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Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

(OP)
Our Company’s engineers develop general plans, design of tank farms and terminals, crude oil and oil products transmission pipelines, gas pipelines and gas storage facilities, engineering buildings and structures, firefighting, water supply and sewerage technologies and other infrastructure for industrial, civil ore special-purpose projects. So far, the engineers worked in 2D environment using AutoCAD. It is now set goal to move to 3D design method.
Of course I understand that all needs cannot be satisfied by one program and there is no such thing as one best, but I’m looking for the best option to fulfill at least some of these features:

• Software should support the metric system.
• Software should automatically draw up isometric and technological scheme.
• It is important that the software automatically gives out the technological equipment and material specifications.
• Software should include a wide range of elements in the database formed at both ISO and the GOST standards (we working with both European and Russian projects).
• Provide an opportunity for some people to work together and see other people's work on the project.
• It would be good if the software is able to perform pipe stress calculations. Currently, for this purpose we use Bentley AutoPIPE. It is acceptable option when it’s possible to export the 3D model to AutoPIPE and perform calculations. Or you can suggest other better alternative?

We've seen the offers provided by Bentley Autoplant program operating in AutoCAD base (AutoCAD plug-in rather) and it seemed that software is very unstable and with a lot of mistakes (errors). Yet-testing software - SolidWorks piping and Model Studio CS. What can you say about these software’s?

Sincerely, Egils.

RE: Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

You may also wish to look into AutoCAD Plant3D. It is very useful tool to convert PID's to General layout drawings and eventually ISO drawings. The ortho drawings are not very user friendly however.

RE: Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

(OP)
I think I give a try to Intergraph CADWorx Plant Professional. Maybe someone can say something about CADWorx?

RE: Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

I've been using CADWorx Plant Professional for nearly 10 years. Each release has improved some areas and made others more difficult. I think that if I'd never seen CADWorx before, V2014 would feel like the best ever (but they changed where some stuff if and I keep looking in the old place for it).

One problem with it is that it uses constructs that AutoCad does not see as 3-D. I tried to use Tetra 4D to allow someone in Acrobat to rotate a CADWorx piping model and it couldn't see any 3D elements. This is a pretty small thing, but it was pretty annoying after paying a couple of hundred dollars for the 4D program.

My experience is that it is a lot easier to do 3D piping models in CadWorx than in Plant 3D or in Solidworks.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat

RE: Looking for the best solution for 3D piping software

(OP)
Thanks zdas that was usefull information. Maybe someone else could share their experience with CadWorx or maybe can suggest better alternative?

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