adds the overall dimension to the continuous dimensions.

Only Total lengths, for each section adds the overall dimension only.

Dimension offset, sets the value of the distance between the pipe and the linear dimension.



Thickness class Libraties

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 omogeneus 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 thickeness 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.



6.15. PROJECTS

This item is used for the following operations:

o Insert, allows the creation of a new Project. The displayed mask has to be filled in with name and description. For those sketches generated in the ESApro ISO environment and when coming from ESApro 3D Piping its name will be the code as reported in the material list where the column “Project” is required. The description is not used and is not obligatory. Some default options are displayed whene creating a new project and they can be modified through the "Options".

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 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 craeation 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.

Drawings Group

DWG file saving procedure: enables the saving procedure of the drawings of all ESApro applications to allow the search of those documents when need to be updated

List Tab

The available options affect the generation of the lists (ex. language choice, and labels )



General Group ( used by ESApro 3DP and ISO)

Language list: allows a choice betweeen 5 available languages for the material list. Two different languages can be chosen at the same time.

Ignore drawing name when save: the program will ignore the name of the AutoCAD file during the saving procedure and will acknowledge only the Project, Drawing Number and Revision.

Line Tag Composition: defines the composition of the line tag for the whole Project. In the AutoCAD environment this composition is enabled through the “Line Tag” command. For details see paragraph 4.27 “Line Tag and annotations”.

Sketch Group (used by ESApro ISO only)

Lists: it enables the creation of Cutting and Weldings Totals, and Materials when generating the 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 visualisation 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



customisation of the title block. The value “Interline Tabs” enables the control of the vertical distance between the various lists. Coupling List : allows the list mode of the couplings . As far as the BR (Branches) weldings 2 more options are available:

o Divided per angles: which generates two columns in bills of

materials for the counting of of 90° degrees weldings or those with whichever angles.

o Total: adds up all derived weldings no matter the angle.

Two other options for the TH (Threaded) coupling type are available:

o All: counts all threaded couplings.

o For pipes only: is a list of threaded couplings with a pipe in

order to count all endings to be threaded.

Outer diameter with pipe thickness: visualizes the given diameter with thickness of the pipes only. Total weight: inserts at the bottom of the list the total weight of the sketch components. It is possible to customize the description of the value of the total weight.

Total surface: inserts at the bottom of the list the approximate surface of all the sketch’s components. It is possible to customize the description of the value of the total surface.

Prefabrication / Erection: cuts the list in two sections respectively containing the erection buildings and the prefabrication ones( the differentiation between the two categories is listed at the top of the components tab). It is also possible to customize the descriptions of both the categories.

Spool list: enables the subdivision of the material list per spool ( the option is active only when ESApro Spool is enabled). It is also possible to customize the descriptions of the lists of the various spools.

Erection components lower than ND: it is possible to force the program to acknowledge only the components with a diameter lower than a chosen one.



Sketch Generation Tab

On this table are displayed the options for the creation of ISO groups in ESApro 3DP as well as for the generation of the sketches.

ISO File group (used by ESApro 3DP and ISO)

ISO file save path: allows the setting of the same folder as a saving path for ISO files. Such procedure will become the GenISO utility default when generating groups of sketches.

Sketches title composition: through this option it is possible to assign a default title to all the sketches imported from ESApro Piping 3D. It is also possible to insert special codes (ex. #NLIN#, #LINEID# etc.) useful for the specification of the values of such fields as : line tag, system, line number etc.



ISO groups names automatic composition: this option is for the the assignment criteria of names for iso groups automatically generated by ESApro Piping 3D. Once assigned, the name of the ISO group will become either the name of the ISO file the program is going to write as well as the name of the DWG file created by ESApro Isometrics while generating the sketches. The command “Name” opens the window below.

Document/Sheet: decides the assignment criteria of the drawing number as well as the sheet number for the new ISO groups generated in automatic mode.

• Create document for each sketch: for each generated sketch it assignes a different drawing/document number.

• Create a sheet for each sketch: to each generated sketch will be

assigned one only drawing/document number as well as a different progressive sheet. This option enables the user to assign one only number to all drawings and also to determine an eventual start index for the sheet number generated by the system.



Name composition: it is possible to select the fields wich create the name of the ISO group generated in automatic mode by the system. It is also possible to set up for each field a prefix and a suffix. It is also possible to choose their insertion order. Note how the rule for the assignment of the name must take into account the organization criteria of the various sketches. This means that while choosing the rule mode, the program assures that the selected fields univocally define the name of the file (ex. if you decide to create one document for each line, you must set the line number field or the document number ).

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".

DWT prototype file: which selects the DWT file to be used as a model for the generation in automatic mode of sketches with ESApro Geniso.

DWG title block: selects the AutoCAD block to use as a title block while generating sketches in automatic mode.



Sketch annotation and dimensioning

In this window are available those options which set the dimension and the annotation of the sketches generated in automatic mode by ESApro Isometric.

Annotation group (used by ESApro ISO)

Cross reference: enables the cross reference procedure (tags with continuance information) while creating the sketches. The tags referring to other sketches or to connections with the equipment can be customized.

Line automatic tag: activates the automatic tagging of the lines while generating sketches.

Component automatic tags: enables the automatic tagging of the components (tag) while generating sketches.

Dimensioning Group (used by ESApro ISO)

Automatic dimensioning: enables the automatic tagging while generating sketches. The quotation style can be chosen between the available ones in anagraphic ( for further information see the ESApro Isometric manual chapter 6).

Elevation dimensioning: activates the altimetric dimensions while generating the sketches.



End coordinates: enables the insertion of the 3D coordinates of the ends while generating the sketches.

The Project management mask is divided in two areas, the upper one displays 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 reference is removed from the database while the file itself is left unchanged. In order to re-create the reference of drawing to Project it is sufficient to launch the ISO / BOM / Total BOM command in the AutoCAD environment.



6.16. BILL OF MATERIAL

This command is used for generating various types of lists. It displays a mask for selecting a Project and then one or more related drawings. Through the options of the “Output” box select screen, ASCII file, Excel file, Access table or printer.

In the “List Type” box you can choose one of the following options:

o Materials, generates the Bill of Materials of the selected drawings. All data fields are displayed. This list is not customizable.



o Welding, creates a list where all sorts of joints , such as weldings and threads, etc are accounted, that is to say every item is in End Type table. The criteria for the grouping of weldings are the following ones:

Couple of Materials (of a pipe and/or its related coupling components)

Couple of ND (of a pipe and its related coupling components)

Type of joint (ex: butt weld, socket weld , threads, ecc…)

o Welding tags generates a list of weldings similar to the previous one and including the identifying Tags inserted in the AutoCAD drawing. For this reason it does not perform the count, but lists instead a line for each coupling, with their NDs, materials, thickness and joint type.

o Puma , exports data into the commercial package Puma for the processing of materials . It also provides the line’s data ( number, service, fluid type) which are not normally used in scketches unless visualized in the line’s tag.

o Insulation, lists the surface and insulation length for each ND, Insulation Class and Thickness.

o ut, generates a tab of cutting values for each part of a pipe, as the one represented in the scketch, but for the selected drawings and therefore for the whole job order. The drawing’s number are listed on the first column. The extra lengths for the management of the assembling spools and of the welding shortage are added to the quoted nominal length. ND, the length and End Type, Part Number, Material and Diameter x Thicness are then displayed. And so are the extremes’ cutting angles different from 90° if needed. In



case of pipes’ sequences and bents the program aknowledges the whole length of the axis pipe for each part.



6.17. UTILITIES

This menu item is used for setting a series of control parameters of the program.

Database Management, enables the maintenance of the Project Databases of ESApro ISO.

ESApro ISO 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 he 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 the password to access the Database and Class management functions. If no password is set no restriction to the use of procedure is enabled.

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 (for ESApro Piping 3D only)

o Equipment (for ESApro Piping 3D only)

o Models for lists (for ESApro Piping 3D only)

o Typologies



In order to select the object type use the various buttons of the upper toolbar.

When importing / exporting Classes also their related component tables are moved. Each moved component keeps 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 with ESApro. They are marked with “#” in column “U” and are characterized by a very big identification number.

In order to import all user component 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.



7. ESAPRO SPOOL

In this chapter we are going to describe the functions of the ESApro Spool module. This optional module integrated in ESApro ISO allows the subdivision of the sketch through the definition of the spools and therefore it will be possible to generate a material list for each spool or a single sketch (spool-sketch).

In order to understand the working proceduree of this module, bare in mind that , while generating the sketches, the user usually prefers to create one sketch for each line and its related material list and quotation. This type of document that we could define as “design sketch” can be useful to the builder in order to understand the geometry of the line but, as it contains many parts and quotations, it might not be so easy for those who are prefabricating the spools composing the line to use it. The prefab builders might also need to determine the quantity of the materials for each spool in order to optimize their working process and to avoid to waiste materials.

Said all that let’s proceed to the analysis of the commands and the options available in ESApro ISO when the module ESApro Spool is enabled.



7.1. SPOOL GROUPS

It selects the command “Spool Groups” in the toolbar or in the pull down menu and named “Extra Modules” , and enters the window which defines the spool composing our sketch through the grouping of the objects within an entity which we can assign a name to (spool group) .

Each group will generate one spool . As initially the objects of the sketch are not assigned to any group, the group list on the mask will be empty. Through the “New group” command it will be possible to create a new group and then to add new entities with the “Add entity” command. As an alternative the program can generate groups in automatic mode, through “Automatic groups” . In this case the program defines the spools in automatic but it does stop when encounters the first component (ex. gasket or valved flange), defined as “building materials“, or until it encounters a spool, defined as such, by the related symbol.

While creating automatic groups the program assignes names which can be defined either by a progressive number or an alphabetic letter.



Once created the Spool groups (either in manual or automatic mode) it is possible to delete or to rename them through the “Explode groups” or “Rename” commands.

It is also possible to display the objects included in the selected spool group or to find the name of the group respectively through the “Evidenziate group” or “Find group” commands.

7.2. SPOOL TAGS

This command allows the insertion of the tags with the name of the spool as well as the tagging of one single object. It also allows the use of the “Auto” mode in order to tag the whole sketch.



7.3. SPOOL MATERIAL LIST

In the project options (see chapter 6.15) are listed the settings which allow the subdivision of the prefab materials per spool . Once enabled the option “List spool” (conditioned by the choice of subdivising the lists of the prefab from the erection material) the pr ogram creates sub-lists and the related totals and weights for each spool. As a header for each spool it is inserted the name of the spool.

7.4. SPOOL-SKETCH GENERATION

The command “Generate sketch per spool” starts from a sketch, where the spools are previously defined, and creates in automatic mode drawings (design sketches) representing the single spools (spool sketches) fitted with quotation and list.



We underline the fact that the spool sketches are generated as ordinary documents and they are not taken into account during the creation of the materials as they are previously counted in the design sketches where they originally come from. For this very reason these sub sketches are displayed in the list of the chosen drawings of the project but they are not visualized on the material list generation window in the specific management environment.

piping - manuale operativo (nuovo)

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