Mechanical piping in NX?

[swale74]

We're looking at improving our mechanical piping (air, oil and water lines) in cad. Couple questions are there reuse libraries available for items like valves and fittings. Also looking for impressions of the Mechanical and electrical routing package. Is it worth the cost and what does it bring to the table. I saw a video on the routing package and it looks great however anything can look great in a controlled environment like a demo. Really world can be different. Looking for some user level input as apposed to sales. Currently We've been downloading fittings from suppliers and adding them to our reuse library. Two problems with this. Usually the parts are simplified versions. And secondly this is time consuming part by part. I understand that eventually it will pay off. Hoping to get some user feedback.

NX 6.0.5.3 in Windows 7
Mechanical designer

 

[JohnRBaker]

I'll let real users comment on the Routing package, otherwise you'd say it was to 'salesy' (even though it been almost 26 years since I worked in Sales) however since you mentioned that you'd like to see what some of the standard parts look like, I've loaded 4 typical valves from the standard Pipe Routing library ans took their 'picture':

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[kapmnit123]

Hi swale,
Do you have some points in your mind (i mean expectations from Mechanical Routing).Please do let us know.I have used Mechanical routing to some extent and may be able to answer some of your queries.
Best Regards
Kapil Sharma

 

[swale74]

I'd like to hear your feedback as well John. I just placed that in there so I didn't get the why don't you call sales and discuss. Kapil, does it contain a library of parts? How extensive is it? Do you still have to add items yourself? Will it easily generate a parts bill of items in the system? Does this parts bill also contain pipe lengths or just fittings? Will it do any analysis? (pressure drop or ASME certification) Our business is hydro generator design. Most of the time we have been outsourcing the piping however the amount of dialogue between us and suppliers we're looking at doing this in house. So far I've been building pipe paths with "combined projection" command using a top sketch and a side elevation sketch, than adding fittings where required. We're looking to see about a trial license for me to test out. I was just looking for a second option. Do you feel it is worth the cost? Thanks

NX 6.0.5.3 in Windows 7
Mechanical designer

 

[kapmnit123]

Hi,
Yes it contains a vast library of parts (joints,Fittings,flanges etc.).You can even customize it to include your own standard parts.
You can utilize BEND REPORT (an OOTB in Mechanical routing) to get a detailed pipe report.It has some inbuilt design checks too (for design validation) for checking Minimum stipulated Bend Radius etc. Offcourse you can top it on with some of your own customized checks.
As far as the analysis part is concerned i am not sure that we have something inside mechanical routing to do that but perhaps the NX CAE guys can answer that query.
As compared to modelling Routing speeds up your work by defining the routing paths much faster. Intelligence is built automatically through qualifying the parts so for example if you wish to attach an elbow to a path (with NPS =8) then the library automatically filters out the available options for you (so you will find only those standard fittings with a NPS of same value).Offcourse more specifications can be added to add more intelligence.
If you put a flange or any connection in between a routing path (with or without stock ) it automatically trims of the portion displaced by it and proper ports are created at the ends.
There are lot of things to explore (and unluckily i am still on the learning curve as far as routing is concerned).
But do let me know if you have any questions (since you have a practical exposure to the piping process so can co-relate the functionalities and the process followed lot better than me)and i will try to find it out.
And yes a trial version will help you getting a feel of it for sure.So at least give it a try if possible.
Best Regards
Kapil Sharma