Smap3D Piping

To generate pipelines, Smap3D Piping provides a variety of automatic placement routines (QuickPlace methods) for fittings in standard situations in 3D pipelines.

The most important routines are the automatic placement of

• Elbows for all common angles,
• normal and reduced T-pieces for all common angles,
• necks/Weldolets instead of reduced T-pieces for all common angles,
• flanges and gaskets,
• straight pipe sections between placed fittings,
• bent pipes, provided that no elbow or corner fittings have been placed.

Smap3D Piping automatically updates the pipeline when changes are made to the pipeline route, the centerline, by using information already stored about the corresponding pipe class. This happens, for example, when adding or deleting fittings and pipes.

When changing the composition of existing pipelines, for example when changing the pipe class, the diameter or another pipe class feature, Smap3D Piping proceeds in the same way and uses the saved definitions from the pipe class.

To create reduced or extended pipelines, the user only has to define the desired diameter and the position of the reduction or extension component. The placement of the component and the complete conversion of the modified pipeline to the new diameter are carried out automatically by Smap3D Piping.

With all the automatic features offered by Smap3D Piping, a user is still able to extend and edit a pipeline according to individual requirements with various functions, such as using non-unique components, replacing parts or placing parts.

For software-internal plausibility checks, necessary parameters - e.g. maximum and minimum pipe length - can be defined in the pipe specs. The pipe specifications are stored centrally in the system as a single file. This central definition

• facilitates the maintenance and management of pipe specs,
• enables a high degree of automation and
• prevents individual errors when the user creates the pipes,
• which ensures a high level of process reliability.

Smap3D Piping contains all the necessary functions for creating, maintaining and managing pipe specifications (pipe class editor) as standard. Sample pipe specs are supplied with the software. These can be used directly or copied and modified according to your own requirements.

to support the pipeline planner:

• Automatic generation of pipe reductions or expansions
• Automatic flow direction control
• Cutting the pipes when the maximum length is reached
• Placement of connection components when the maximum length is reached
• Creation of the welding gap
• Placement of specifically adapted bends for inclines and declines
• Creating insulation
• Quick and easy addition of new automatisms using QuickPlace methods

A user draws and defines the desired piping routes in the 3D assembly as centerline paths from 3D lines (basic functions in the CAD system).

Smap3D Piping analyzes these drawn line elements and automatically creates the pipeline paths according to logical criteria. A pipeline path describes the route of a continuous pipeline from one connection to another, regardless of how many line elements make up the path in between.

Another new pipe path always begins at branches. Piping paths are associative to the 3D line elements drawn in the CAD system. In Smap3D Piping, they form the basis for the generated 3D pipeline consisting of fittings and pipes.

When creating pipes with pipe classes, Smap3D Piping can also process any non-circular cross-sections. Cable ducts, routes, ventilation ducts, etc. can be created quickly and efficiently in the 3D assembly. The software uses similar fully automatic placement routines as for round cross-sections.

• An important function is the automatic placement of
• Shape bends at 45 and 90 degrees,
• Form T-pieces at 45 and 90 degrees with the same cross-section and reduced,
• shaped flanges and gaskets,
• shaped pipes between the placed shaped fittings
• and placement of pipes with fixed lengths.

As a special functional extension, the orientation of the corresponding components is taken into account for the form fittings: left/right and up/down.