PDMS compatibility Autopipe/Rohr/Caesar

[kurtz]

What is yours experience with export pipelines from PDMS and import to piping stress analysis software?
Does it work good and efficiently? Do you prefer to enter the pipeline yourself (from isometric) for calculations?

 

[XL83NL]

My experience is with autodesk plant3d to autopipe. We use pcf files for that. The info i use from the pcf is the general routing, and some smaller details like support locations. All the other details I enter myself, like pipe spec details, insulation, pressure and temperature. This way of work saves me a lot of time, as entering the routing may be very time consuming. I’m sure there’s a possibility in autopipe for importing pdms to autopipe.

 

[kurtz]

Great. Don't you have any problems with import? AutoPIPE recognize all the pipes properly?

 

[XL83NL]

Yes and no. There are issues, but I havent taken the time to determine if it's either on the AP (short for AutoPIPE) side, e.g. a setting in the pcf translator, or on P3D (short for Plant3D). Wha Ive noticed is that AP will make the export similar to an isometric. So when you e.g. have a dotted line on an iso showing where the line continue, but isnt part of the actual iso itself, such parts may become transferred in the pcf. And they need to be deleted manually.

Neverthless, since I will check every model on every detail myself, regardless how good the import/export goes, I dont mind that. Furthermore, in AP it is easy to check details from a model. I think if one takes the time, you can find a way for a very good import/export.

 

[RVAmeche]

Caesar is able to directly import from CadWorx but the quality of the import strongly depends on the designer routing the pipe and the specs used in the original program. I imagine it's similar for other software.

 

[XL83NL]

CII’s approach seems similar to autopipe. It boils down mostly to the quality of the piping engineers job.