CloudWorx for BricsCAD / Pipe Digitizing
Preview:
Create pipe trajectory
Explode CW elements
Create BIM pipe from trajectory
Extend pipe segments to each other
Convert BIM pipes to mechanical assemblies
Add flanges and valves
First-time digitizing pipes based on point cloud could be complicated in the BricsCAD, because there are different elements that represent the pipe, and interactions with all of them are different. Let's have a look at how the same pipe could be represented by using different tools.
One of the easiest ways to design pipes in BricsCAD it's using BIM profiles tools. For that, you should open on the right ribbon panel the profiles menu and select the Pipe as a type of profile, and choose the needed size of pipe. Then drag and drop chosen profile to the screen. Pipes created in this way could be easily extended to each other and if you change any component of the pipe then all routes rebuild automatically. But with this type of pipe it's not possible automatically place flanges or valves
Pipe created with BIM profiles tool
Represented by 3D Solid with a hole inside
Compatible with connection tools
Easily customizable
Doesn't work with the Bill of Material tool
Doesn't allow to place flanges in the end of the pipe
Could be challenging to fit it into the point cloud manually
After that, you got all pipes created with BIM profiles tools you could be able to convert them into Block References (or Mechanical Assemble) via the command BMCONVERT. Visually you will not see any difference, but in the properties menu, you could find that's now the Block Reference instead of 3D Solid. While the pipe is in that status it's not possible to change the route of the pipe so easily as it was 3D Solid, but now you could easily place Flanges at the end of pipes.
Pipe created with BMCONVERT tool
Represented by 3D Solid with a hole inside
Not compatible with connection tools
Not easily customizable
Work with the Bill of Material tool
Allows placing flanges at the end of the pipe
Could be challenging to fit it into the point cloud manually
Meanwhile, the pipes created with the CloudWorx Fitting tools are different from both of them. The pipes perfectly fitted to the point cloud with the right sizes and lean, but they look like 3D solids without holes inside, you could be able to connect them only with CloudWorx Connect Pipes tool and there is no allow you to place flanges at the end of the pipe with automatically line up sizes and directions.
Pipe created with CloudWorx
Represented by 3D Solid without a hole inside
Compatible only with CloudWorx the Connect Pipe tool
Not easily customizable
Doesn't work with the Bill of Material tool
Doesn't allow to place flanges at the end of the pipe
Could be easily to fit into the point cloud
If we compare all pipes in the table, we'll see that each of them got its own features and benefits, so let's try to use all of them.
Create a centerline of the needed pipes and define their diameter. The best tool for that is Fit Pipe in the CloudWorx ribbon bar. Run it and select the option - Create Object / Centerline, if it's standard pipes choose the option Use Catalog to automatically selects the best size from the selected catalog. I recommend you to use Fitting with Fence because it allows you to fit pipes in the point cloud with even a low number of points. Create pipes only in places before or after the flanges, valves, reducers, and other elements that could be involved in the route of the pipe.
Connect pipes with the Connect Pipes tool on the CloudWorx pannel, but use it only for pipes with elbow connectors, don't touch the pipes with Tee or Cross connections also don't try to connect pipes that have the same lean and direction but different diameters. Just leave them until the next steps. When you got an open pop-up window with settings of connections for pipes, choose only the Centerline creation.
Select all the pipes and use the EXPLODE command on them, it will split them into 3D polylines (pipe path) and Cylinders (pipe diameter). Next, extend all pipes to the beginning of another element (Flange, Valve, Adapter, Reducer, etc.). You can now select all 3D polylines of the same diameter and drag the required profile onto them from the BIM profile tool palette. If you forgot to extend any pipe to the next element when it was rendered as a 3D polyline, you can do so later with a 3D solid, but before doing so, be sure to turn on axis visibility to be able to drag the pipes.
If you have multiple pipes with varying diameters, simply drag one over the other using the handles, BricsCAD will automatically insert a reducer between them.
To create a Tee or Cross-connection you should select the pipe which should be extended and move the mouse cursor over another pipe, the second pipe will be highlighted and the quad menu will appear. Chose the L-connection type to extend the first pipe to another. Before approving the connection with Enter button you could switch type of connection with Ctrl button, select any you want, and then click Enter.
Select parts of pipes that adjoin to Flanges and apply on them the command BMCONVERT. You'll see that now they become the Block References, now it's possible to place Flanges at the endpoint of the pipe, go to Library / Standard Parts / Piping / Flanges, choose the required flange and place it at the endpoint of Block Reference pipe, it will be joint automatically. Do the same thing for the Valves, but notice that the Valve could snap only to the Flanges, the snapping doesn't work with pipes. After all, elements are placed you could extend the nearest pipe from the opposite side of the Flange or Valve (the pipe that is still represented as 3D Solid). Don't forget to turn the valves in the same direction as in the point cloud.
Select all the elements when they are ready and apply the BOM (_BMBOM) command to them, BricsCAD will automatically create a table with the number of components and their names.
An additional way how you could use the tool Fit Pipe in CloudWorx for BricsCAD is to create exchangers or pressure vessel tanks, etc. for corresponding pipes. For that you should:
Fit pipe to the cloud and don't use any catalog
Extrude the borders of the cylinder up to the extreme point the cloud
Apply the Fillet command to the edge of the required side of the cylinder
Note! If you are looking for something more intelligent and automatic then you should use an additional plugin - CADWorx Plant Professional
CADWorx is the next-generation software solution, providing intelligent drawing/database connectivity, advanced levels of automation, easy-to-use drafting tools
BricsCAD® Platform Compatibility
Intelligent and Intuitive 3D Piping Design
On-the-fly Collision Checking
Automatic Isogen Isometrics
Equipment Modeling
If you still have a question or you want to repeat this tutorial by yourself, but don't have a valid license then you could reach me by clicking the below button.