CADWorx 2015 PDF

CADWorx Video Training Series
Lesson One - Getting Started
Lesson One
Getting Started
Some topics covered in this lesson:

You will . . .
Set up the screen for first time use

Save your Workspace
Learn to place components
Learn dimensioning procedures
Set up and use the Bill of Materials
Learn how to annotate components
Learn how to set up Line Numbering
Learn how to use the graphic labels in the system
See that techniques you learn here will be useful when simple quick drawings
are needed
Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011
CAD Training Technologies, LLC Houston, TX USA

This lesson is the text portion of the video called Lesson One. This lesson covers all that
you will see in the video, step-by-step. It is a written roadmap you can use to work your
way through the exercise.
I recommend you play the video for a while and watch the first part of it. Then pause it
and do the step-by-step instructions in this lesson. You can then go back to the video and
repeat the process.
If you need to look at something more than once, you can always replay the video
through that section. Thats the great thing about having a video to replay: you can clear
up any part of the lessons that you may have questions about, and you wont have any
aspect of this course that you wont understand.
So start the first video, and after a few minutes pause it. Then do the steps that follow.
Good luck and congratulations! Youre on your way to Mastering CADWorx Plant
Professional Software!


Click the video buttons shown (Piping, Lesson One, Video

One). The Video One gets you started and introduces the
screen setup.
When youve finished viewing Video One, click the Video
Two button. It will get you started setting up your drawing.
Start CADWorx Plant Pro by double clicking on the
CADWorx icon.
1.
2.
Click on the Use a Template button
Click on the Metric.dwg and click OK.

Starting up a
drawing in
CADWorx
In this system you

always use a
template
You can bring your

border in at any time
Using a template
sets Units and other
AutoCAD variables

Initial Settings
When you start to work with CADWorx, everything is
drawn to scale. So you have to set the system for a certain
size (pipe diameter) and specification.
3.
4.
Click Plant
Click Setup
5.
6.
7.
You always set the

size and spec
Click Size
Set the Main Size to 4.
Set the Reduced Size to 6 (seems backwards but thats
what we want to do here).
8. Click OK to exit the size settings, and

9. Click Specification
10. Set the Specification to 150_M.spc


Selecting the Spec
11. Set the Drawing Mode to 3D Solids.


12. Click the Scale Button
Selecting the Scale
Inserting a Border
13. Set the Scale to be 1:20, and click OK to exit that dialog box.
14. Click the Border Button.
15. Click Predefined.
16. Click the 594x420 (Iso-A2) Border, and click OK.


Clicking the User

Name/Date/Time
stamp box
Opening the
CADWorx
Specview tool
palette
17. Click the box for the User Name/Date/Time stamp and click
OK.
18. Click OK to exit the dialog box.
19. Type: Specview <Enter>
You will see the information contained in the 150_M spec
appear in the left area of the screen. This is the Specview
tool palette, and it is where youll go to select items to insert
into the drawing (shown in AutoCAD 2009 version).


If youre In AutoCAD 2009, set the Workspace first to 3D

Modeling. Then (all AutoCAD versions) save your
Workspace as CADWorx Specview. (If you dont have a
Workspace toolbar open, right click on any AutoCAD
button, and click on Workspace).
20.
21.
Saving your screen

setup using the
Workspace
command
Saving the Drawing
Click the Save Current As

and name it CADWorx Specview
This will save all your screen settings and you can always
restore them at a later time if needed.
Now, lets save the drawing and get started.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Click Save As.

Path to the C:\CADWorx Video Training\Lessons folder.
Enter the drawing name:
Lesson_One<Enter>


Placing Components
26.
Click the Weld Neck Flange button.
27.
28.
Right click and click Face end.

Click a point to place the face of the flange in the upper
right area of your drawing.
Drag the mouse to the right, and click (to indicate the
direction you want to flange to be placed.
Zoom as needed to see the flange.
29.
30.
31.
Placing a Flange
Viewing the flanges

data
Double click on the Flange to see the data associated with

it (this is data coming from the spec).


32.
Click on the Reducer, Eccentric button.
33.
34.
35.
Right click on the mouse and click Small End.

Press <Enter> and drag the mouse to the right and click.
The Reducer will connect automatically to the back of the
flange.
Type U <Enter> (for flat side up orientation of the
Reducer).
36.
37.
Click the Pipe button.
38.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard (the pipe will connect

automatically to the reducer).
Note: Always press <Enter> to connect one component to
the previous one. This will save a lot of trouble for
you in the future, because it will help prevent
connection errors between components. (A great
example of this is when you connect to a gasket
its easy to miss!)

Placing a Reducer
Adding Pipe
Important!
Guaranteeing
good
connectivity
between
components
10

39.
Drag the mouse to the right (to indicate the direction) and
Type: 336 <Enter> (all lengths expressed in mm unless
otherwise noted).
Placing pipe
Placing a Flange,
Gasket, and Gate
Valve
Note: Were entering a length of 336 for this exercise.

Later you will learn about router lines and see how
to draw pipe segments in a different manner.
40.
Click the Weld Neck Flange button.
41.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard (to connect automatically),

drag to the right and Click.
Notice, the system placed a Gasket automatically.
42.
Click on the Gate Valve button.
43.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect automatically,

11

44.
45.
Drag the mouse to the right and click.

Click the direction for the valve top works as shown in
the video if you are running CADWorx 2009.
Continuing to place
components
Placing a Tee
Note: If you are not running CADWorx 2009 you will

not be prompted for the valve top works. Youll
add it in during a later section of the lesson.
Note: The size and shape of the valve top works will be
changed in a later lesson to a standard size.
46.
Click on the Weld Neck Flange button.
47. Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect automatically

48. Drag the mouse to the right and click.
49.
Click on the Tee button.

Note: Click on the Tee button, not the Reducing Tee
button!
50.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect

automatically.
12

51.
52.
Drag the mouse to the right and click (for the run
direction).
Then drag the mouse straight down (for the branch
direction) and click.
Click on the Pipe button.
53.
Press <Enter> on the mouse, then drag to the right and
54.
Type: 1800 <Enter>
55.
56.
Placing pipe of
specific lengths
Click Pipe and click on the bottom of the Tee. Drag

straight down and
Type: 2128 <Enter>.

13

57.
58.
Place an Elbow at the bottom of the last pipe segment.

Click the Elbow button.
59.
60.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard, to connect automatically.

Drag down with the mouse and click (to indicate the elbow
corner direction).
Drag to the left and click (to indicate the direction of the
end of the elbow).
61.
62.
Placing an Elbow
You can Copy

components in
CADWorx using
normal AutoCAD
commands
Copy down the Flange, Gate Valve, and Flange, as shown

in the video.

14

63. Click Pipe.

64. Click on the end of the flange (be sure to use Osnap).
65. Drag the mouse to the left,
66. And Type: 250 <Enter>.
67. Copy down the Reducer and Flange as shown.
Copying groups of
components
68. Save the drawing intermittently.

15

69.
Working in a similar fashion as you have been doing, add the

remaining pipe segments and fittings.
70.
Use the measurements shown in the figure, when you type in

the values for the lengths of the pipe segments.
71.
Finishing up placing
the components
Saving the file
Adding Nozzles
Save your drawing when completed to this point.
Adding Nozzles
72.
Click on the Long Weldneck tool button.
73.
Right click on the mouse, click Length, and type 200 <Enter>

16

74.
75.
Zoom in around one of the six inch flanges on the right,

and using the OSNAP Endpt, click on the Gasket, then
drag to the right and Click.
Adding Gaskets and

Nozzles
Viewing the Nozzle

data
Double click on the Long Weldneck you just placed, and

notice the information contained in this dialog box.
a. The Long annotation area shows how the item will be
listed in the Bill of Materials List.
b. The Tag is a field that can contain connection info
(Nozzle 1 of Pump 123) or, in the case of a valve, a
valve tag. All components carry weight.
c. The Length field is fixed, it cannot be edited.

17

76.
Click on the Existing check box, and set the nozzle to

existing. This will make it an item that will be shown
on an iso, but not called out in a material list. (Its like
the nozzle exists on a vessel in the area, and we just
want to connect to it).
77.
Click OK when done, and notice how the flange has

changed.
78.
Repeat these steps and place a nozzle (Long Weldneck)

on the other 6 flange.
79.
Near the top of the screen, in the CADWorx tool pallet:
Setting the nozzle to

be an Existing
components
Adding the 4
Gaskets and Nozzles
80. Set the Main Size to 4 (dont worry about the Reduction
size, it doesnt matter for this step).
81.
Click on the Gasket button.
82.
Click on the left edge of one of the 4 flanges, drag the

mouse to the left, and click (place a gasket on the face of
one of the 4 flanges).
83.
Click on the Long Weld Neck flange button.

18

84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
Right click on the mouse and click Length.

Type: 200 <Enter> (to set the length to 200mm).
Press <Enter> again on the keyboard to connect
automatically to the gasket.
Drag the mouse to the left and Click.
The Long Weld Neck flange (the Nozzle) will be placed
correctly.
Double click on the nozzle and set it to Existing.
Setting the Nozzle to

8 in length, and
making it existing,
which means it will
come out in the
Isometric drawing,
but not in the
Material List
Viewing a proper
Gasket
Notice theres a space between the Nozzle and the flange

it connects to. The Gasket creates the space between
them. This is how it should look.
Repeat for the other 4 flange, or copy the gasket and

nozzle up to it.
Your drawing should look as shown at this point.

19

Adding Bolts
92. Type: Autobolt <Enter>
93. Window the drawing and press <Enter>
94. Bolts will be placed in the drawing (the system puts bolts
for each Gasket).
95. Double click on one of the Bs laying on a Gasket (the
Bs are for Bolts).
Adding Bolts to the

drawing
Viewing the Bolt

Data
You can see what the system has put in for bolt information.

20

Adding Olets (Drains)

96.
97.
Turn on the OSNAP, OTRACK, and POLAR buttons

at the bottom of the screen.
Click the Main Size area in the tool pallet.
Setting the system to

show Threaded
Components
Placing a Thredolet
98. Set the main size to 6, and the reduction size to .

99. Zoom into the upper left area of the piping.
100. Click the Settings tab on the Specview tool pallet.

101. Click the Show Threaded checkbox.
102. Click Thredolet
103. Move the cursor right over the point where the pipe and
the reducer meet, but dont click just hover the
crosshairs right over that intersection point.
104. The OSNAP will acquire the point.
A Drag slightly to the right (youll see the tool tip box
appear).
Note: OSNAP Nearest can interfere with Tracking.

21

105. Type: 125 <Enter>

106. Drag the mouse toward the bottom of the drawing (in the
Y direction) and click.
107. The OLET (Thredolet) will appear, and be oriented
toward the bottom of the screen.
Placing a Pipe
Nipple
Setting the End

Conditions of the
Pipe Nipple
108. Pick the Nipple button.
109. Right click and Type: 100 <Enter>

110. Press <Enter> (to connect to the OLet, the last
component drawn).
111. Drag the mouse toward the lower part of the drawing and
click.
112. Press <Enter> <Enter> (to set the ends of the nipple to
threaded, threaded).
113. Double click on the Nipple.
In the dialog box, youll see TBE (for threaded both
ends).

22

114. Click OK, to exit the component edit dialog box.

115. Click the threaded Gate Valve button.
Placing a threaded
Gate Valve
116. Press <Enter> (to connect to the last component).

117. Drag the mouse down and click.
118. In a similar fashion place another olet, nipple, and gate

valve on the pipe segment at the lower right area of the
drawing.

23

Put it 100 from the end of the flange.

See illustration which follows.
Placing the other

branch
Your drawing will now look as shown.

24

Running a Continuity Check

At this point it would be good practice to run a continuity
check. This insures that the components youve placed in
the drawing are connected correctly.
Running a
Continuity Check
Continuity Checks
should be run on
each line as a
standard procedure
This insures that you

will produce
correctly drawn
piping models and
drawings
To run this check:

119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
Click Plant
Click Utility
Click Continuity
Window the drawings and press <Enter>
Type: 300 <Enter> (to have the system show the ends of
the pipe runs and branches with a 300 diameter circle).
124. Press <Enter> (for the 0.0010 precision).
Your drawing should look as shown.

25

Your drawing should look like the previous figure. The circles
indicate that a piping run has started and stopped. They also will
appear at the start points and end points of any branches (like the
thredolets).
If you have additional circles appearing in the middle of the runs,
this indicates an incorrect gap or an overlap between components.
This can be caused by not pressing <Enter>, as you connect one
component to the next, or not having a good OSNAP connection
between components.
Extra circles that

occur during the
middle of a piping
run, instead of at the
ends, indicate
errors
All continuity errors

must be fixed before
proceeding with the
drawing
A failure to fix
continuity errors will
cause problems in
generating
isometrics, and
possibly give errors
in material lists
These errors must be corrected before continuing on, since they

will cause problems with the isometric drawing you will be
generating soon.
If you get extra circles, zoom into the area and take a close look.
Click on the circles and light up their grips. You will either see
gaps between centerlines, places where gaskets are placed
incorrectly (not positioned right between flanges, but actually
partly inside one of the flanges), or overlapping centerlines. All
of these errors will cause an extra circle to appear in a pipe run
where it is not expected.
Here are some examples
Overlapping centerlines
Centerlines with gaps
Valve not placed correctly against gasket

26

Line Numbering
125. Click the Line Number Setup Tool Button.
This brings up the Line Numbering System Dialog

Box.
Starting the Line

Number Setup
command
By default, the system uses Size-Spec as its line

number.
Youll change that now, to a different line number
format.
Your line number will be Size-Service-Count-Spec.

27

Setting up the Line sequence.

126. Click the down arrow under Category.
Setting up the Line

Numbering sequence

28
127. Click on Service, and click Add.

The category Service appears in the list.

128. Click the down arrow under category again (as shown
previously) and click Count. Then click Add.
129. The Count is now added as part of the line number.
Adding the other

categories that make
up the line number
130. Click in the area under Separator, and type in a dash

(hyphen).
131. Click Add.
132. Click Add again (two dashes are added to the line
number list).
Now, youll arrange the line number to be

Size-Service-Count-Spec.

29

133. Click on the word Service, to highlight it. Click on the

Move Up button to move it up in the list, below Size.
134. Click on the word Count, and move it up to be below

Service.
135. Click one of the dashes in the list, to highlight it, and
move it up between Service and Count (use the
illustration, or the video to see whats being described).
136. Continue to Move up the dashes, and the
Size/Service/Spec categories as needed to set up a line
number list as shown.
137. Click OK when done, and Save the drawing at this
point.
138. Click on the Line Number Setup tool button again to
open the dialog box.
139. Click Service, and in the Default value area, highlight
the word Service and type in LH <Enter>.
140. Click Count, and change it to 1000.
141. Click OK to exit this dialog box.
Adjusting the line

number categories
Setting the values

for the fields in the
line number

30

Updating the Line Number in the Components

142. Type: Nba <Enter> (for Line Number Assign)
Note: A list of CADWorx commands that you can type in
can be found by clicking Tools (pull down menu),
Customize, Edit Program Parameters. The file
will open in Notepad, and you can see all the
commands that can be typed in. The CADWorx
commands are toward the bottom of the file.
Embedding line
numbers in all the
components
Verifying the line

number has been
updated
143. Select everything in the drawing, and press <Enter>.

144. Type: A <Enter> (for All). This will assign the new
line number to all of the components.
To verify:
145. Double click one off the Gate Valves in the drawing.
Youll get a dialog box showing the new line number
assigned to the valve.
Click OK to exit this dialog box.

31

Annotation (Dimensions, Bill of Materials, Line

Number labels, etc.) - Paper Space or Model Space?
You can dimension the drawing and add labels to it
either in Model Space or Paper Space, depending
upon your preferences and also the job requirements.
When you do 3D Modeling, you will typically use
Paper Space for these tasks, since it lends itself so
well to working in 3D.
Moving the drawing

over in the border
area
Selecting the
Automatic
Dimensioning option
In this example, you will place the dimensions and

annotation in Model Space, and later you will be
shown both methods.
146. Move your drawing down into the Border as shown.
(Leaving room on the right for a Bill of Materials).
147. Click Plant

148. Click Dimension
149. Click Automatic

32

150. Right click on the mouse and type: 675 <Enter>

(This sets the dimension lines 675mm away, to scale,
from the objects.
151. Click a point, as shown, in the center of your pipe
drawing.
Placing
dimensioning
automatically
152. The dimensions will appear.
153. Erase the two dimensions/lines on the left edge of the

sheet, then using grips, move the two overall
dimensions out to the ends as shown.

33


34

Running a Bill of Materials

Note: This exercise will use the default BOM in
CADWorx. For setting up different BOM
layouts, or exporting the BOM out to a
spreadsheet or database, please see the video
with that section on it.
154.
155.
156.
157.
Click Plant
Click Bill of Material
Click Tag
Click Toggle (this turns off the piece mark bubbles).
Running a Bill of
Materials
Running the Bill of Materials

158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
Click Plant
Click Bill of Material
Click Run
Click Cut
Press <Enter> (to select objects)
Window the drawing and press <Enter>.

35

164. Click a point in the upper right corner of your border.

165. The Bill of Materials will appear.

Viewing the Bill of

Materials
36

166. At this point the drawing is almost completed.

167. Click Plant, then click Graphics.
168. Click Plan
Placing some
Graphic Labels
169. A dialog appears with Head highlighted.

170. Click OK
171. Click a point on your drawing under the piping

drawing to place this Plan label.
172. Drag the mouse to the right and click (for
orientation), or you could also Type: 0 <Enter>, to
orient the label at 0 degrees. Either way is fine.
173. Type 1:20 <Enter>, and the label will appear.
174. Save the drawing at this point.

37

Line Number Annotation
Placing some
Graphic Labels
Annotating (labeling
a Line Number)

38
175. Next youll add some Line Number and Component

Annotation.
To bring up the Line Number tool bar:
176.
177.
178.
179.
Click Plant
Click Tool bars
Click Line Numbers
Dock the Line Numbers tool bar at the top of your
screen.
180.
Click the third tool button over, for Line Number
Annotate.

181. Click the pipe segment in the top center area of the
drawing.
182. Click a point to place the text.
183. Drag the mouse to the right and click, or
184. Type: 0 <Enter>.
185. The Line Number annotation will appear.
Placing the line

number label
Placing a line
number label in
vertical
186. Place another Line Number label on the vertical segment,

on the left. To tell the text to go up and down, you will
need to type 90, for the rotation angle, or drag the mouse
up toward the top of the screen and click. You can see
this in the video.

39

Component Annotation
Next youll label a couple of the fittings.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
Click Plant
Click Text
Click Annotate
Click Component
Press <Enter> (for Short Annotation).
Click the 6x4 reducer in the top left area of the drawing.
Right click on the mouse and
Click Leader
Click a point where you want the text to start.
Use the Grip on the text to drag it into position like you want
it to look (see the video for how this works).
197. You can also use a Grip to move the arrowhead of the Leader
where you want it to point (on the edge of the reducer).
198. Repeat for the 6x3/4 Thredolet at the bottom left of the
drawing.

Annotating
components
The annotation text

height matches the
dimension text
height.
If you want to make

it smaller, you will
have to change the
dimension text
height (in Format,
Dimension Style)
You can also

annotate the
components without
using the Leader
option, and draw
your own Leader
later. This will give
you smaller text as
well
40

Congratulations! This concludes the first lesson. You are well on your way to mastering
CADWorx Plant Pro software!

41

Lesson Two - First Look at 3D
Lesson Two
3D First Look
You will learn how to.
Use the AutoCAD View Ribbon and Tool Bar

Convert CADWorx files from 2D to 3D
Work with the CADWorx UCS Tool Bar

Model components in the Vertical Plane
Note: Valve Operators (hand wheels) will be modified to correct sizes in a later part of
the lesson

42

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Start CADWorx, and open the Lesson_One drawing.

Click File, then Save As
Type: Lesson_Two (do a Save As, Lesson_Two).
Erase the Border, Bill of Materials, and Dimensions
Save the drawing again.
Opening the AutoCAD View Tool Bar

6.
If youre using AutoCAD 2009, you can set your Work

Space to 3D Modeling. In that Work Space you can access
the various 3D Views easily (see video).
7.
For 2008 and earlier versions of AutoCAD:
8.
Move the cursor (pointer) over any AutoCAD (not
CADWorx) tool button.
9.
Right Click on the mouse.
10. A list of AutoCAD tool bars will appear.
11. Click on the View toolbar (if it dos not already have a check
on it. If it has a check on it, it is already open).
12.
13.
Drag and dock the toolbar in the top area of your drawing.
Click on the SW Isometric tool button.
CADWorx has the capability to display its components in

2D, 3D, or Single Line graphics. When you first open the
drawing, you will be viewing it in 3D. If you want to have
part of the model display in one of the other modes, you can
use the Settings tool bar to change it.
Opening the Lesson

One drawing
Saving under a
different name
Using the 3D
Modeling Work
Space (AutoCAD
2009), or Bringing
up the 3D View tool
bar (AutoCAD 2008
and earlier)
Setting the view to

the South West

43

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Next youll place the Settings toolbar at the top of your

screen, next to the AutoCAD View toolbar you placed there
earlier.
Click Plant
Click Toolbars
Click Settings
Drag it up next to the view toolbar in the top area of your
screen.
From the Settings Tool bar, hold down the mouse button on
the 2D button, and youll see the tool bar has a fly out.
Move the pointer down to the 2D, Single Line, or
Solids button and release.
Seeing the drawing

in different display
modes (2D, Single
Line, 3D)
Click two points to Window all the objects, and press

<Enter>.
The components will convert to the mode you selected.
Convert the model back to 3D solids.
Note: The valve operators (called Top Works) are sized
in this first model based on a file the system uses.
As the lesson progresses, youll specify a different
top works file so they come in as typical sizes for
gate valves. Also, youll see how to model them
manually if you are using a version of CADWorx
that is 2008 or earlier.

44

23.
24.
25.
Youll change the

display to show the
model in 2D wire
frame, shaded as
conceptual shading,
and also as single
line grapics
Wireframe takes less

system resources
Bringing up the
CADWorx UCS
toolbar, which will
greatly simplify 3D
modeling
Click View
Click Visual Styles
Click Conceptual
They system will shade the objects.

45

26.
27.
28.
Click View
Click Visual Styles
Click 2D Wire frame
When working in 3D, it is a good rule to work in 2D Wire
frame. It is less taxing on your systems resources, and
youll have better machine speed if you do so.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
Watch Video Two and Video Three, which discuss the Top
Works feature in CADWorx.
Bring in the CADWorx UCS Toolbar
Click Plant, Toolbars, UCS.
Doc it at the top area of your screen.
Zoom into the area near to first flange and reducer, on the left
of the drawing.
What youll do next is work in the vertical plane. The two
olets, nipples and threaded gate valves were constructed
earlier in the horizontal plane.
Discussing 3D
versus Isometrics
Rotating the UCS,

which rotates the
crosshairs
For this exercise, youll erase them, and then youll redo
them in vertical, like they would actually be if this was a
suction line on a pump.
34.
Erase the two thredolets, nipples, and gate valves.

What youll do next, is place a drain for the line. It will
again consist of a thredolet, a pipe nipple, and a gate valve,
but it will be placed this time in vertical.
To place it in vertical (coming down) the crosshairs have to
be flipped on edge, sort of like doing an isometric drawing.
When you draw Isos, you have to flip your crosshairs into the
different planes you draw in: top plane, vertical left plane,
vertical right plane.
The same is try in 3D modeling. You have to flip your
crosshairs into the proper planes to place CADWorx
components going up and down in the Z direction.

46

The CADWorx UCS tool bar makes this easy. Using this
toolbar, the UCS toolbar from CADWorx (not the UCS
AutoCAD toolbar they are different) it has the same look
and feel as doing isometric drawings.
Setting up the UCS

to work in the
vertical plane
Setting the size and

spec
Modeling a thredolet
Using tracking to
position the
thredolet along the
pipe
The UCS Next button

35.
Look at they UCS icon in the lower left area of your screen.
You are currently in the World Coordinate System. You
can tell that by the small square where the three axes meet.
36.
Click the UCS Next button (see illustration above)
37.
Notice how your crosshairs change to work in vertical

right, and the UCS icon changes as well.
This is how you need to be set to add the drains to the lines.
38.
Click on the Main Size area in the tool pallet.

47

39.
40.

Set the Reduction Size to .
41.
Click on the Thredolet button.
42.
43.
Have the OSNAP, Tracking, and Polar buttons turned on.

Move the crosshairs over the end of the pipe and pause them
(dont click). You need to be right over the center of the
pipe, at its end.
The system will acquire that point and you can track
from it.
(If you see a box similar to what is shown, you are tracking.)
44.
45.
46.
Tracking the
thredolet down the
pipe 125mm
Placing a pipe nipple
While tracking, Type: 125 <Enter>.

Drag the crosshairs toward the bottom of the screen and
click.

48

The Thredolet will be placed 125mm from the end of the

pipe, and oriented downward.
Viewing the spec

data in the nipple
Click the Nipple button.
Note:
If you dont see it in the list to select, make sure

your Main size is set to . The system will display
components based on size.
.
47.
Right click on the mouse, click Length, and Type: 100

<Enter>, for a 100mm long nipple.
48. Press <Enter> on the keyboard, to automatically connect
the pipe nipple to the thredolet.
49. Press <Enter> <Enter> to set the nipple end conditions to
threaded for each end.

49

Note: As long as the nozzle data shows Existing, the color and line type display
are fine.
Double click on the nipple that you just placed on the
drawing.
Youll see in the dialog box that it is shown as TBE
(threaded both ends) in the long description part of the
dialog box.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
Placing a threaded
gate valve and plug
Copying the other

drain branches
Click OK to close the dialog box.

Click on the Gate Valve, 800 LB, THRD button.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard, and the valve will connect

automatically to the pipe nipple.
Drag the crosshairs down, to indicate the direction, and
click.
Click on the Plug button.

Press <Enter> to connect automatically to the previous
component.
Drag the mouse down and click (for the direction).
Place the other drains needed on the drawing. You can
place them using these same steps, if you want the practice,
or you could also copy them using the regular AutoCAD
50

58.
59.
Copy command.
Get them as shown in the next figure, all located 125mm in from
the end of each pipe.
Save the drawing.
Adding valve
operators
Inserting the
dimensions of the
valve operators
Manually Adding Valve Operators (Hand Wheels) in CADWorx

2008 and earlier versions
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
Bring up the Operators tool bar .

Click Plant
Click Toolbars
Click Operators
Dock it at the top of your screen.
65.
66.
Click the OS&Y tool button on the Operator tool bar.

Click a point in the middle of one of the 6 gate valves (use an
OSNAP MIDPOINT if necessary).
Drag the cursor up (to indicate the direction of the hand wheel).
Type: 168 <Enter> (for the diameter of the hand wheel).
67.
68.

51

69.
70.
Type: 857 <Enter> (for the length of the hand wheel).

Repeat for the other 6 Gate Valves.
Setting a Valve Tag and Valve Hand Wheel Orientation

71.
72.
73.
74.
Double click on one of the 6 gate valves, to bring up the

Component Edit dialog box.
Later, when the specs have been set up, you will probably have
a valve tag automatically come into the valves data. For
instance, when the specs have been done, a value of G33P
might be put in the TAG field automatically.
In this case, you havent modified the specs yet (probably), so
the TAG field will be blank.
Fill out the information in the TAG area as shown. This will
give the valve a TAG value (G33P in this case).
Adding Valve Tags

52

Adding data to tell

Isogen how to draw
the valve operators
Placing hand wheel

information on the
small drain valves
Next youll tell Isogen how to draw the hand wheels for the
valves, if you are running CADWorx 2008 and earlier
version. In CADWorx 2009, this is done automatically as
the valves are modeled.
75.
Click the Isogen button at the bottom of the dialog box.
76.
Set the Spindle Direction to Up if it is not already set.
77.
Copy and paste the TAG info into the other 6 Gate Valves,
and set the Spindle Direction for them as well.

53

Placing Operators on the Gate Valves

78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
Type: UCS <Enter> <Enter> (to return to the World

Coordinate System).
Click the OS&Y tool button on the Operator tool bar.
Click the Midpoint on one of the Gate Valves (zoom
in as necessary).
Drag the mouse out away from the valve to indicate the
hand wheel orientation.
Type: 60 <Enter> (for the hand wheel diameter).
Type: 125 <Enter> (for the length).
Repeat for the other Gate Valves.
85.
86.
Adding data for

Isogen to draw the
hand wheels on the
drain valves
Double click on the valve, and fill out the dialog box as
needed for the TAG information and the orientation of
the hand wheel. The Tag will be G33P.
In this example, the hand wheel will be oriented
SOUTH (since it is pointing toward the bottom of the
drawing). Two will be SOUTH, and two will be
NORTH.

54

87.
88.
Reviewing the
finished model
Fill out the other Gate Valve TAG data as needed.

Save the drawing.
This completes Lesson Two.

Next up Isometrics!

55

Lesson Three
Running an Isometric Using Isogen
Lesson Three
Running an Isometric using Isogen

You will
See how to run an isometric using Isogen

Run the iso on various borders
Look at some of the Isogen options
Note: There is a separate lesson on how to set up and

customize Isogen (see page 238).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Open the Lesson Two drawing in CADWorx Plant Pro.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click ISOGEN
Click Isogen Out
Opening the drawing
Telling the system to

generate an Isogen
Isometric drawing of
the line modeled
Note: If Isogen is
grayed out when you
try to select it, see
your system
administrator or the
videos on setting up
Isogen

CAD Training Technologies, LLC Houston, TX USA 56

Lesson Three
You should see the following Isogen Configuration dialog

box. If not, see your System Administrator, or go through
the Isogen Setup Video. This video is a later video in this
training sequence.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Use an A2 Border
for this first example
The system will

generate two
drawings
In this first example, you will use the Metric_Inch_A2

Style (drawing border). So select it from the list, if it is not
shown.
Click OK.
Press <Enter> (to select components).
Window all the items in the drawing and press <Enter>.
You will get a CADWorx Isogen Results dialog box.
In this instance, the system shows it has generated two

isometric drawings. It did this because if it put everything
on a single isometric, the drawing would be too crowded.
By making two isos, it is able to produce two drawings
with a nice appearance.


Lesson Three
Note: If you get more than two isos generated, please see
the video for possible causes.
10.
11.
12.
Click the Open Plot Files button, and take a look at the
isos.
Now run the isos on the A3 border, and also the A1 border.
Notice how the A1 border shows all the information on a
single sheet.
Note: Some clients generate their isos on a A1 border, and
then plot them half-sized.
Welding Information
Isogen also has the ability to generate welding information
on an iso.
To see how this works:
13.
14.
15.
16.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Isogen
Click Isogen Out

You can generate the

isometrics using
different size
borders
Theres even a
border that shows
welding information
on the isometric

Lesson Three
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Click the down arrow to list the Styles and

Click Sample-Final-Weld-Box
Click OK
Press <Enter>
Window everything and press <Enter>.
Click Open Plot Files to review the isometrics generated.
Note: The sample welding border is only available in
Imperial Units at this time.
At this point you have been able to produce some Isogen
Isometrics, providing everything has been set up for you.
If you were doing production work at this time, you would
probably have an administrator set up the jobs borders for
you. If not, you could always erase the current border and
insert your clients border, then save the drawing in the
directory needed for your job.
In a later lesson, I will show you how to set up an Isogen
project, so you can see how all of this is done and
customize it for your particular job.
Welded Iso partially shown for clarity

Reviewing the
welding information
results shown on the
isometric

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Lesson Four
3D Modeling
In this lesson you will learn how to:
Easily Rotate the UCS to model in different planes
Model lines in a method similar to drawing isometrics
Create 3D Router Lines
Automatically place elbows and pipe segments
Generate Clipped Views using the CADWorx Viewbox command
Annotate and Dimension in Paper Space on a Layout

60

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
In this lesson you will construct three lines that are connected to
exchangers and a vessel. Youll see a couple of ways these can
be modeled: manual placement and using router lines. Both
methods are effective, and the choice depends upon the geometry
and information you have to work with. Generally speaking, a
Router line is going to give you the fastest tool for constructing
lines in 3D compared to other methods.
First youll model the return lines, from the top of the
exchangers going back into the vessel.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Start a new drawing, using a template: Metric.

Click File, Click Save As
Browse to the C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Lessons
folder.
Save the drawing as 12-CPRA_B-1004-150_M.
Click Insert, from the pull down menus in both 2009 and
earlier versions. In AutoCAD 2009 there is also a button
along the bottom of the screen, if you prefer.
Click External References

61
Starting the drawing
Inserting External
Reference Files
(XRefs)

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Click Attach
Browse to your C:\CADWorx_Training\Examples folder
and click on the 35-450 drawing and the Exchangers_Pair
drawing (hold down the Control Key as you select them.
Insert them in as Overlays and inserted at the 0,0,0 point,
Scaled 1:1, and Rotated 0 as shown.
You should have them in your attached drawings list as

shown.
Close the XRef dialog box (click the X at the top).

62
List of attached
XRefs

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
11.
You will see your two XRefs now appearing on the drawing.
12.
Depending upon your AutoCAD version, you can use the

2009 3D Workspace and work your 3D views directly off
that. For this lesson, bring up the AutoCAD View tool bar, if
it is not already on your screen (this method works with all
versions of AutoCAD). To do this, you can move the mouse
pointed over any AutoCAD tool button, and Right Click on
the Mouse. A list of tool bars will appear, and then you
select the View Tool bar (2008 version illustrated).
13. Dock the View tool bar at the top area on your screen.
14. Click on the South West Isometric View.

63
Opening the View

Tool bar
Viewing from a 3D
skewed view SW
Isometric Viewpoint

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
15.
16.
Zoom into the lower left area of the drawing.
Zooming closer to
the exchangers
Getting an overview
of whats to follow
In this lesson, you will be modeling the two lines that return
from the top of the exchangers into the vertical tower.

64

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
17.
This will be a valuable lesson for you, because you will see a
couple of different approaches to modeling these lines: placing
fittings one by one, and also how to use a Router Line.
The first thing to emphasize in the lesson is that modeling in
3D using CADWorx is easy. The developers of CADWorx
have made 3D modeling as easy as doing a 2D Isometric
drawing.
Do you remember how, in doing an isometric, you flip the
crosshairs from one plane to another using the F5 key on the
keyboard?
Isometrics the
traditional way to
work
Its a short step from

Isometrics to
working in 3D when
using CADWorx
When you pressed the F5 key your crosshairs would rotate into
the top plane, or vertical left hand plane, or vertical right hand
plane.
Do you remember how easy that is? Its a fast and easy way to
do a pictorial drawing.
Pressing the F5 Key flips the crosshairs in Isometric.
Well working with CADWorx in 3D is very similar! Modeling

in 3D in CADWorx has the same look and feel as creating a
2D Isometric drawing! If you think of it like this, then 3D
modeling in CADWorx is a breeze!

65

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Instead of the F5 key to rotate your crosshairs, CADWorx

uses their own UCS Toolbar, which does a similar
function.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Now youll bring up the CADWorx (not AutoCADs) UCS

tool bar (2008 version illustrated)
Click Plant (at the top of the screen)

Click Tool Bars
Click UCS
The UCS tool bar will appear. Dock it in the top area of
your screen.
Notice how your crosshairs are oriented.
Click the UCS Next button a few times, and notice how
your crosshairs rotate. It looks very similar to how
crosshairs rotate when you do isometrics!
Now youll test this to get a feel of how this works.

25.
Click the UCS Next button until your crosshairs are in the
top plane. In 3D, you call this the Flat plane.

66
Switching planes in
3D seems similar to
flipping the
crosshairs in
isometric
In 3D, you click the

UCS Next button to
rotate the crosshairs
(similar to hitting the
F5 key on the
keyboard when you
did isometrics)

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Next youll set up your system to draw some test lines to

see how this works.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Click Plant
Click Setup
Set the Specification to 150_M.
Set the Drawing Mode to 3D.
31.
Pan the screen to the side, so that you are in a clear area.
You will now draw a few fittings to get a good look at
this.
32.
Make sure you have ORTHO turned on.
33.
34.
35.
36.
Practicing some 3D
Make sure you

have ORTHO on
Drawing a 3D pipe
Click Pipe
Click a point for the start point of your pipe.
Drag the mouse to the lower right direction and
Type: 2500 <Enter> to draw a 2500mm length of pipe.

67

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
37.
38.
39.
40.
Click Elbow
Placing a 3D elbow
Modeling in the
horizontal plane
Press <Enter> on the keyboard to have the elbow connect

automatically to the pipe you just drew.
Drag down and click (for the corner).
Drag to the right and click (for the elbow direction).
41.
Draw a 1800mm piece of pipe from the elbow toward the

upper right direction.
42.
Now youll turn draw another elbow turning up in the

vertical plane.

68

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
43.
44.
Click on the UCS Next button on the UCS tool bar.
Now youll draw some components in vertical.
47.
48.
Rotating the UCS

easily into the
vertical right hand
plane
Modeling in 3D has
a similar look and
feel to creating
Isometric drawings
Your cross hairs should look as shown. If not, keep

clicking the UCS Next button to get them set.
Do you see how this is going to let you draw in the

vertical plane? You can see how the X Y Plane is
oriented in the vertical right hand plane (its on edge
going up and down, instead of flat like you normally
see it). When you draw with the UCS tilted like this,
your components will be drawn in the vertical XY
Plane.
45.
46.
Click Elbow
Press <Enter> on the keyboard, to have the elbow
connect automatically to the last piece of pipe.
Drag the mouse toward the upper right direction and
click.
Drag the mouse straight up and click. Youve just
drawn an elbow going up.

69

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
49.
50.
Click Pipe and press <Enter> on the keyboard.

Drag the mouse straight up and Type: 1800mm <Enter>.
Do you see how this is just like drawing a 2D isometric,

but its really in 3D? Modeling in CADWorx Plant Pro can
get really fast and easy, once you get used to it.
51.
52.
Click the UCS Next tool button on the UCS tool bar.
Set it as shown.
53.
54.
55.
56.
Click Elbow
Press <Enter>
Drag up for the corner and click.
Drag to the lower right and click.

70
Showing how 3D is
similar in approach
to producing a 2D
isometric

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
57.
58.
59.
60.
Click Pipe
Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect automatically
to the last elbow.
Drag to the lower right and
Type: 2500 <Enter>.
Now lets say you wanted to draw a valve with flanges in

the second horizontal line, where it touches the elbow
thats turned up.
Youll draw a gate valve and
flanges here.
First you need to get your crosshairs (UCS) reset.

61.
Click the UCS Next tool button.

71
Illustrating how to
model in 3D

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
62.
Click the Weld Neck Flange on the tool palette.
63.
64.
Click on the end of the elbow thats turning up.

Drag toward the lower left area of the drawing and click.
65.
Click the Gate Valve on the tool palette.
66.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect it to the flange

automatically.
Drag the mouse toward the lower left area of the screen
and click.
Click on the Weld Neck Flange in the tool palette.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard, to connect it
automatically to the valve.
Drag to the lower left area of the screen (using Polar or
Ortho) and click.
67.
68.
69.
70.

72
Inserting
components into a
line and having the
system break out
the line as they are
inserted

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
So you can see that modeling in 3D in CADWorx is a

matter of setting your crosshairs (UCS) in the plane you
want to work, then simply placing components.
Theres also a great tool which youll do soon called a
ROUTER LINE, which together with the method you
just practiced, will have you creating 3D CADWorx
models very fast and efficiently.
71.
Erase the lines you just drew. It was just to illustrate

how to model in 3D. Zoom back into the area near the
top of the exchangers.
Now youll model lines coming out of the top of the far
exchanger.

73
Getting set for

modeling

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
72.
73.
Set the Main Size to 12. The spec should be set to

150_M.
Click the Line Number setup button in the top area of the
CADWorx tool palette.
74. You need to set the line number to include Size, Service,
Count, Spec, and Insulate. You can see the video or
lesson one if you need to review how to set this up.
75. Your line number will look as shown. You will use
CPRB for the Service, and 1004 for the count. The
Insulate value will be nothing, since we dont want to
show insulation for this line.

74
Setting up the line

number

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
76.
Click the UCS Next button as needed to orient your

crosshairs in the vertical left hand plane. Note: The Z
direction is not important here unless you want to place
some text in 3D in the model. The X and Y are whats
important to us here.
77.
Click Gasket from the CADWorx tool palette.
78.
Place a gasket on the top of a nozzle (use OSNAP

CENTER), and drag the mouse toward the top of the
screen and click.
79.
80.
Click Flange, RFWN from the CADWorx tool palette.

Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect automatically,
drag the mouse up toward the top of the screen, and click.
Click Pipe.
Press <Enter> on the keyboard.
Drag the mouse up, and Type: 1027 <Enter>.
Click Elbow and press <Enter> on the keyboard.
81.
82.
83.
84.

75
Rotating the UCS

(User Coordinate
System)

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
85. Drag the mouse up and click.

86. Drag the mouse toward the upper left area of the screen
and click.
87.
Repeat the steps you just did on the other nozzle. Have
the elbow at the top pointing toward the first elbow.

Placing components
in 3D
Copying
components in 3D
76

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
88.
89.
Draw a piece of pipe connecting the two elbows.

Then click on the Tee, in the CADWorx tool palette.
90.
91.
Right click on the mouse and click Center.

Pause on the end of the elbow, on the right side (dont
click).
Track down the pipe (drag the mouse down the pipe
and you will see the system tracking), and type: 1738
<Enter>.
Click down the pipe for the Main Run direction.
Click Straight Up for the Branch direction.
Press <Enter> to accept the 1738mm distance from the
end of the pipe.
Your drawing should appear similar to whats shown.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
Modeling 3D
components
Inserting a Tee into

the middle of a 3D
pipe
Save the drawing at this point.

Now youll need to rotate your UCS (your crosshairs) to
model in vertical, and also in the right hand plane.
Click the UCS Next
button to rotate them as
shown.

77

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
99.
Zoom into the area around the two nozzles on the side of
the vessel.
100. Place a Gasket, Flange, and Elbow as shown.
The following figure shows what you will be

constructing.
Youll soon be modeling a line that comes up out of the

Tee, and connects into the bottom of the Elbow.

78
Modeling in vertical

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
The bottom of this new line will be at an elevation of 7000.
Evaluating the setup
Inquiring about a
needed distance
Youll need to determine how far it is from the center of

the Tee to the end of the Elbow on the vessel (you can
just follow the steps in the video).
First, youll determine the distance from the Tee to the
Elbow. Again, watch the video and this will be easy to
follow. The video shows the following steps.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
Click Tools
Click Inquiry
Click Distance
Click the Endpoint or Center of the Tee.
Click the Endpoint or Center of the bottom of the Elbow.
Note the distance between them (see video) its
4845mm.
Youll key in this distance shortly when you run a router
line between them.
Now youre ready to construct the Router Line.

79

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
107. Type: RT <Enter> to start the

Router Line command. If it
doesnt work on your system,
you can always click Plant,
Accessory, Auto Route,
Router.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
Click the Endpoint of the top of the Tee.

Right click and click Position.
Right click and click BOP.
Press <Enter> (if prompted for size: 12).
Right click and click Elevation.
Right click and click World.
Type: 7000 <Enter>.
Drag the mouse toward the vessel (with Ortho on).
Type: 4845 <Enter>.
Click the Endpoint of the Elbow.
Right click and click Current.
Press <Enter> to exit.
You should have a figure similar to the following.

80
Using the 3D Router

command
Routing a line in 3D
space, connecting to
components as
needed

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
To add piping to the line,
120.
121.
122.
123.
124.
125.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Auto Route
Click Buttweld LR
Press <Enter> to select Polyline, and
Click the router line you just drew.
The system will place pipe and elbows for you along the
router line.

81
Having the system

automatically
connect pipe and
elbows along the
routed line

Lesson Four
3D Modeling

127. Zoom into the area around the elbow thats above the
Tee.
128. Make sure your UCS

(your crosshairs) set to
work in vertical, and
place a Flange, Gate
Valve, and Flange.
Checking the UCS
Placing the flanges

and gate valve in
vertical, and
breaking out the
existing pipe
Note: The valve top works will be changed shortly to

standard measurements. The next video
discusses this.

82

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
129. Click the UCS Next tool button to

rotate your crosshairs. They will be
oriented like a vertical left
orientation, if you were doing an
isometric. Again, modeling in
CADWorx is very similar.
Rotating the UCS
Placing a valve
operator manually
(2008 and earlier
versions)
Shading, and saving

the file
130. If you are running 2008 and earlier, and you dont have
the Operators tool bar open, Click Plant, Tool bars,
Operators (skip this step if youre using CADWorx
2009).
131. Add a hand wheel for the valve as shown. It will be 450
in diameter, and 1500 long.
132. Click Save, to save the drawing.
133. Click View, Visual Styles, Conceptual to look at your
work.

83

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
The next line will also be drawn using a Router

command. Using the Router, youll route the centerline
of the piping, and let the system fill in the elbows and
piping for you. Also, when using the Router, there are
many options you can use to adjust the centerline as
you go. Youll actually explore all the Router
command options in the lesson that follows this one.
For now, just put in the values as given in the following
section. It will be another good introduction to the
command, so you will get more familiar with how it
works.
134. Click View, Visual Styles, 2D Wireframe.
135. Click the Line Number Setup button.
Setting up the new

line number
Rotating the UCS as

needed
Placing some
gaskets and flanges
136. Change the Service to CPRA.

137. Zoom in around the nozzles on top of the nearest
exchanger.
138. Rotate the crosshairs (UCS) as shown.
139. Place a Gasket and RFWN Flange on each nozzle.

84

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Now youll start the Router Line Command.

140. Type RT <Enter>. This starts the Router. IF IT
DOESNT START, click Plant, Accessory, Auto
Route, Router. This will also start the command.
Note: When you start the Router command, the
system will rotate the UCS back to the World
Coordinate System automatically. This is normal.
141. Using OSNAP CENTER, Click on the top of the
flange on the right.
142. Right click on the mouse and click Position.
143. Right click on the mouse and click BOP (for Bottom
of Pipe).
144. If the system echoes back 12, press <Enter> to
accept. If it doesnt echo back 12 go on to the next
step.
Using the Router

command to route
the 3D line
145. Right click on the mouse and click Elevation.

146. Right click on the mouse and click World.
147. Type: 4800 <Enter>. This sets the bottom of pipe
elevation you will be drawing to 4800.
148. Zoom in close around the other flange.

85

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
149. Using OSNAP, click the CENTER (at the top) of the
flange.
150. Press <Enter> on the keyboard for Last
151. Click on the same ENDPOINT of the flange.
152. Right click on the mouse and click Current.
153. Press <Enter> to exit the Router command.
This just routed a line for your piping. Next youll tell
the system to automatically place pipe and elbows.
154.
155.
156.
157.
Save the drawing.

Click Plant, Accessory, Auto Route, Buttweld LR.
Press <Enter>.
Click on the polyline router line you just drew.
Having the system

automatically run
pipe and elbows
along the routed line
Placing the Tee in

the middle of the 3D
pipe
The system will place the elbows and pipe automatically.

Now youll place a Tee in the line, then continue routing
it using the Router command.
158. Verify your UCS (crosshairs) is as shown. If not, rotate
them as needed.
159. Verify the Otrack, Osnap, and Ortho buttons are pushed
in.
160. Click Tee

86

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
161. Right click and click Center.
162. Move the crosshairs over the end of the pipe on the left
(where the pipe and elbow joint).
163. Dont Click, just hover directly over that point.
164. Drag the mouse toward the lower right (you should see
it tracking), and
165. Type: 1738 <Enter>.
166. Drag the mouse toward the lower right and click (for
Main direction).
167. Drag the mouse straight up toward the top of the
drawing and click (for the Branch direction).
168. Press <Enter> on the keyboard to accept the distance
the system prompts (its verifying you want to place the
center of the tee at a distance of 1738).
The tee will appear in your drawing, in the correct

position.
Now youll continue with the line.
170. Zoom in around the flange on the vertical tower where
this line is going. Its the flange right next to the
previous line you finished.

87
Having the system

break out the pipe
and place the tee

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
171. Rotate your crosshairs (rotate the UCS) as shown.
Placing the gasket,

flange, and elbow
Generating another
3D routed line
172. Place a gasket (using OSNAP Center), WNRF Flange,

and Elbow (turning down) as shown.
Now you can finish the line using a Router.

Zoom back so you can see both ends of the line (the
elbow you just placed, and also the tee).
Now youll use a Router Line to finish the line.
Routers let you lay out the path you would like the line
to follow. Youll see more of how this works as you
proceed.
173. Type: RT <Enter> (to start the Router Command). If
RT doesnt work, or if you prefer, you can also click
Plant, Accessory, Auto Route. This does the same
thing.
174. Click the top end point of the Tee you just placed.
175. Right click and click Position.
176. Right click and click BOP.
177. If the system echoes back 12, press <Enter>. If it
doesnt echo back 12 go on to the next step.
178. Right click and Click Elevation.
179. Press <Enter> for World.
180. Type: 7000 <Enter> (this will be the elevation of the
bottom of the pipe.)

88

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
181. Drag the mouse to the right and

182. Click on the bottom of the elbow, coming down off the
nozzle above.
183. Right click and click Last
184. Click on the bottom of the elbow, coming down off the
nozzle above again.
185. Right click and click Current.
186. Press <Enter> to exit.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Auto Route
Click Buttweld LR
Press <Enter> (to select the polyline)
Click the polyline you just routed.

89
Having the system

generate pipe and
elbows along the
routed line

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Next youll set the gate valves to use a standard top works file
for the valve operators, and adjust the existing gate valves top
works.
193. Type: Topworksadd <Enter>
194. Following the video, change the gate valves top works
(operator) to a standard size.
195. After youve completed that, Click the Spec Editor button on
the CADWorx SpecView tool palette (see illustration). If
instead, youre running CADWorx 2008 and earlier, youll
need to:
196. Type: SPED <Enter> to start the Spec Editor.
Starting the Spec

Editor
Editing the Gate

Valves in the
specification
197. Select the 150_M Spec.

198. Click on Valves, Gate in the left section of the dialog box.
199. Highlight the 2-24 inch, 150 LB Flg and click the Edit
button.

90

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
200. In the Top Works section of the dialog box, click the Select
Button.
Selecting the proper

Top Works
measurement file.
Now the system will

draw valve operators
to standard
measurements
201. Click on the Wheel_Gate_150_F_M.top data file, and
202. Click Select, OK, and OK to exit.

This will set the system up to draw the valve operators (Top
Works) to standard dimensions.
Now the system will draw this.instead of this.

91

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
203. Adjust the crosshairs (UCS) as needed (click the UCS

Next button) and
204. Place the Flanges, Gate Valve, and Valve Operator in
this line, like you did in the previous line.
205. Click View
206. Click Visual Styles
207. Click Conceptual
208. Save your work.

Viewing the model
Saving the file
92

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Running Continuity Checks and Generating Isometrics

209. Click View
210. Click Visual Styles.
211. Click 2D Wireframe.
You can Isolate a line (view only that line) a couple of
ways. One way (demoed in the video dont do at this
time) is to
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
217.
218.
219.
Click Plant
Click Utility
Click Line Isolate
Right click and click Isolate
Right click and click Line Number
Right click and click List
Click on the line with the service of CPRA and
Click OK, and the line will be shown alone on the screen.
The way youll isolate the line is using the Lineview tool
palette.

93
Isolating the line

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
220. Type: LINEVIEW <Enter>

The Line View tool palette will appear.
221. Click on the line with the service of CPRA and

222. Click OK, and the line will be shown alone on the screen.
223.
224.
225.
226.
Click Plant
Click Utility
Click Continuity
Window the line and press <Enter>

94
Isolating the line

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
227. Type: 1000 <Enter> (for the marker diameter).

228. Press <Enter> (for the precision).
229. You should see three circles, one on each end of the piping.
Viewing the
continuity checking
results
Generating an
Isogen isometric
drawing
If you have more than three circles, that indicates that you
have bad connectivity between your components. You may
have a gap, or an overlapping of components, or a gasket
placed improperly. If so, you should zoom in closely to the
trouble area and correct it. The first lesson has a good
section on what to look for with continuity errors.
230. Erase the circles.
Running an Isogen Isometric
231.
232.
233.
234.
235.
236.
237.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Isogen
Click Isogen Out
Choose the Metric_Inch_A2 Style and
Click OK
Press <Enter> (to select objects).

95

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
238. Window the line and press <Enter>.

239. When the Isogen Results dialog box appears,
240. Click Open Plot Files
You should see a result similar to the following figure.
241. Save the drawing in the Lessons folder.

242. Plot the drawing for your portfolio.
Run isometrics of the other line and save it. If you have any
errors, correct them before proceeding.
Now youll model the supply line.
For clarity and ease, youll model it in its own file.

96
Modeling the supply

line
Inserting the
reference files
(Xrefs)

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
243. Start a new drawing, using a TEMPLATE (remember

you always use a template in this system).
244. Click Insert (from the pull down menus at the top)
245. Click External References (second from the bottom in
the pull down list).
246. Click Attach
247. Browse to your C:\CADWorx VideoTraining\Examples
folder and click on the
248. 35-450 drawing and the Exchangers_Pair drawing
(hold down the Control Key as you select them.
249. Insert them in as Overlays and inserted at the 0,0,0

point, Scaled 1:1, and Rotated 0 as shown.
250. You should have them in your attached drawings list as
shown.
251. Close the XRef dialog box (click the X at the top).

97
Viewing from a 3D
viewpoint

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
252. You will see your two XRefs now appearing on the drawing.
253. Click on the South West Isometric View from the View toolbar (it should already
be docked in the top area of your screen).

98

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
254. Zoom into the lower left area of the drawing.
In this section of the lesson, you will be modeling the

supply line that flows from the nozzle in the bottom area
of the vessel into the bottom of the exchangers.
This product is then heated up in the exchangers and
piped out the top of the exchangers and back into the top
of the vertical vessel.
255.
256.
257.
258.
Set your size to 16 for the Main size.

Set the specification to 150_M.
Click the Line Number Setup button.
Set the line number as shown. It will be set to 16-CPS1050-150_M-2H.
259. Save the drawing as 16-CPS-1050-150_M-2H.

99
Setting up the Line

Number

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
260. Rotate the crosshair (UCS) as shown (click the UCS

Next tool button on the CADWorx Plant UCS tool bar).
Rotating the UCS
Modeling
components
261. Place a gasket, flange, and elbow on the nozzle coming

out of the bottom of the exchanger as shown.
262. Place a 300 long piece of pipe, a flange, gate valve,

flange, and elbow as shown.
Note: If youre in CADWorx 2009 you will have also
placed a valve operator as shown in the video at
135 degrees.

100

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
263. Click the SE Isometric tool button on the View tool

bar.
264. Repeat the previous steps on the lower nozzle on the

other exchanger. Add a gasket, flange, elbow,
300mm piece of pipe.
265. Then add a flange, gate valve, flange, and elbow.

266. Save the drawing at this point as 16-CPS-1050-1502H.
Changing the
viewing direction
Continuing to model
components in 3D
267. Click the SW Isometric tool button from the View

tool bar.
Next youll draw a router line and automate some
pipes and an elbow.

101

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
268. Type: RT <Enter>

269. Click the end point on the elbow.
270. Right click and click Position.
271. Right click and click BOP.
272. If the systems prompts 16, press <Enter>. If not, go
on to the next step.
273. Right click and click Elevation.
274. Right click and click World (to set the BOP elevation
to a world value).
275. Type: 3650 Enter>.
276. Drag the mouse to the right and click on the center of
the nozzle on the vertical vessel.
Running a routing
line
Having the system

generate pipe and
elbows
automatically along
the routed centerline
277. Click Plant, Accessory, Auto Route, Buttweld LR.

278. Press <Enter>, and
279. Click on the router line you just drew.
The system will place pipe and an elbow for you.

102

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Draw a line from the end of the elbow (the elbow

with nothing connected to it), perpendicular to the
pipe above it.
280. Rotate the UCS (crosshairs) as shown.
281. Pick Tee (from the tool palette).

282. Right click and click Center.
283. Click the point where the line you just drew meets
the centerline of the pipe.
284. Click along the pipe (for the run direction). Have
Ortho on, and dont Osnap off the centerline.
285. Click the lower endpoint of the line (where it meets
the elbow) for the branch direction.
286. When prompted for the round off, press <Enter>.
The tee should appear on your model as shown.

Rotating the UCS
Inserting a Tee
103

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
287.
Erase the construction line and draw a piece of pipe

between the elbow and the tee.
288.
In a later video, youll add a couple of connection
Flanges, RFWN, next to the Tee, but for now leave
them off.
289. Place a Gasket and a Flange (RFWN) on the end of

the pipe where it joins the nozzle on the vessel.
290.
Save your drawing at this point.
Attaching in the
other lines
Creating some Orthographic Views

291. Go to UCS World. (Type: UCS <Enter> <Enter>).
292. Click Insert, External References.
293.
From the C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Lessons
folder:
294. Click Attach.
295. Click on the drawing named 12-CPRA_B-1004150_M, and click OK.
296. Click Attach again.
297. From the C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Examples
folder:
298. Click on the drawings named the drawing Skid2
299. Click OK.
300. Click on the Plan View (from the View tool bar).

104

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
301.
302.
Viewing from the

top
Setting up some
clipped views
Zoom in around the area of the skid and the vertical

vessel.
Save the drawing at this point.
Generating some Clipping Planes

303.
304.
305.
306.
Click Plant
Click Utility
Click View
Click Box
Youll see the View

Creation dialog box.

105

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
307. Click the Specify On-Screen button (where it says First

Corner).
308. Click a point in your drawing as shown in the figure which
follows.
309. Click the Specify On-Screen button (where it says Second
Corner).
310. Click a point in your drawing for the second point as
shown in the figure which follows.
Using the View Box

command to
generate some
clipped views
Filling out the View

Box dialog box
Change the View Set Name to Skid_2.

311. Change the Z
Value in the
dialog box for
the Second
Corner to be
15000
312. The X,Y
locations will
not match
whats shown,
but will be
fairly close.

106

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
313. Set the View Type to Front.

314. Click the Add button.
See the video for a good look at how this gets set up.
315. Click OK.
The system will create a clipped front view.
Bringing the Clipped View into Paper Space
316.
317.
318.
319.
320.
321.
322.
323.
324.
Click Plant
Click Setup
Click Border
Click Predefined
Click the ISO A0 (1189 x 841MM) border.
Click the Paper Space check box.
Click OK (to exit the Border dialog box).
Click OK (to exit the Setup dialog box).
Click OK as needed (twice) to exit the Attributes Dialog box
for the border (you can also fill out some attribute
information if you would like to do so, before OKing out).
Setting up a border
Viewing the layout
You will now have your drawing border inserted into Paper
Space.

107

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Setting up some Views in Paper Space

When using AutoCAD 2009, you can set up View Ports
easily using the View tab of the 3D Work Space.
The other option, that works for all versions of AutoCAD

is as follows.
325. Set your layer to Viewl
(no matter which version
of AutoCAD you are
using).
Setting the layer for

a viewport
326. Open the Viewports tool

bar (see instructions
which follow).
327. Move the pointer over
any AutoCAD tool
button and Right Click
on the mouse.
Creating a viewport
(options vary
depending upon the
AutoCAD version
used)
328. Click on Viewports.

108

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
329. Dock the Viewports tool bar at the top of the screen (do not dock
it on the side of the screen).
330. Click the Single Viewport tool button (the second button on the
Viewports toolbar).
331. Click two points to make a viewport on the screen, similar to
whats shown.

109
Setting the layer for

a viewport
Creating a viewport

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
332. Double click the mouse inside the viewport area.

333. This takes you into Model Space. Youll see your
crosshairs are active within the viewport.
334. Pan the drawing to the middle of the viewport.
335. Click the arrow on the side of the Viewports toolbar, and
336. Set the Scale to 1:50.
If you are using AutoCAD 2009 you

can easily set the viewport scaling
directly off the bottom area of the
screen.

110
Scaling the view in

the viewport

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
337. Double click the mouse outside the viewport area. This
returns you to Paper Space.
338. Cross through the edge of the viewport with the mouse, which
will light up the Grips on the viewport.
339. Right click, and click Display Locked, Yes.
This locks the viewport and the zoom (scaling) stays locked.
You can unlock it later if you want to, but this keeps the
scaling fixed.

111
Locking the
viewport, to keeps
its scale always set

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Creating a Second Viewport

340. Click on the Single Viewport button again, and create a
second viewport as shown.
Creating a second
viewport
Bringing the clipped

view into the
viewport
341. Double click the mouse inside the border of the second
viewport (this makes it current and enters Model Space).
342. Click on the arrow on the View tool bar, and
343. Click on the View named Skid_2-Front.

112

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
344. Pan the drawing to the middle of the viewport, and

345. Click the down arrow on the Viewports toolbar and
346. Set the Scale (zooming) to 1:50.
347.
348.
349.
350.
Pan the drawing as shown and

Double click outside the viewport to return to Paper Space.
Cross through the viewport to light up the Grips,
Right click and lock the viewport as you did previously
(Display Locked, Yes).
351. Set your current layer to Text (or any other layer except
layer Viewl).
352. Turn off layer Viewl and the layer Dim2.

113
Scaling the clipped

view
Locking the
viewport

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Adding Annotation to the Drawing in Paper Space

Live Views or Flattened Views?
In this lesson you will annotate the orthographic views in
Paper Space. This is the recommended method for
producing drawings from a model.
There are two options you can choose from when you
create your drawings in a Layout (in Paper Space).
One option is to have viewports with views of the model in
them, as you have just created. These are live views,
because if you change the model, your views will update.
Also you will see how to dimension them so that the
dimensions update as well, if the model changes.

114
Viewing the results

to this point

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
The other option is to flatten the views. This is the option

you would choose if the client only wants flat 2D drawings
as their deliverable. You will see how this option works in a
later section of this chapter.
354.
355.
356.
357.
358.
Zoom into the area around the top view.

Make layer CL the current layer.
Type: LTScale <Enter>.
Type: 10 <Enter>.
Draw some centerlines as shown. Use OSNAP Center,
Quadrant, Midpoint, etc. as needed.

115
Drawing some
centerlines that will
be used in
annotation

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
Zoom into the area around the vertical tower, 34-450 in the
plan view.
359.
360.
361.
362.
Click Plant
Click Text
Click Iso Text
Click 0 Deg Text
363.
364.
365.
366.
367.
368.
Click a point to start the text.

Type: 3 <Enter> (for the text height).
Press <Enter> (for 0 degrees rotation).
Type: C EQUIPMENT <Enter>.
Press the spacebar three times and
Type: N.0+01-0 <Enter> <Enter>.

116
Annotating the
drawing

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
369. Set layer Text as the current layer.

370. Type: L <Enter> (to start the line command).
371. Draw a small L shaped line as shown to indicate a centerline
symbol.
372. Label the other centerlines with text as shown.

117
Labeling the
centerline annotation

Lesson Four
3D Modeling

118
Annotating the
center lines

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
373. Using the videos as a guide, label the elevations as shown

in the following figure.
Labeling the
elevations
Setting the
dimensioning
variable for
associated
dimensions in paper
space
Adding Dimensions in Paper Space

You can use Associative Dimensions in Paper Space
easily. These dimensions will all have the same height
and give the proper distances, no matter what scale or
zoom factor youve set the viewport for.
374. Type: Dimassoc <Enter>.
This sets the Dimension Associate system variable to 2.
AutoCAD will know to dimension distances properly in
Paper Space with this setting.
You must use OSNAP on Model Objects (objects
within the viewports in Model Space) for this to work
properly.

119

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
376. Using the video as a guide, add the dimensions and labels as shown.

120

Lesson Four
3D Modeling
You can also make a 2D Representation of a 3D view. This allows you to flatten a
3D view into a 2D view. Sometimes clients only want to receive 2D deliverables.
Experiment with this command, following the prompts if you need to utilize this feature.
Congratulations! This completes this section. You are well on your way to learning the
many modeling and drawing production features in CADWorx Plant Professional!

121

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
Routing Lines in 3D using the Router Command
Routers are a great tool in CADWorx Plant Professional. They allow you to route
centerlines of piping runs in 3D, and then have the system automatically place elbows
and pipe segments along the routing line.
The Router command also has a number of options to it which make modeling in 3D
even easier. For instance, you can tell the system to route your piping using a Bottom of
Pipe elevation, or you can have the system Slope the line. If you route a Rolled Offset,
the system will automatically Trim the Elbows for you as well.

122

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
This next section illustrates using the Router command, and then
you will route some lines in 3D in your model.
You will . . .
1.
2.
3.
Construct Router Lines

Work with the various options in the Router
command
Construct rolled offsets
Output these piping runs to Isogen
Learn how to route lines in your 3D model
Get extensive practice in routing in 3D
Start a new drawing, using the Metric template.

(Remember you always use a template in CADWorx.
You can always insert your border at any time later.)
Have the AutoCAD View tool bar available at the top of
your screen.
Click on the SW Isometric button.
Starting up a new
drawing in
CADWorx
Viewing from a SW
3D view
Setting the size,

spec, and line
number
Setting up the Sheet

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click Plant, Click Setup.

Set the Drawing Mode to 3D Solids.
Set the Specification to 150_M.
Click the Line Number tool button.
Set the line number to have a Service of LH, and a Count
of 2000.

123

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
Starting the Router Command

You can start the Router command two ways:
Typing in RT
Or
Click through the Pull-down menus (Plant, Accessory,
Auto Route, Router)
Note: If you make an error in typing during a Router
command, simply type U <Enter>, to Undo the
segment just placed. You can correct it, and not
have to start over.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Type: RT <Enter>.
Type: 3000,3000,10000 <Enter>.
Drag the mouse toward the lower right direction and
Type: 2000 <Enter>.
Changing Elevations Method One

14.
15.
Right click, and click Elevation.

Type: -1500 <Enter> (the router line moves 1500mm
down.). So typing a positive or negative number, and
pressing <Enter>, locates the next point of the 3D Router
line that far up or down from the current point.

124
Using the Router

command to route a
piping centerline

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
Changing elevations
with the routed line
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Right click, and click Slope.

Right click and click Meter (for Slope per meter).
Type: -100 <Enter> (for a 100mm fall per meter).
Drag the mouse toward the lower right and
Type: 4000 <Enter>.
Routing a sloping
centerline
21.
22.
Drag the mouse toward the upper right direction and

Type: 2000 <Enter>.
Routing a rolled
offset
Routing a Rolled Offset

23.
24.
Type: @3000,-2500,-2000 <Enter>.

Type: C <Enter> (to instruct the system to move to your
current elevation).

125

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
This will route the line 10 toward the upper right, 8

toward the lower right, and 6 down in elevation.
25.
26.
Drag the mouse toward the lower right and

Type: 2000 <Enter>.
Changing Elevations Using Bottom of Pipe settings and

World Elevations
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Right click on the mouse, and click Position.

Right click and click BOP.
Press <Enter> if prompted for 6 size (if not prompted,
proceed to the next step).
Right click and click Elevation.
Right click and click World.
Type: 2000 <Enter> (when piping is generated soon, the
bottom of the pipe will be positioned at a 2000mm
elevation).

126
Setting an elevation
change based on
bottom of pipe

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
33.
34.
35.
The routed
centerline is
completed
Drag the mouse toward the lower right direction of the

screen and
Type: 3000 <Enter>.
Press <Enter> once again to exit the command.

127

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
Placing Elbows and Pipe

36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Auto Route
Click Buttweld LR
The system places

pipe and elbows
automatically
Elbows get trimmed

as needed
automatically
Press <Enter> (for Select Polylines).

Click on the router line you just drew.
The system will automatically place elbows and pipe
along the router line.

128

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
Generating an Isogen Iso

42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
Save the drawing as

C\CADWorx_Video_Training\Lessons\Router_1.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Isogen
Click Isogen Out
Select the Metric_Inch_A2 border and
Click OK
Press <Enter> (for select components) and
Window the piping and press <Enter>.
Click the Open Plot Files button to view the iso.

Isogen draws all the

information,
including labeling
the elevation
changes and the
trimmed elbows
Reviewing the
Isogen Iso
129

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
The beginning area shows the coordinate at the start of

the iso, the change in elevation, and the sloping portion
of the line.
The next section shows the rolled offset area. Note the
trimmed elbow which is labeled as 55.3 degrees on the
isometric.
The isometric
contains annotation
for the starting
coordinates, and
each change in
elevation
You can also see

how it labels the
slope
Here you can see

how the system
shows a rolled offset
A rolled offset can

be displayed a
variety of ways in
Isogen
Isogen has several options on how it displays the rolled

offsets.

130

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
You can see the Router command gives you many

options in routing piping runs in 3D. Youll use this
method extensively in some real examples in the next
section.
52.
53.
Save the drawing in your

C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Lessons folder as
Router_Iso1.
Close the drawing and you should have open your
Router_1 drawing (the 3D model of the line).
Placing Restraints and Support Information used in the

CAESAR II Pipe Stress Program
Note: If your organization designs lines that are

analyzed with pipe stress software, then this is a
valuable section to go through. If not, you can
skip this section and move on to the next section.
54.
55.
56.
Click Plant
Click Tool Bars
Click Restraints
This brings up the CADWorx Restraints tool bar.
57.
Click the Anchor restraint button and

place it on the lower end of the line.
58. Right click and click UP.
59. Type: 300 <Enter> (for a 300mm tall anchor).
60. Press <Enter> <Enter> to take the defaults for the length
and description of the anchor.
61. This will tell the stress analysis system that the line is
anchored at each end (for instance, being connected to a
vessel nozzle on the high end, and a pump suction nozzle
on the lower end).

131
Using the
CADWorx
Restraints tool bar,
you can place
hangers and supports

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
Click the OSNAP button at the bottom of your screen, to

turn it OFF.
Click the Spring Hanger button on the Restraints tool bar.
Type: Mid <Enter> (for Osnap Mid Point).
Pick the mid point of the 2000mm pipe run thats
between the sloped portion of the line and the rolled
offset portion of the line.
Right click on the mouse and click Down.
Type: 600 <Enter> for the depth.
Press <Enter> <Enter> to accept the defaults for the
length and the description of the hanger.

132
Placing hanger and

support information

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
69.
70.
Save the drawing again at this point.

Run another Isogen isometric of the line (Plant,
Accessory, Isogen, Isogen Out, choose the C border).
71.
Save the isometric drawing at this time as Router_Iso_2.
Isogen will bring in

the support
information (see
videos in Lesson
Four in piping)
You can export the

geometry and
restraint information
out to CAESAR II
(see Lesson Six in
piping for more
information)
Sending the line out to CAESAR II

72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click CAESAR II
Click System Out
Click the Save button to save the output file out under the
name given (it matches the drawing name).
Press <Enter> to select components (but notice the
prompts you can select by line number or from a
database, if you are running the system with a database
option).
Window the drawing and press <Enter>.
Press <Enter> and Click OK to exit the command.
CADWorx has just built a CAESAR II file that can be
read directly into CAESAR II for analysis! This file will
come into CAESAR II with the geometry fully done, and
nodes numbered correctly. This saves a tremendous
amount of time for the stress engineers, since they can
start to analyze the line without having to create all of the
geometry.

133

Lesson Five
Using 3D Routers
Once the stress engineers have analyzed the line, they

can save the file with any changes made to it. Perhaps
they added additional supports to it, or added an
expansion loop. If changes were made, you could then
go to the pull down menus (Plant, Accessory, CAESAR
II, System In) and bring the modified line back into your
model. The system would automatically update your
model with the engineers changes.
This bi-directional information exchange makes

CADWorx and CAESAR II a very powerful combination
of software to do project work.
80.
Save your line again, and close the drawing.

134
The CAESAR II
bidirectional
interface will save
the stress engineers a
great deal of time,
since the geometry
will come directly
from the model as a
CAESAR II input
file

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Modeling Line Number 8-LH-1011-150_M

The Pump Discharge Line
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Start a new drawing, using the Metric template.

Click Insert (from the pull-down menus).
Click External References
Click Attach
Browse to the C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Examples
folder and
Xref in the 35-Background drawing and the P-100AB
drawing.
Set the Xref dialog box as shown:
Starting up a
drawing in
CADWorx
Xreffing in the
background and the
pumps
Now youre set up to

start the video
Youll see the pumps and the footings as shown.

135

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
If you hover the crosshairs over a pump nozzle you can see
the size of the nozzle.
Set up the size and

spec
Model some of the

components and
save your drawing
Pump_2
8
150_M
9.
10.
11.
Set the Size, Spec and Line number as shown in the video.
Following the video, rotate the UCS, to set the system to
model in vertical.
Then model the gasket, flange, and 300 mm long pipe
segment.

136

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
12.
13.
14.
Modeling
components
Copying and
connecting
components
Save the drawing at this point. Save it in the

C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Lessons folder, under the
name 8:-LH-1011-150_M.
Following the video, model the next series of components
the flange, check valve, gate valve, flange, and elbow.
The video will take you through the steps of copying the
components, and connecting them up. Pay close attention
to the part where it talks about Osnap snapping to
background objects and causing problems. Thats an
important thing to remember in modeling.

137

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
15.
16.
Following the video you will determine some elevations of

the steel in the piperack. You will use these elevations to
route the pipe into and down the piperack.
Setting up the
display to show two
views
simultaneously
In the right viewport

have snap set to 1
Then youll set the system up into two viewports.

138

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
17.
Have Snap set to 50 in the right hand viewport.

The videos will discuss good techniques for using the
Router command in two viewports.
18.
19.
20.
Next youll construct the 3D routing line.

Follow the steps in the video to construct it.
Then you can have the system place pipe and elbows
(Click Plant, Accessory, Auto Route, Buttweld LR).

Modeling the 3D
Router Line
Automatically
modeling the pipe
and elbows
139

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
21.
22.
Zooming and
viewing from the left
to verify the piping
is sitting correctly on
top of the pipe rack
Next youll model

the vent in the line
You can view the routed line from the left and verify that
the routed pipe is sitting on top of the beams correctly.
Next youll model the thredolet for the vent.

140

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
23.
24.
25.
Following the video, model the pipe nipple, gate valve

and plug.
Placing olet
branches
Adding an
instrument
Next, following the videos, model the thredolet, pipe

nipple, and gate valve.
Following these, youll place the instruments.

141

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
26.
27.
28.
Cleaning up the
instrument graphics
Isolating the line and

running a continuity
check
Generating an
Isogen isometric
drawing of the line
Youll model the instrument on the other pump.

Then youll clean up the graphics for the instruments
(again, follow the steps in the video).
Then youll generate an Isogen isometric drawing of

the line. The system splits the model into two
isometrics when it creates them.

142

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
29.
Close the isometric drawings and save your file.

This finishes the exercise in modeling the pump
discharge line.
Next youll model a line coming at an angle out of the
vertical vessel 35-450.

Reviewing the
Isogen isometric
143

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Modeling Line 8- LH-1012-150_M
This line comes out of the tower at a 60 degree angle, and then it
drops down and goes up near the rack. At that point it will drop
down to a control station, then come back up, enter the rack, and
run down the rack from there.
The line will have a dummy leg attached to it and it will also
have to base supports under the control station.
This line includes a

dummy leg support
and two base
supports
The supports will be

modeled to export
out to both
CAESAR II and also
Isogen
Youll see how to model these so that they go out to Isogen, and
also out to the CAESAR II pipe stress analysis program.

144

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
1.
Following the video, Xref in the 35-450_Piping piping

drawing, and the 35-450_Background drawing.
In the figure below, you can see the nozzles coming out of the
vessel at various angles.
2.
The video will take you through the steps needed to align
your UCS to the nozzle youll connect to.
3.
Then youll set your line number, and begin placing

components.

Viewing the nozzle

oriented at 60
degrees
Aligning the UCS at

the proper angle
145

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Reviewing the
components
connected to the
nozzle
Setting up to work
with two views
split screens
Routing the line

using two viewports
Once the components connected to the nozzle are placed,

you will set up your screen to have two viewports. This
makes it easier to work with the 3D router line in a model.
Following the video, start a Router command:

Type: RT <Enter>.
Osnap to the lower end of the elbow.
Right click and click on Elevation.
Right click and click on World.
Type: 5057 <Enter> (for the centerline of the pipe).
Click in the right viewport once to activate it.
Verify Snap is turned on, and set to 50. If its displaying
incorrectly, you can change it by typing COORDS, and
setting it to 1.

146

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Drag the mouse (in the right viewport) toward the pipe rack.
Again, you can review the video for the exact steps.
When the Y value in your coordinates display shows 9000,
click the mouse at that point.
Verifying Snap is set

correctly so it can be
used to click the
North point of the
router line
The finished router

line
Then Right click and click Elevation.

Right Click, Click World.
Type: 600 <Enter>.
Drag the mouse to the right and
Type: 2000 <Enter>.
Place elbows and pipe onto the line automatically.

Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Auto Route
Click Buttweld LR

147

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
The system will place elbows and pipes along the routed line.
25.
Next, following the video, youll place the components

fitting-to-fitting.
This is an effective way to work. Use a Router line for part
of the line, then put in the components as fitting make-up
when its appropriate, then youll continue another Router
line after that.

Viewing the piping

and elbows
automatically placed
Modeling the control

valve area fitting-tofitting
Effective modeling
involves using both
the Router command
and placing
components fitting
to fitting
148

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
26.
Using the video, youll model the gate valves and also
the bypass.
Modeling the block

valves (gate valves)
and the bypass
Starting a new
Router Line from the
end of the tee
Next, follow the video and construct another Router Line

from the end of the tee. It will go up to the proper level
and enter the pipe rack, and then it will turn up, and then
turn east and route down the rack. Use the measurements
as described in the video.

149

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
27.
Click Insert (from the pull-down menus), External

References, and click on the 34-450_Piping drawing.
Right click and Unload the Xref.
This will leave the line you just created displayed by
itself on the screen, but you can easily restore the XRef.
28.
Unloading the Xref

used for the
background during
routing
Placing the drain on

the control station
Next, following the video, place the drain on the

control station. It will involve a thredolet, pipe nipple,
gate valve, and plug.

150

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
A Tap is required at this branch to avoid errors in the

isometric. Isogen will report a disconnect at this branch
if a tap is not placed here.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Type: TAP <Enter>.

Click the point at the intersection of the centerlines for the
olet and the reducer.
The system echoes back: Select entity:
Click the centerline of the reducer (the reducer is the
object getting tapped).
Placing a TAP is
required to avoid
Isogen errors
Taps are required at

branches from
reducers. On
branches off pipe
they are not needed,
but are generally
needed on branches
other than pipe
Running a
Continuity Check
Youll see a Tap symbol appear in your drawing.
33.
Next, following the video, run a Continuity Check.

151

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
34.
If you have good continuity, as illustrated in the video, run

an Isogen isometric. If you have some problems with the
continuity, make sure you fix them before generating the
isometric.
If you use a size Metric_Inch_A2 border, the system will
generate a couple of isometrics for this line, since it has a
number of components.
Generating an
isometric drawing
In this next section youll place some Base Supports under

the two elbows in the control station area, and youll also add
a Dummy Leg support.
First, youll redraw the elbows that will have supports, using
a setting that places Nodes (these are AutoCAD Points) at
certain points in the elbows.
If you dont know about nodes, its not a problem. Nodes
are AutoCAD objects that AutoCAD can also draw. They
are used sometimes to locate points at certain locations. You
can just follow along with the video and continue working as
it shows.

152

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
35.
36.
37.
38.
Click Plant, Utility, Drawing Control.Click Node

Placement.
Erase the two lower elbows and redraw them. When
they are redrawn, they will appear as before, and they
will also have node (points) on the ends and at the
corner.
Redrawing the
elbows with nodes
included
The Restraints tool

bar is used to place
hangers and supports
that will export out
to CAESAR II and
also Isogen
isometrics
Also redraw the top elbow so that it includes nodes.
Open the Restraints tool bar (click Plant, Tool bars,

Restraints).

153

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
39.
40.
Following the video, add a Translational restraint at the

elbow. This will be used to convey information for a
Dummy Leg support at this point.
Placing a Restraint
at the corner of the
elbow
This will add the

data needed to
include a Dummy
Leg support
Testing to see if the

support information
goes into Isogen
Using the video as a guide, run this area through Isogen.

Just use a crossing and select the two pipes, the elbow,
and the restraint (again, as shown in the video).
Youll see Isogen includes some information about the
support.

154

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Viewing the support

data in the BOM
Starting the
CADWorx Clash
checker, which
checks for
interferences
Next youll look at how the CADWorx Clash View

works. It can be used to see if you have clashes
(interferences) between two pipes, where one 3D pipe is
hitting another objects unexpectedly.
41.
Type: Clashview <Enter>.

This brings up the Clash View dialog box.
42.
Follow the video, which will illustrate how this tool

works.

155

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
43.
44.
45.
Model the dummy leg as shown in the video.
Add a Tap as shown in the videos. This is required to

maintain continuity when you run the line out to Isogen
to create an isometric drawing.
Modeling the
dummy leg
A Tap is required
here for Isogen to
work correctly
Following the video, run this corner section out again to

Isogen and see what the system generates.

156

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Viewing the
generated isometric
of the dummy leg at
this point
Adding a note for

the dummy leg, that
will appear in the
isometric
After viewing the isometric, youll next add a note to the

dummy leg in the model that will come out in the isometric.
46.
Double click on the dummy leg.

The Component Edit dialog box will appear.
47.
48.
Click on the button at the bottom that says Isogen.

Add a message as shown in the video.

157

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
49.
Run another Isogen isometric, as illustrated in the video.

Youll see the note appear in the isometric drawing.
Viewing the note for

the dummy leg in
the isometric
Displaying the
points
Add information for the Base Supports

Next youll add information into the model for the base
supports under the elbows.
50.
Using the video, have the system display the points.

158

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
51.
Place restraints on each elbow at the nodes (corners of the

elbows). Use the video as a guide.
Placing a restraint
that will represent
the base supports in
both Isogen and
CAESAR II
Setting up a
Reference
Dimension that will
come out in the
isometric
In this next section youll do a couple of things. First

youll have Isogen draw the base support with a typical
symbol. This will improve the appearance of the isometric.
Then youll set Isogen to produce a detail drawing of the
base support. This detail drawing will appear as a separate
box in the isometric itself.
52.
53.
54.
55.
Double click one of the elbows which have the base

supports under them.
This will bring up the Component Edit dialog box.
Click on the Isogen button at the bottom of the screen.
Change the support information in the dialog box as shown
in the video, and in the following figure.

159

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
The symbol that has been chosen came from one of the
help files for Isogen that are included with CADWorx
software. Take a look at the video which discusses
these.
56.
Viewing some of the

symbols that Isogen
can draw (controlled
by their SKEYs)
Viewing the base

support along with
its accompanying
note
After setting the SKEY and other support information

as shown, run an Isogen iso.
You should see something similar to the following
figure.

160

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Generating a Detail Sketch in Isogen

Next youll have Isogen produce a detail sketch of the
base supports.
57.
58.
59.
Double click the elbow with the base support.

This opens the Component Edit dialog box.
Click on the Isogen button (at the bottom of the dialog
box).
60. Following the video, add the information to tell Isogen
where the detail sketch is located.
Setting the detail

sketch name
The Project Manager

controls some of the
settings for detail
sketches
Here the folder is

specified that
contains the detail
sketches
There are a couple of additional steps needed.

61.
Using the video as a guide, open the Project Manager

program.
You will change some settings to set up the detail
sketches.

161

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
62.
63.
64.
65.
The previous figure shows how you specify where the

detail sketches are located. Click in the dialog box and
set your system up as shown in the video. Set the Detail
Sketches folder to be
C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Examples\
Isogen_Detail_Sketches. After its set, click OK.
In the Project Manager, click the area next to Drawing
Definition.
Click Browse shows the modified Drawing Definition
file, which has to be set up to bring in the detail sketches.
This file is in the same folder.
After setting the Drawing Definition File and clicking
OK, you will be back in the Project Manager.
The video will show

you how to set the
folder that contains
the detail sketches
location
The modified
Drawing Definition
file
Generating another
Isogen isometric
The video shows what the modified Drawing Definition

File looks like (see figure below).
66.
After setting up the system, run another isometric. Select

just the area around the lower elbow and base support.
The detail sketch will appear in the area near the bill of
materials, at the top of the isometric.
You should get something similar to whats shown.

162

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Viewing a detail
sketch produced in
the isometric
CADWorx can
model all the
standard small bore
components
Next youll place a Reference Dimension from the tee to

the centerline of the pipe rack.
67.
68.
69.
70.
Double click the tee (as shown in the video).

The Component Edit dialog box appears.
Click on the Isogen button at the bottom of the dialog
box.
In the Reference Dimension section, fill out the
information as shown in the video.

163

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
71.
Generate an isometric drawing (see the video) and you can

see how the system produces a reference dimension within
an iso.
Viewing the
generated Reference
Dimension
Adding a note to the

globe valve that will
appear in the
isometric
Next youll add a note for the globe valve (on the bypass
line in the control station) that will come out in the
isometric.
72.
73.
74.
75.
Double click on the globe valve.

The Component Edit dialog box will appear.
Click on the Isogen button.
Add a note in the Message section of the dialog box as
shown in the video.
76.
Generate an isometric drawing of the area around the globe

valve. It should appear similar to whats shown in the
following figure.

164

Lesson Five
3D Modeling

Viewing the note on

the globe valve that
is produced in the
isometric
165

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Modeling Small Bore Piping Components
This next section covers modeling components that have smaller

diameters. These types of components are usually threaded or
socket weld components.
In this lesson youll be completing the line shown below.
77.
78.
Modeling an Elbolet
in one of the return
lines
Drawing
construction lines
Following the video, set the size, spec and line number as
directed.
Draw the construction lines as shown in the video.

166

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
Set the line number for the one inch line as shown in the
video.
79.
Following the steps in the video, place components as

shown.
80.
81.
Completing the
model of the small
bore line
Save your drawing frequently.

Follow the videos to complete this line.

167

Lesson Five
3D Modeling
82.
Next run a continuity check.
Checking Continuity
The finished
isometric
If you have good continuity, run an Isogen isometric.

168

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
This section will cover a number of topics:
Exporting a CADWorx line into CAESAR II for analysis

Generating custom components in CADWorx
Modeling Cable Trays
Working with Databases in CADWorx
Checking data in the CADWorx model compared to the P&IDs
Using Xrefs effectively
Introduction to Sheet Sets
As these topics begin to get implemented in your work process, you will find your
productivity steadily improving. Depending upon which of these you use, you should
find that you start having less duplication of effort, or better communication, or less
cross-checking.
Exporting and Importing back a line between CADWorx and CAESAR II

CADWorx has the ability to export a line out to CAESAR II pipe stress software. The
line will export out with full and correct geometry. CAESAR II can then open it up
seamlessly, and the design engineer can then analyze it for code compliance. During the
analysis, if the engineer modifies the geometry of the line, the changes can be imported
directly back into CADWorx and the model updated.
The following section illustrates how this works.

169

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
In this example you will export out this line to CAESAR II.
1.
2.
3.
Open the drawing: 8-LH-1012-150_M. You can find it

either in the Examples folder or the Lessons folder (under
C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\).
Once the drawing is open, you can click:
Plant, Accessory, CAESAR II, System Out

170
Exporting this line

out to CAESAR II

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
The system will export the line out into a CAESAR II format
with a .c2 file extension.
4.
5.
6.
Click Save
Select the components to be exported, and press <Enter>.
(Note: You can isolate a line beforehand if needed using the
CADWorx line isolate command).
Press <Enter> (you will not specify start locations).
The system will proceed and write out a CAESAR II input
file for you.

171
The system will

build a complete
CAESAR II input
file

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
7.
Click OK to finish the export.

At this point you have a completed CAESAR II input file.
All the geometry of the line will be modeled correctly, and
viewed quickly within CAESAR II.
To illustrate this, below is how the line looks when it is

opened in CAESAR II.

172
Opening the file in

CAESAR II

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
When the view is zoomed in closer in CAESAR II you can see

how the nodes are numbered and the restraints (supports) are
modeled.
Its easy to see how this can impact your productivity gains in 3D
CAD modeling. When you can cut out the duplication of effort for
the engineer to recreate the geometry, great time and cost savings
will result.
As a final part of the process, if the line is modified in CAESAR
II, then the file can be saved and imported directly back into
CADWorx. So the geometric and design data makes the round trip
seamlessly.

173
The CAESAR II file

has the supports and
nodes all set up
If the line is
modified in
CAESAR II, the
changes can be
imported right back
into CADWorx and
the model
automatically
updated

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
Creating Custom Components

CADWorx allows you to create your own special
components in an easy to use procedure.
In this lesson youll create the Flame Arrestor shown
below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Flame Arrestor
custom component
Custom components
in CADWorx are
created with
graphics theres no
programming
Drawing the outline

of the flame arrestor
Start a new drawing (using the Metric template).

Set the Specification to A10 (you should have an A10 spec
from previous lessons. If not, open the 150_M spec using
the spec editor and save as A10).
Following the videos measurements, place the two flanges
as shown, and model the polyline as described.

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5.
6.
7.
8.
Erase the flanges on each end, but leave the polyline.

Bring up the Miscellaneous tool bar, and click on the
Create tool button.
Using a CADWorx
tool button to start
the Create command
Adding the new

component to the
specification
Following the videos, fill out the information for your new
component.
Then click the two ends as shown in the video, and click on
the polyline.
The system will then read the polyline geometry, and
produce a data file (measurement file) for you
automatically.
Then, all thats left to do is add the component to the spec,
so it knows where to find it to draw it.
9.
Following the video, add a new User Shape to your

specification.

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10.
After adding the Flame Arrestor to your specification, you

can bring it into the drawing (the video will cover this step by
step).
A few steps later

you have the new
user defined
component
The component is
fully intelligent
This is an intelligent CADWorx object that was created

without any programming.
11.
Double click on the component, and youll see the

information embedded in it.

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The video will show connecting the flame arrestor to other

CADWorx components.
12. Follow the video and connect gaskets, flanges, and piping to
the flame arrestor you created.
13.
Connecting the
flame arrestor to
other components
CADWorx will
include the
component in an
isometric
Then send the line out to Isogen and view the results (as shown
in the video).
The system will generate an Isogen iso with the flame arrestor
drawn and listed in the bill of materials.

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The component will be drawn as a simple rectangle in the

isometric, but it will be piecemarked and listed in the bill of
materials.
The flame arrestor

will be included in
the bill of materials
CADWorx also has

tools to create nonsymmetrical user
components
Creating a non-symmetrical User Shape

CADWorx also has the ability to create user shapes that are
non-symmetrical. In this next section, youll create the shape
shown in the following figure.
The video on this section will describe how this object was
created using standard AutoCAD solids.

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To bring this object into CADWorx as an intelligent object:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click the Create button on the Miscellaneous toolbar (as

shown in the video).
Following the video, enter in the descriptive information for
the component.
Then youll tell the system you are going to select a block.
Next you will select 3D, to bring in a 3D block.
Then you will select the Reference Point (which is the
insertion point).
Then youll pick the far end of the block (at the end of the
flange on the end).
The block must be a straight through block for this to
work. If theres an offset it will come in tilted.
7.
8.
9.
Adding this shape

does not involve any
programming
You go through
some steps, and
click the connection
points
Adding it to a spec
Then you pick a connection point. In this case you pick

the same two points in the same order, plus the point at the
end of the top flange. The order is important.
Press <Enter> and
Select all the objects in this 3D block.
Next, youll add this new component to one of the specs, so
you can tell the system to draw it.
10.
11.
12.
Type: SPED <Enter> (this starts the spec editor).

Select the A10 spec (if you dont have this spec, you can use
the 150_M spec.
When the spec is opened, click User Shape in the left area of
the dialog box, and click Add (see the following figure).

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13.
14.
Adding this shape

does not involve any
programming
You go through
some steps, and
click the connection
points
Adding it to a spec
When the next dialog box opens up, you click the Select
button.
Click Use (for the user folder).

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15.
16.
17.
Click the file you just created: Baffle_Box.Use, and click

the Select button.
Exit out of the dialog boxes: Click OK, then Save, which
will get you back to the drawing.
Set your size to 6, and the spec to A10 (or the spec you
added the new component to).
Selecting the data

file
Saving and returning

back to the drawing
Bringing in the new

shape into a
CADWorx drawing
Next youll test your custom shape in CADWorx.

To bring it in:
18.
Hold down the mouse button on the Create button, and

release on the button it was added to (in this case button
one).

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19.
Following the video, place the custom component on the

drawing.
20.
Place components that connect to your custom component

(the baffle box) as described in the video.

182
Connecting other
components to the
baffle box (custom
component)

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
21. Then generate an Isogen isometric as shown in the video, and

review the results.

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Viewing the custom

component in the
Isogen isometric

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
Modeling Cable Trays (HVAC)

CADWorx has the ability to model cable trays. It contains
a variety of shapes you can place in the model, and you can
also include material information in them as well.
1.
Open the drawing called HVAC_Example.dwg. Its in the

C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Examples folder.
Opening the practice

drawing
Opening the HVAC

dialog box
In this drawing, youll place some cable tray shapes.

2.
Click Plant, HVAC, Shapes.

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The system will open the HVAC dialog box, containing a

variety of shapes you can model.
3.
Looking at some of
the available shapes
Filling out data for a

shape
Follow the video and select the Square Straight and fill out
the data.

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4.
5.
Place this shape into the drawing as shown in the video.
Placing cable trays

into the model
Filling out data for a

Tee
Fill out the Tee shape information and place it into the
drawing.

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Placing cable trays

into the model
Generating a Cable
Tray BOM
The system also has a Bill of Materials option you can use. You
should go through and test the Setup, to see the various fields you
can bring into the material list.

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Working with Databases in CADWorx
CADWorx has a number of options you can use when it comes to

databases.
For instance, it can:
Run without a database

Export out intermittently to a database
Run connected to a live database.
CADworx has many

options when it
comes to databases
You can run with or

without a live
database
CADWorx supports
Access, Oracle, and
SQL Server
A Bill of Materials
is a list for a single
drawing
So these choices are typical of CADWorx you can work the

way that best suits your needs.
Databases are used for several reasons:
Using databases you can produce a global material list for a

project that is composed of multiple drawings.
You can also change descriptive information in a database, and
have it update the model.
Also, you can compare data in a P&ID data table to data within
a 3D piping model.
CADWorx supports three Database systems:
Access
SQL Server
Oracle
Generating a Bill of Materials

A Bill of Materials is a material list for a single drawing. It can be
contained in the drawing, or exported out to Excel, Htm, Mdb, or
as a Txt file.

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To setup a Bill of Materials

1.
2.
3.
Click Plant
Click Bill of Materials
Click Setup
The Bill of Materials Setup dialog box will appear.
This dialog lets you add new columns to the BOM from a list
of various data items. You can set the width of the columns,
the headings, their location in the BOM, etc.

189
Setting up a Bill of
Materials
The BOM is easily

set to look the way
you want it to look

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
Exporting Component Data out to a Database

CADWorx has the capability of exporting component
information out to a database on an intermittent basis. If
you dont want to run the system with a live database, but
you still want to obtain a global material list, you can use
this option. This gives you a lot of flexibility.
To export component information out to a database:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Database
Click Export
5.
6.
Press <Enter> (to select components)

Type: A <Enter> for all.
A dialog box will appear for you to select the database
type.

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Exporting out to a
database

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
7.
Choosing to use a
new Access
database
CADWorx lets you

append and
synchronize the
database whenever
you like
Following the video, set up a database like it shows.

At a later time, if you export again to the database, it will
prompt you to Append/Synchronize. This allows you to
update and synchronize the database with the various drawings
you have in your project.
Working with a Live Database

CADWorx also lets you work with a live database. A live
database means that a database program is running at the same
time CADWorx is running. Each time you place a component
in CADWorx, it will instantly write a record for that
component in the database program.
This method lets you work with the project while in the
drawing, and also from within the database. You can switch
back and forth if needed. For instance, you can also modify
descriptive information in the database, and it will update the
component information in the model when it synchronizes
(you can do this with an intermittent database also).

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To Run the System with a Live Database

1.
2.
3.
4.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Database
Click Setup
Setting up a live
database
Choosing the Live

Database Type and
location
This brings up the Live Database Settings dialog box.

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5.
6.
7.
Click the Access button, and

Click the Create Table button.
Choose a location on your system for the database.
The location is not important in this example, since you are
just seeing how this works.
The live database

will start up each
time you launch
CADWorx
Exporting out
drawing data to an
external database
You can do this for

multiple drawings,
and build a global
material list
These steps actually just set the system up. The live
database takes effect when CADWorx is restarted. It will
stay in effect until it is switched off, using the same dialog
box you just worked with.
Example of Exported Database

This next section shows the kind of data that CADWorx
puts in the database tables.
In this example, youll export out drawing data to an
external database. You can do this from multiple drawings
into the same database, if needed. That way you could
compile a database that contains all the material
information for a number of drawings, and produce a
global material list.
1.
Click Plant, Accessory, Database, Export.

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2.
3.

Type: All <Enter> (to select all the components in the
drawing.
Youll then tell the system you want to make a new database
since this is the first time to run this command.
You select the

components
You set the type and

location of the
database
Later, if youve modified the drawing, and you want to

update the database to show the changes, you will click the
append/synchronize button.
4.
5.
Click the Browse button and choose a location to place the

database. If you have a folder on your system where you
would like to place it, thats fine. If not, you can place it in
your training folder: C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Lessons
Then you click the Save button, then click OK.
At that point the system will look at each component in the
drawing and write out the external database.

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6.
7.
8.
Start Microsoft Access and go to the database you just

created (see the video as an example).
If you open the Pipe table, youll see the data that the
system has written out for the piping components.
Viewing the
database using
Access
Exporting the Steel

data
The video will discuss the database and its contents.

You can also export the steel data.
To do this:
9.
Click Plant, Accessory, Steel, Database, Export

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Exporting drawing
information out to a
database
Using the
Append/Sync option
In this case, since the database exists, you will choose the
Append/Sync button.
10.
Follow the video and send out the steel data.

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CADWorx exports out the data for the steel members,

including lengths, weights, and part numbers.
The following figure shows a portion of the tables (not all
of the steel information is shown).
11. Watch the video to see the discussion about the

information carried in the steel data tables.
Creating or Rebuilding a Drawing from a Database

You can also rebuild an entire drawing from its database.
This is another way to use database information to update
or create data in the drawing.
To build a drawing from a database:
1. Click Plant, Click Accessory, Click Database Import.

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Viewing the Steel

data table using
Access

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
Importing database
information into
the drawing this
generates new
components or
updates existing
components
You can compare

data in the P&ID
to the data in a
piping model
If you start a new drawing, using a template, and execute this

command, the system will draw piping components from the
information it gets from the database.
Comparing P&ID Data to the Piping Model
CADWorx can compare the valves in a P&ID to the valves in
the piping model, by using database tools and cross checking
them.
In this lesson, youll be comparing the valves in the P&ID
sample drawing against the model example.
1.
Open the drawing called Partial_Model_Example. Its in the

C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Examples\Project_Database
folder.

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2.
The portion of the

piping model that
will be used to
compare the valves
in the model to the
valves in the P&ID
The P&ID that will

have its valve data
compared to the
piping model
As you watch the video, it will cover how the P&ID needs to
be created, in order for the data tables to be linked and
compared.

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The P&ID has to be drawn in CADWorx P&ID using the

same specs and line numbers. Also the P&ID will need to
have the Process Assign command run across the process
lines (see the video for how this is done).
3.
The P&ID has to be

created in
CADWorx P&ID
using certain
procedures
When you type

PIDView in
CADWorx, the
system will bring up
a box showing the
P&ID valves and the
valves in the model
You can link valves

and check
consistency
Type: PIDView <Enter>.

The system will add a dialog box next to the drawing
showing the valve data in the P&ID and the model.
4.
Click on a valve in the P&ID area of the table, and it will

appear in the window at the bottom of the table.

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5.
You can click on a gate valve in the model section of the

table, right click and click zoom.

201
You can zoom into

valves in the model
by clicking it in the
data list (as shown in
the video)

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
The system will zoom into the corresponding valve in the

model.
6.
7.
You can click a

valve in the P&ID
section, right click
and zoom into the
corresponding valve
in the model
When youve
identified the valve
in the model that
corresponds to a
valve in the P&ID,
you can do a Link on
them
Linking valves will

allow you to check
consistency between
the P&ID and the
model
Click on the other Gate Valve, right click and zoom to it.
Once the proper valve is identified, you can link the P&ID
valve to the model valve (see video for how this is done).

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You can also insert a valve from the P&ID data right into the
model.
8.
9.
Click the valve you want to insert in the P&ID list.

Right click, and click Insert in Model (see video for how this is
done).
You can then place the proper valve right into the model.

203
You can insert a

valve from the P&ID
data right into the
piping model

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
Project Administration Managing the Model
It is important to
organize your model
in a way that
improves
productivity
Each discipline will

have its own sub
folder
You will make

extensive use of
External Reference
files (Xrefs)
When working on a model that is relatively complex, it is

important to set up a good organizational structure.
What you should do is set up a project folder, with each

discipline having its own folder under the project folder.
For instance, in this course, you will have a project folder
called Area_35. Underneath it are the various discipline
folders.
You could have other folders also, depending upon your

project and your work process (Clearances, Buildings,
Underground, etc.).

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Then you place your discipline drawings within these sub

folders and you can divide the work among a number of
users. Each user then works on his or her assignment, and
Xrefs in other drawings as needed.
There are a series of

discipline master
drawings
There is a Project
Master drawing
It is important to
have one person in
charge of the model
CADWorx is
completely scalable.
There is no project
size limit for a well
organized design
There will be a series of Master drawings for each

discipline.
These master drawings will have all the individual
drawings Xreffed into them (see video for
recommendations on this).
There will be a Project Master drawing with the discipline

master drawings xreffed into it.
View the video for a discussion of these topics.
It is important to have a single model coordinator that

controls these files. This way it can be managed
effectively.
There is no limit to the scalability of CADWorx projects, if

they are well organized.

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Using Sheet Sets

Sheet sets automate the creation of views (standard and
clipped) in Paper Space viewports.
Paper space views are preferred since they are live
views. If you change the model, the view will update.
This way you have no surprises.
You can also annotate and dimension on the paper, with
associated dimensions. Then if the model changes, the
dimensions will also change.
Sheet Sets are a

great time saver in
producing drawings
CADWorx can
easily create clipped
views with its View
Box command
Paper Space views

are live views.
Using them, if the
model changes, all
your details change
The first part of the video shows View Boxes, which easily
set up clipped views (these are also covered in the earlier
piping lesson four, and also in the structural skid one
lesson).
Watch the videos for an easy introduction to how Sheet

Sets work.

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When you create these clipped views, they can be easily

accessed from the View tool bar.
Using Sheet Sets, these views can be dropped into layouts

(Borders) with scaling and labeling automated and made
easier.
The video makes use of a sample sheet set that is supplied by
AutoCAD. This makes it really easy to do.

207
Named views are

easy to call up from
the View tool bar
A clipped view
created with the
CADWorx View
Box command
Sheet sets really

save time if you
have a number of
views (drawings) to
produce

Lesson Six
Productivity Tools
In this example,
youll use a sample
sheet set supplied by
AutoCAD
Youll set up some

project information
as you go through
the wizard
Youll specify
which model files
you want to use for
your drawings
Follow the video to see how this works.

You will quickly be producing scaled and labeled views for
your drawing production.
When you work with the Sheet Set Manager, you will set
up some information about your project. This will help
later because the system will build you a drawing list
automatically.
Youll then tell the system the model files, which contain
clipped or standard views you want to use.

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Then youll choose a sample layout.

.
You can choose a

border
You fill out a

drawing name and
number
Then you drag and

drop views into your
layout
Its very quick and

easy after you do it a
time or two
A few clicks later and you will be dropping in views with

scaling and labeling. Its a great time saver.
Watch the video and its easy to follow all the steps.

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Module Two Editing CADWorx Specifications
Editing CADWorx Specifications

You will . . .
Learn how to open a sample spec and examine it
Create your own spec
Review the contents of a spec
Add and delete items to your spec
Modify descriptive information and size ranges
Add Valve Tags
Add Part Numbers (Procurement Codes)
Add new Control Valves to your spec as optional
components
Add new size ranges that are not standard
Create special end conditions components
Use Keywords to create look up values in the long
description (wall thicknesses)
Print out your spec for review
Update your spec in the middle of a project
1.
In this section youll

cover many aspects
of the Specification
Editor
Starting the
CADWorx Spec
Editor
Start CADWorx Plant and type SPED <Enter>

(or Click Plant, Accessory, Specifications, Editor).
This will start the Spec Editor.
2.
You will see a list of all the specs that ship with
CADWorx.
Notice the extensive list of specs included when you
purchase CADWorx. There are over 70 piping specs that
are bundled into the software.
Some of these are imperial specs, some are metric, and
some are mixed metric (imperial bore sizes, with metric
length measurements). There are also stainless steel
specs, pvc, lined pipe, victaulic, FRP, Swagelok, etc.
The system ships with these specs supplied, and it is very
easy to add your own spec as needed. CADWorx
supplies a library of components with over 60,000
components defined.
210

3.
4.
Double click on the 150_M.spc

You will see the following dialog box.
Opening an existing
spec
Saving an existing
spec under another
name
Exporting the spec

out for review
This is the Spec Editors dialog box.

5.
6.
Click Save As.

Type: A10 <Enter>.
This will save the default CADWorx 150 lb spec to a
name of your choice, in this case A10.
Reviewing the Contents of a Spec
7.
8.
To get a complete overview of the contents of your A10

spec
Click the Export button (lower right area of the dialog
box)
The system will save the spec out in your choice of
several different formats.
In this case,
Click Save (to save it as a text file, A10.txt, in the Spec
folder).

211

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Open Notepad (Click Start, All Programs, Accessories,

Notepad) and use Notepad to open the A10.txt file for
review.
Youll see the following, which is a full listing of the
A10 spec.
Scroll through the spec and take a look at it.

This is an excellent way to note its contents. You can
print this out, mark it up, and keep track of what needs
modifying.
Close Notepad at this time and go back to the Spec
Editor.
Notice that Pipe is high lighted (on the left).
Click on the second pipe range listed (second down on
the right).

Reviewing a specs
contents in Notepad
or Excel
Using a template
sets Units and other
AutoCAD variables
212

16.
17.
18.
Click Edit
Editing the pipes

description in spec
editor
Adding Valve Tags
Change the description from STD to 40, and A-106 to A53 (see below).
Click OK.
Adding Valve Tags

19.
Scroll down, in the left section of the dialog

(components) and click on Valves, Gate.

213

20.
21.
22.
Click Edit
In the Tag field,
Type: A2R <Enter>.
Working with Part

Number
(Procurement
Codes)
Adding Part Numbers (Procurement Codes)

CADWorx has the capability of inserting a part number
into every component. This can be set up by clicking
the Edit Codes button (lower right area of the dialog
box).
The system will display the default part numbers for a
Gate Valve.

214

The Part Numbering

file in CADWorx:
DBCodes.dat
Adding a Part
Number to a Gate
Valve
This is a very easy system to maintain. For instance, if

you wanted to update the part number for a 6 Gate
Valve.
23.
24.
25.
Click 6.00 (on the right).

Put in your part number (in this example Type:
A2R_6_150.
Click the Update button (lower right).
You can see that this part number system is easy to use.
Near the very top of this dialog box is the path name of
the part number file,
C:\ CADWorx Plant 2007\Spec\Dbcodes.dat. This is
actually a text file that can be modified using this easy
dialog box interface, or with a text editor. Some
CADWorx users also have written automated programs
that update this text file as they add new parts to their
procurement purchasing system.

215

These part numbers can be brought into Bill of

Materials list in CADWorx drawings and Isogen.
They can also be used for automating ordering items
with your purchasing system.
26.
Click OK, to exit this dialog box (The Database Codes

Editor).
Other Spec Information Carried in this Dialog Box
The Short
Description is used
in Component
Annotation
The Sort Sequence

determines the
position a
component takes in
the Bill of Materials
The Index Code is a

category value used
in Part Numbering
Looking at Data
Files (the
measurement file)
Looking further at the items in this dialog box:

27.
28.
29.
The Short Descriptions value will appear on the

drawing when placed there using the Annotate
Component command (covered in the first piping
lesson).
The Sort Sequence tells the system how to sort the
items down the Bill of Materials. A zero will make it
first in the BOM list. A 999 will make it last in the list.
If two items have the same value, then they will be
sorted alphabetically in the BOM.
The Index Code is a category code for the part
numbering system. It tells the system where to look in
the part numbering file (dbcodes.dat) to look up a
components part number. It would probably not be
necessary to change this value.
Looking at the Data Files

Also, notice near the top of this dialog box, the
information about the Data File (the library file) where
the measurements for this component are stored.

216

30.
Click the Open button to open the data file.

This is the file that contains all the measurements needed
for CADWorx to draw the Gate Valves to scale.
Also, notice there is a column for the weight. CADWorx
carries weights for all components.
Data files Contain

all the data needed
to draw a component
Expanding Data
Files Adding new
size ranges
Adding New Size Ranges

Its very easy to add new size ranges to the data files.
Since they are text file, all you have to do is modify right
in Notepad.
To add data for a 36 Gate Valve, copy the line for the
30 Gate Valve, and paste it into the line below. Then
change the measurements as needed for the 36 data (use
the data from a valve catalog). For instance, you could
add 36 data as shown next:

217

31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
Close the file and save it.

Click Save and then OK to close the spec Editor.
Set your size to 36, and click the Gate Valve tool button.
Click two points to place the new 36 valve into your
drawing (hit cancel if prompted for a Gasket, it could be
added later).
Set your size back to 6, which youll be drawing later.
Testing a 36 Gate
Valve
You can then have the system use the 36 data by changing
the size range in the Edit Component dialog box for the
Gate Valve.
Specs are filters

that utilize portions
of the library data
files
Testing a 36 Gate
Valve
Adding a new
Control Valve to
your spec
A new type a Valve

is added
Note: This is also discussed in the video.

From these discussions, you can see that CADWorx has a
very simple scheme for its specs and data files. All the
data files are stored in the library folders (Lib_I for the
Imperial measurement files).
CADWorx specs are set up to use portions of these data
files. The specs have a size range set in them, to use either
some, or all, of the lines in the data files. In the case of the
Gate Valves, the range in the spec is 2 to 24, while the
actual data file (we looked at earlier in Notepad) goes from
2 to 30.
The Lesson Four video discusses a network setup to
place your specs in a read only folder.
Adding a New Control Valve
Its an easy process to add a Control valve to your spec.
CADWorx ships with a number of control valves in its
libraries.
Sometimes you will have a project that calls for more than
one choice for a control valve for a particular size. When
this occurs, you will need to have multiple choices in your
spec. The spec will contain one of the control valves as a
default choice, and the others as optional choices.

218

First, you need to look at whats currently in the spec.
36.
37.
38.
39.
To do this
Set your size to 3.
Set the specification to A10.
Following the video, click on the Control Valve button
and place one in your drawing.
Double click the control valve to view the data in it, then
close the component edit dialog box.
Placing the default

control valve
Looking at the data

file for the default
control valve
Adding a New Control Valve to your Spec.

40.
41.
Type: SPED <Enter> to start the spec editor (you can

also click Plant, Accessory, Specifications, Editor).
Following the video, open the data file for the control
valve to see what the system is using.
.
42.
After viewing, follow the video and close the data file,
then add a new control valve as shown in the video.

219

43.
Adding a new
control valve
Telling the system

this is an Optional
Component
Add the valve as instructed in the video, noticing how it gets

specified as an optional component.

220

44.
Save and exit the spec as directed in the video.

The video discusses how to display Optional Components
using both the Specview tool palette and also using tool bars.
Follow the video to see how this is done.
Showing optional components using Specview:
When this is set, the optional valves appear in the list in a

different color.

Setting Specview to
show optional
components
The optional control

valves appear in the
Specview list
221

If you prefer to use tool bars, you can set the system to use
optional components using the Settings tool bar.
Showing optional components using tool bars:
Using this method, all the control valve choices appear listed
in a dialog box.
Follow the video and bring in the control valves as directed

and test them. You will find this a very powerful tool for
adding great flexibility in getting you specs just the way
you need them.

Having the system

show optional
components
Using optional
components gives
you the flexibility of
adding multiple
choices for your
specs components
222

Adding a Gate Valve that is Threaded on one end, and Flanged on the other.
Creating Components with any combination of end types.
So far, you have added regular components to your
spec, but suppose you wanted to add fittings with end
type combinations that are not standard.
CADWorx allows you to work with components with
fifteen different types of end conditions. When
working with components that CADWorx draws, this
option allows you to create many types of optional
components.
Opening the
Sanitary toolbar
Next youll open the

Help system to see
the choices of End
Types available
To create this type of component

45.
46.
47.
Click Plant (from the pull down menus)

Click Toolbars
Click Sanitary
This brings up the Sanitary toolbar.

This is the tool bar used to place these special types of components.
48.
49.
50.
51.
Click Plant
Click Help
Under the Index tab
Type: Sanitary <Enter>
This page will show the different end types that can be
defined in CADWorx.

223

Notice that a Type 1 end type (shown in the previous

dialog box) is a Weld end type.
You can also see that a Type 2 end type is a Flanged
end type, and so forth.
You can build components with different end types that

are listed in the dialog box. For instance, a valve that is
treaded on one end, and flanged on the other end,
would have a Type 15 for the threaded end, and a Type
2 for the flanged end.

Above, youll see

the many options
CADWorx has
available for
building components
with different end
types
224

To illustrate this, you will a valve with special end

types.
To Add a GATE Valve that is Threaded on one end, and
Flanged on the other End to your spec:
52.
53.
Restart the CADWorx Spec Editor (Type: SPED

<Enter>).
Click on the A10 spec.
Adding a Threaded
by Flanged valve
Using the Sanitary

interface to add the
valve
Specifying a Gate
Valve with Special
End Types
In the left portion of the dialog box,

54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
Click Valves, Gate (in the CADWorx 2009 version) or

Click Sanitary (in the CADWorx 2008 and earlier
versions)
Click Add (to add a new Threaded x Flanged Gate
Valve).
Click Gate with Special End Types.
Click OK

225

59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
Click the Optional Component Button, and

Click the Template Button.
Click the + next to the Lib folder (video example is in
imperial, you may be using Lib_M or LIB_MM all
three work the same except you key in different lengths
based on MM or inches).
Scroll down the list and click the
Click the San folder (for this example).
64.
Click OK and Type in: GAT_THD_FLG , then

Click OK
Setting it as an
Optional component
Naming the valve to

open the Template
Opening the
Template and
entering
measurement values
You will see a Template file appear it is a text file

that comes up in Notepad.
This is the file you will fill out with some measurement
data from a manufacturers catalog. You will see this
template has more columns in it than youve seen up to
now. This is because it has additional columns for the
end types.
226

For this example fill out some data as shown next.

65.
66.
67.
68.
Click File
Click Save As
Make sure it is being saved in the San Folder.
Make sure the type is set to All Files (to keep the system
from saving it as a .txt extension, which Notepad will do. We
want the file type to stay as a .San extension.
69.
70.
Close Notepad.
In the Edit Component Dialog Box, add some information for
this new valve.
Saving the newly

created file
Filling out size

ranges and short and
long annotation
values
See the following illustration for clarity.

71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
Have the Optional Component button checked.

In the Short Description field, type: Gate Valve, Thrd x Flgd.
In the Long Description field,
Type: Gate Valve, Threaded by Flanged, Full Opening
In the Tag field, Type: C40P
Set the Start size to 2

227

77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
Set the End size to 2.
Click OK to close the Edit Component dialog box for

the Gate Valve.
Click Save, then Click OK, to close the Spec Editor.
Open Windows Explorer.
Look in the C:\CADWorx Plant 2007\Lib_I\San folder
(or in the Lib_M or Lib_MM, whichever units youre
working in).
You should see your new data file in the folder. Make
sure it has a .San extension. Close Windows Explorer
after verifying.
Set your size to 2.
Set your Spec to A10.
Click on the Specifications Option Toggle, as shown
earlier. (It may already be on, depending on the order
youve done these examples).
Notice the prompt at the command line, you want to
make sure it is turned on. The message will say All
components will be dialoged....
86.
Setting the size and

spec for testing
Setting the
Specification
Options switch
Choosing the new

valve from the
optional list of
valves
Drawing the new

valve
Click on the Sanitary Gate Valve tool button.

The Optional Component dialog box will appear,
showing all the Gate Valves in the spec that can be
placed in the drawing.
228

87.
88.
89.
Click on the Gate Valve, Threaded by Flanged, and

Click OK
Place it in your drawing (click two points to place it).
Drawing connecting
components to the
valve
Verifying the new

valve works in
Isogen
After the valve has been placed in your drawing,

90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
Double click it, and look at the information that is coming

from the spec. You should see the data you input
previously.
Click OK to close the Component Edit dialog box.
Add a Gasket on one end, a Flange, and a piece of BW
Pipe.
On the other end, add a piece of Threaded Pipe a
Threaded Elbow, and another short piece of Threaded
Pipe.
Run the drawing through Isogen to verify things work
properly.

229

Using Keywords in the Long Descriptions in the Bill of

Materials
Keywords allow you to put a variable value in the Bill of
Materials, which can be a really nice feature.
For instance, you can include the Wall Thickness of a
component as part of the Long Description. When it is
set up properly, the system will look up the proper wall
thickness, and place it as part of the description text
string in the BOM.
The different keywords are: {BORE} {MAIN}
{MAINACT}
{RED}
{REDACT}
{SPEC}
{MAINTHK} {REDTHK} {LENGTH} {PIPETHK}
{PIPETHKRED}. Four additional keywords are also
available if main and reduction sizes are needed in
decimal format. These four additional keywords are:
{MAINDEC}
{REDDEC}
{MAINACTDEC}
{REDACTDEC

Keywords
Wildcards in the
material list
A list of the many

Keywords available
in CADWorx
230

The keywords {BORE}, {PIPETHK} and {PIPETHKRED}

are derived from the pipe's data file in the specification
instead of the component's data file where {MAINTHK} and
{REDTHK} are derived from. For example, a 4" valve with
the {BORE} or {PIPETHK} would get the keyword values
from the 4" pipe data file as listed in the specification. A 4"
valve with {MAINTHK} or {REDTHK} would get the
keyword values from the valve data file as listed in the
specification.
How Keywords can

be put to use
Using the
{PIPETYK}
keyword having a
wall thickness
appear in the Bill of
Materials
Since fittings have the same wall thickness as the pipe, its
easiest to use {PIPETHK} when youre working with these.
Heres an example.
95. Start the CADWorx Spec Editor (Type: SPED <Enter>).
96. Click on the A10 spec.
97. Click on Elbows, 90 (in the left section of the dialog box)
98. Click on the 2 to 24 Elbow.
99. In the Long Description area, modify it to include the text
THK and the {PIPETHK} keyword as shown.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
Click OK when done.

Click Save (to save the spec).
Click OK (to exit the spec editor).
Set your size to 6.
Draw a piece of pipe, and elbow, and a piece of pipe.
Double click on the elbow, to verify the Long description has
a thickness value in it.

231

Modifying Specifications a Review and Summary

Watch the next four videos for an overview and summary
of editing specifications. Youll see a nice step by step
process of getting your specs built.
It sill discuss opening an existing spec and saving under a
new name.
An easy way to see

everything in your
spec
Opening a spec and

saving under a new
name
Exporting it out for

review
Changing
descriptions in the
components
Then the spec gets exported out and listed for review.
Then you could start changing some of the descriptions

in the components.

232

You could add new size ranges for instance, maybe you
want some large pipe sizes included in your spec.
Adding new size

ranges in this case
large size pipe
Pipe sizes up to 60
are added in this
example
In this example, youll bring in pipe up to 60 in diameter.

233

If you dont want to bring in a whole new range of sizes,

you can also add a single size or two to a data file.
Also, the videos review setting up Valve Tags.
You can also add Part Numbers if you would like to

include them for your purchasing system.

Adding Valve Tags
Part numbers can be

added which can
link to your
purchasing system
234

You can also add optional components. Maybe you need

more than one choice of control valves for a certain size
range in your spec.
Adding Optional
Components
(multiple choices for
control valves in a
certain size range)
Part numbers can be

added which can
link to your
purchasing system
The video also shows how to configure your specification

and library on a network in a protected folder. That way,
only one person can modify them.

235

Changing your Specs Descriptive Information in the

Middle of a Project
If youre working in a project, and have place any
number of components using your spec, the component
data in the drawings can be updated if required.
Heres what youll do.
106. Youll edit the spec, and change the long description,
short description, or tag fields (you cant change the
measurements in the data files, but you can change the
weights and wall thickness).
107. After changing the spec, save it, either under its own
name, or a different name (to keep track of the revision).
108. Then, in the drawing where you want the changes to
occur.
109. Click Plant
110. Click Accessory
111. Click Specification
112. Click Change

The data in
components
previously placed
gets updated with
new descriptions
236

113.
114.
115.
116.

Window the components to change and press <Enter>.
Click on the spec you wish to use for the changes and
Click Open
The data in the components will be updated to the new values in the spec.

237

Lesson One Structural
Pipe Rack
Lesson One
Structural Steel
Modeling a Pipe Rack
In this lesson you will model a piperack and produce associated drawings from the model
in Paper Space using clipped View Ports.
In the Structural module youll cover a number of topics:
Modeling 3D steel members and plate

Coping members for correct lengths and fitting
Setting up and running a steel Bill of Materials
Modeling Stairs, Handrails, and Ladders
Using Frames
Adding Grating to the data files
Producing drawings in Paper Space using clipped views
Generating a 2D representation of the 3D model
Annotating and Dimensioning using associated dimensions in Paper Space

278

Pipe Rack
To start this lesson,

1.
2.
3.
4.
For this lesson click on

the button as shown
Start CADWorx Plant Professional.

Click on the Open a drawing button.
Open the
C:\CADWorx_Video_Training\Examples\35_Piperack.dwg
.
Opening the
35_Piperack
drawing
Bringing up the
Steel tool bar
Zoom in and bring up the Steel tool bar.

279

Pipe Rack
Modeling 3D Steel Members

5.
6.
7.
Dock the Steel tool bar near the top of the screen.
Click on the Wshape icon.
Clicking a Beam
tool button to model
this type of member
Setting the insertion

points for the steel.
This assures it will
come into the model
as needed
Set the dialog box as shown.

280

Pipe Rack
8.
Model the four columns as shown.
Modeling the
columns
Setting the
justification for
modeling beams
9.
Next youll model the beams.
10. Click the beam button again in the Steel tool bar.
11. Set up the dialog box as shown.

281

Pipe Rack
12.
Model the cross beams (bents) as shown.
Modeling the
HE 200A beams
Coping the beams
Coping the Steel Members

13.
Click on the Cope button, and cope the beams as shown in

the videos (the system prompts will give you the steps).

282

Pipe Rack
14. Save your drawing at this point.

15. Next model the HE 200AA beams.
16. Click on the W Shape tool button.
17. Set the dialog box as shown.
Modeling the
HE 200AA beams
Setting the sizes and

insertion point
locations
Coping the beams
18. Select the beams as shown in the video.

19. Click the Cope button and
20. Cope the beams as shown.

283

Pipe Rack

Modeling a Base Plate
22.
Following the video, set up the Base Plate dialog box as

shown.
23. Construct the base plate as shown in the video.

Setting up the sizes

for the base plate
Modeling the base

plate
284

Pipe Rack
24.
Copy the base plate to the other column as shown in the

video.
25. Erase some of the extra members to set up the model for
arraying.
26.
Adjusting the hole

size in the base plate
dialog box
Erasing some
members to set up
the model for
arraying
Now youll array the members and have them build a

complete pipe rack.
27. Pick Modify and Array. Have it set for Rectangular Array.
28. Fill out the dialog box as shown.
29.
Select the end section (called a bent) and array it.

285

Pipe Rack
30.
Setting up the array

command to model
the full pipe rack
Arraying the pipe

rack bents
Setting up the array

for the connecting
beams
Fill out the array dialog box for the connecting beams.
31. Select the side beams and array them as shown in the video.

286

Pipe Rack
32. Save the drawing again at this point.

33. Set the view to a top view (plan view)
Creating Clipped Orthogonal Views
34. Setting up clipped views for drawings in paper space.
35. Click the View Box command, following the steps in the
video.
Setting up clipping
planes and views in
the model
Setting up the
clipped views for the
drawing in Paper
Space
Setting up the page

on the layout
This will set up clipping planes and named views that you
can use in your paper space view ports.
36.
Following the explanation in the video, fill out the View

Box dialog box as shown.

287

Pipe Rack
37.
Click on the Layout tab (at the bottom of the screen).
Setting up a Layout (Paper Space)

This will take you to the layout (paper space).
38.
Right Click on the layout tab to bring up the Page Setup

Manager.
39. Following the steps in the video, set up the page as
shown in the following figure.
40.
Following the video, set the layer to Viewl and open the
View Ports tool bar.
41.
Next youll make a view port and bring in the clipped

view. This view was made automatically by the View
Box command you ran earlier (see the video for step-bystep instructions).

Discussing Paper
Space and View
Ports
Setting up a page in
Paper Space for the
drawing
288

Pipe Rack
42.
Creating a view port

and setting the
clipped view to be
active
Scaling the view

port
Setting up
dimensioning for
Paper Space
Once the view is specified, you can scale it and lock the
viewport.

44. Verify the view port is locked.
Dimensioning in Paper Space
45. Type: Dimassoc <Enter>.
47. Check the Scaling in the Model (as shown in the video).
48. Turn off Layer Steel, to make it easier to click on the
centerlines for dimensioning.

289

Pipe Rack
49. Use the CADWorx dimensioning tools to place dimensions

on the layout (see Video Five).
50.
Placing a horizontal
dimension across the
top of the pipe rack
Turning off the steel

layer and
dimensioning across
centerlines makes it
easier to select the
points
Following the video, pick points and place dimensions as

shown.

290

Pipe Rack
51. Next youll annotate some elevations (see video).
Annotating
Elevations
Generating the
elevation call-out
52. Following the steps, youll be able to generate the elevation

label as shown.

291

Pipe Rack
Annotating Steel Members

53.
As shown in the figure below (and also in Video Six), click

the annotate component button.
54.
Annotating
Components
The system will read the steel member size and generate a
label for you.

292

Pipe Rack
Modeling in Vertical, using the CADWorx UCS Tool Bar

This video discusses constructing lines in 3D to use for
structural members.
To model easily in 3D, use the CADWorx UCS tool bar.
Annotating
Components
55. Follow the video to see how to construct lines in vertical (in
3D) or horizontal. Using the UCS tool bar makes it easier
than it normally would be, with the same look and feel as
drawing a 2D isometric.

293

Pipe Rack
This concludes the lesson on modeling a pipe rack.

In this lesson youve covered a variety of topics, including modeling components,
generating clipped views in paper space, and dimensioning and annotating drawing in
paper space.
These topics get explored and carried further in the next lesson, which is modeling a
structure.

294

Lesson Two Modeling a Structure
Lesson Two
Structural Steel
Modeling a Structure
In this lesson you will model a structure. The model will include a number of new topics,
and give you a good overview of working with the CADWorx structural steel module.
In this lesson youll cover a number of topics:
Using a Frame command

Modeling 3D steel members and plate
Coping members for correct lengths and fitting
Modeling Stairs, Handrails, and Ladders
Generating a BOM for each different level of the structure
Adding Grating to the data files
Producing drawings in Paper Space using clipped views
Annotating and Dimensioning using associated dimensions in Paper Space

295

To start this lesson,

1.
2.
3.
For this lesson click on

the button as shown
Start a new drawing, using a Metric Template.

Using the video, click the Frame Command.
Fill out the Frame dialog box as shown, and save your
settings.
Using the
CADWorx Steel
Frame command lets
you easily generate
3D structures
The system
generates a 3D
frame
The system will generate a 3D frame.

296

4.
5.
Trim the frame up as shown.
Trimming the frame

to have centerlines
for modeling
Modeling the
columns
Using the video as a guide, model the columns.

297

6.
After modeling the columns, switch to the plan view at the

lower level. You can set that view easily since its created
automatically during the Frame command (see video).

Switching views is
done easily when
you use the Frame
command
Plan view at the

lower level
298

7.
8.
Using the video as a guide, set up split views, switch to the plan
view at the top level, and model the beams. This is a very
productive way to model structural steel in 3D.
Switching to the
upper deck level
Setting up split
views to make
modeling easier
Modeling the beams

on the lower floor
level
Then youll switch to the lower level and model that floor level.

299

9.
Next youll model the diagonal bracing. The video takes you
through a series of steps that make this process very workable.
Got through the steps and add the braces into the model.
Modeling diagonal
bracing angles
Adding grating
information into the
steel data file
10. The next step in the model is adding grating. Youll see how to
modify the plate data file and add an entry to grating. After the
file is modified, youll add the new material into the model.

300

11.
12.
Model the handrails for the upper and lower floor levels in
this section. Follow along with the video to see how to vary
the spacing and sizes, and how to change the members that
make up the handrails.
CADWorx has a lot

of automation built
into it for modeling
handrails
Adding a caged
ladder is easy in
CADWorx
Youll continue developing the handrails, and also add a

caged ladder to the model.

301

13.
14.
Also included in Video Eight is a section on modeling

stairs. Use it as a guide as you go through the steps to
model these. Notice how the dialog box has a number of
variables for the sizes and members.
CADWorx has a
dialog driven
interface to model
stairs. You have full
control over the
dimensions and
member choices,
sizes, and
orientations through
this dialog box.
Modeling a circular
handrail
The next video takes you through modeling a circular

handrail, composed of pipe. Youll also look at some of
the techniques used in modeling handrails. Go through the
modeling process with the video step ay step.

302

15.
16.
In this section youll generate clipped views to be used in

Paper Space. Follow the video and set up the views.
Using the
CADWorx View
Box command its
easy to set up
clipped views of the
model
You can control the

piece mark call outs
based on floor level
Use the video as a guide and generate material lists for

each floor level.

303

Module Three
Isogen Implementation and Customization
Module Three
Isogen - Implementation and Customization
In this lesson you will learn how to:
Set up an Isogen Main Directory

Set up Isogen Project Folders
Select example Borders for your isometrics
Test and run Isogen for the first time on your system
Set up your own border, or a clients border
Automate text updating in your own title block
Adjust the drawing settings
o Dimension settings
o North Arrow orientation
o Changing the North Arrow symbol
o Continuation notes
o User fonts
o Part number enclosures
o Rolled offset representation
o Force drawing into one isometric
Include Detail sketches
Illustrate Restraints (supports, hangers, etc.)
Modify the Bill of Materials
Show Welding information
Include Valve Operators, Dummy Legs, Field Welds
Note: There are many HELP Files that ship with CADWorx
Plant Pros Isogen. Look in the CADWorx Plant
2008\Isogen folder. Youll see several sub folders. In
these sub folders will be a collection of .pdf help files.
You can use these as needed for further detailed
information.

You will cover many

aspects of working
with the Isogen
module in
CADWorx
Many HELP Files

are available
238

Module Three
Setting up an Isogen Main Directory Folder on your system
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Starting Isogens
Project Manager
Project Manager
controls all the
Isogen settings
Now youll set the

main folder for all of
your Isogen project
drawings
You can set the main

folder on the local
drive, or on the
network
Click the Start button (lower left of your screen).

Click Programs
Click CADWorx Plant 2009 Isogen
Click Project Manager
Click Project Manager
This starts the Isogen Project Manager Program.
You should see the following dialog box.
Setting the main folder for all of your Isogen projects and
isometric drawings.
6.
Click the Create New

Isometric Directory button
(the first button on the left,
gray in color).

239

Module Three
7.
8.
Click next to the C: (in the name box), and

Type: Isogen_Projects (filling out the dialog box as
shown.)
Specifying the main

Isometric Directory
for all of your
Isogen Projects and
drawings
You can create the

main directory on a
local drive or on a
network drive
Under the main

directory (called the
Isometric Directory),
you can create
multiple project
directories
These Project
Directories are your
various projects, or
jobs. They can
contain client
borders or settings
specific to each
particular project
Note: If you want to create your folder on a network,

click the Network button, and browse where you
want your folder created. Then type
Isogen_Projects (as shown in the previous
step). Your folder will then be created at a
network location.
9.
10.
11.
Click the OK button.

Click Yes (when asked in the next dialog box).
You will see the system create the Isometric Directory (this
is the main level directory).
Creating a Project Directory

12.
Click the Create New Project tool button (the second

button over, yellow in color).

240

Module Three
13.
Fill out the New Project dialog box as shown.

Name it Project_1
This is where you

select the Borders
you want to use, and
tell the system to
output the isos as
DWG files
(recommended)
Highlight Metric_Inch_A1, A2, and A3 (as shown).

Set the Output Format to
AutoCAD DWG.
14.
Click the OK button after filling out the dialog box as

shown.
15.
The system will create sub-folders for each of the

drawing borders you selected, as shown next.

241

Module Three
If youre working on a network, and you want to

deploy the setup to various workstations, you would
go through the previous steps as shown, and then follow
the steps shown next.
To deploy the project information to the various
workstations, you would go to each workstation and start
Project Manager, then
a.
Click the Create New Isometric Directory button

(as shown previously).
b.
Click the Network Button on the first dialog Select

the Isometric (main level) directory by browsing
across the network to it.
Select the Isometric Directory youve created (as
shown previously), and the Project Directorys
information will be shown. If you have multiple
projects, that information will all come across.
c.
16.
17.
This is where you

select the Borders
you want to use, and
tell the system to
output the isos as
DWG files
(recommended)
If youre doing a
network installation,
you can deploy the
project information
to the various
workstations
Click the folder named Metric_Inch_A2.

Youll see the following dialog box appear.

242

Module Three
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Click the Apply button (this sets the Metric_Inch_A2

border as the default).
Click OK (for Settings Saved).
Minimize the Project Manager dialog box, and
Start CADWorx Plant Professional.
Start a new drawing (use a template).
Set the Spec to 150.
Create a simple drawing with the lengths as shown.
This dialog box is

where you access
various settings for
the Metric_Inch_A2
border
Notice the tabs along

the top. The
Drawing Control
and External Data
tab will be useful
later
Clicking the
Apply button sets
the
Metric_Inch_A2
border as the default
border
Creating a simple
CADWorx drawing
for testing

243

Module Three
Testing and Running Isogen

26.
27.
28.
29.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Isogen
Click Isogen Out
The system will bring up the following dialog box,

showing your Isometric Directory, the Project Directory,
and the Border it will use for the Iso. This screen may
vary, depending upon your system setup.
Sending a drawing
out to Isogen for
testing
On this dialog box

youll click OK for
the test, but you can
also select different
borders here, and
also different
projects (if
available)
30. Click OK.

244

Module Three
31.
32.
33.
34.

Window the objects in the drawing, and
Press <Enter>.
The system will show the following dialog box.
Sending a drawing
out to Isogen for
testing
Viewing the
generated Isogen
isometric
Note: If you got an error message, or a disconnect

message, you probably did not draw the pipes and
elbows touching each other. See the first video
lesson in the Piping Module on how to connect
components correctly.
35.
Click the Open Plot Files button to view the Isogen iso
created by the system.

245

Module Three
Testing on an A3 Sized Border

36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
Close the Iso (click the X in the upper right corner of the
drawing) and say No, to not save the iso.
Click Plant
Click Accessory
Click Isogen Out
Click the down arrow to choose a Style, and select the A3
Border.
Click OK
Window the components in the drawing and press <Enter>.
Click Open Plot Files to view the generated isometric,
drawn on the A3 sized border.
Follow the video to add components to the line and run it
on different borders.

Sending a drawing
out to an A3 sized
border for testing
Viewing the
generated A3 sized
isometric
In a later section
youll see how to
bring in your own
border, or a clients
border
246

Module Three
Restarting the
Project Manager
program
Clicking on the
Drawing Control tab
This example uses

an A2 border. You
can set the switches
to change Isogen
settings on any of
the borders available
This will open up

the drawing options
that you can change
to make the
isometric look the
way you want
After viewing, close the drawing.

Options that change the drawings appearance
You can look at the options for any size border. In this
next example youll view the settings in an A2 border.
All borders (Imperial, Metric, and Mixed Metric)
have the same switches that can be set to make an
isometric look the way you want.
46.
47.
48.
Reopen Project Manager. If it is available at the bottom

of your screen, click on it to bring it up for viewing. If it
has been closed, click Start, Programs, CADWorx Plant
2009 Isogen, Project Manager, Project Manager.
Click on the Metric_Inch_A2 style (your screen may
show a list or projects different than the illustration,
depending upon your system setup).
Click on the tab labeled Drawing Control.

247

Module Three
49.
Click on the Options File and Click Edit.

This will bring up the Options Editor for the Drawing
Options.
Restarting the
Project Manager
program
Clicking on the
Drawing Control tab
This will open up

the drawing options
that you can change
to make the
isometric look the
way you want
You can see there is

more than one page
for each of the tabs
On page 2 there are

switches to change
the appearance of
rolled offsets on the
isometrics
The margins at the top right area of the dialog box can be
changed to modify the position of the plotted iso on the page.
This can be useful later when you see how to bring in your
own border.
Notice the figure at the lower right
corner of the dialog box.
This will take you to the next page of settings. Each tab can
have multiple pages of settings.
50. You can change any or all of the following settings.
51. This next section is to show you some of the many options
that can be set in Isogen to change the appearance of a
drawing.

248

Module Three
Click on the Dimensioning tab at the top of the screen.

52.
Click on the down arrow the lists the choices for

dimensioning gaskets (under area with the 9 shown this
is switch 9.) See the figure below.
Set it to have the Gaskets Included in Component

Dimensions.
54. Click on the area in the lower right of the dialog box to
go to page 2.
55. Notice on this page you can tell the system you want to
turn off dimensions across small branches.
56. On page three you can instruct the system to add overall
dimensions.
56. Click on the Iso Style tab.
Changing how the

dimensions across
gaskets are shown
On page 2 you can

suppress the
dimensions across
small branches
On page 3 you can

turn on overall
dimensions
53.

249

Module Three
There are several switches you could set here to change

how your isometrics look.
This area lets you

change the way Part
Numbers look,
which way the
North Arrow
points, and how a
Spec Break will
look
On page 2 you can

change how a Rolled
Offset looks
On this dialog box you could change how the
Part Numbers look

Which direction the North Arrow points
How a Spec Break will look
57.
Click on the next page symbol at the lower right corner of

the dialog box.
58.
Notice on this second page you can change how the rolled
offsets will be shown (a box, with or without hatching,
etc.).
59.
Click on the tab labeled Iso Content.

250

Module Three
60.
61.
The first page has options for changing how the coordinates
on the isometrics are labeled.
Click on the area at the bottom to go to page 2.
62.
63.
64.
Page 2 has switches to turn on and modify how the system

can label spool pieces in the isometric.
Theres also a switch to modify how the instruments are
depicted.
Theres a switch to turn on Valve Tags.
Isogen will also label the text that is put into the TAG field on
a Nozzle drawn in the Equipment Module. Also it will label
any text put in the TAG field on any Long Weld Neck Flange
that is set as Existing in a model.
65.
66.
This area lets you

enable Spool
callouts
You can modify how
the Instruments are
shown
You can turn on
Valve Tab labeling
Isogen will label text

in the TAG field on
Nozzles or
existing Long
Weld Neck Flanges
Page 3 has a switch to have Insulation and Tracing appear on

the isometric.
There is also a switch to turn on Flow Direction Arrows over
check valves on this page.

251

Module Three
67.
68.
69.
70.
Click on the Material List tab (at the top of the dialog box).
In the lower left section of Page 1 is a place to set up the
User Fonts. This is disabled by default. To set it
Click File (at the very top of the screen) and
Click Exit. Save any changes, if you want to keep them.
This returns you back to the main screen for Project
Manager.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
Enabling User Fonts
Click the tab named External Data.

Click in the blank space next to Font Information File and
Click the Browse button.
Click on the file named FONTSTD.FIF.
Click the button labeled Open.
This will enable the User Fonts. You will need to set them
in TWO places (description follows also see video as
needed).
76.
77.
78.
Click the tab labeled Drawing Control.

Click (to highlight) in the space next to Options File.
Click the Edit button.

252

Module Three
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
Click on the Iso Style tab (at the top).

In the top left area is a place to turn on and select the User
Fonts.
Click in the check box, and select Ariel Unicode for the font.
Setting User Fonts

for dimensions and
labels
Setting User Fonts

for the Bill of
Materials
Suppressing the
cutting list
Adding a cutting
allowance for Field
Fit Welds
Click on the Material List tab (at the top).

At the bottom of this page is a section to turn on User Fonts.
Click on the check box, and select Ariel Unicode.
On this page is also a section to set up the Material List type.
You will use the standard Type 2 Material List at this time.
When you get to the section on the Material List later in this
lesson, the different types will be discussed.
84.
85.
Page 2 (on the Material List tab) has a place in the upper left
area of the page to turn on/off the cut piece list.
In the upper right section is an area to set cutting allowances
for Field Welds. If you wanted to (you dont have to do so
now) you could have the iso include a Field Weld symbol by
placing a Weld Gap component in the piping model. Once
placed, you could double click the Weld Gap component to
Component Edit it, and set its type to MISCL.
This will produce a Field Fit Weld in the generated
isometric.

253

Module Three
The Welding tab has settings for how Welds are

displayed on the iso. See the section on Welding
Information in a later part of this lesson.
86.
87.
88.
At the top of the dialog box, click File and click Save.
Then click File and click Exit.
Click the Apply button to save your settings.
Lesson Five in the Isogen videos discusses the Project
File Structure.
Bringing in your Company border or a Client border

You can have Isogen use your own specific border, or a
clients border.
You can also have Isogen fill out text entries within the
borders title block, or elsewhere on the drawing.
Using your own

Border
Specifying your
Border
The border drawing

you use must be
saved as a 2004 dwg
A couple of important things you must do:

a. You must point to the borders location using the
Project Manager. Its in the area labeled Drawing
Frame.

254

Module Three
b. The border you use must be saved as an AutoCAD

2004 drawing. Isogen will not work if you use a
border that is an AutoCAD 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, or
2009 drawing.
Using your own Border, or a Clients Border
89.
90.
91.
92.
Opening the border

and saving it as an
AutoCAD 2004
version
Specifying your
Border
The border drawing

you use must be
saved as a 2004 dwg
Testing the border
Start regular AutoCAD.

Open the drawing (in your Examples folder) named
Client_A3_Border_0.
Do a File, Save As.
At the bottom of the Save As dialog box, set the Files of
Type area to be an AutoCAD 2004.
93. Click Save and Click Yes when prompted to replace it.
94. Close AutoCAD.

255

Module Three
Assigning the new border to the Isogen Project

95.
In the Project Manager, Click in the area called Drawing

Frame.
96.
Click Browse.
97.
Browse to your Examples folder and select the

Client_A3_Border_0 drawing.
98.
Click Apply.
Setting up the new

border
This instructs the system to use your border now, instead of

the default border.
99.
In CADWorx Plant Pro draw a simple drawing that

consists of some pipe, flanges, valve, and elbow (see the
following figure).

256

Module Three
Creating a small test

model
Generating an iso on
the new border
100. Test the border by running a simple iso using it as the

drawing frame.

257

Module Three
Developing the Border Filling out the Title Block Area

Isogen does not use normal attributes to fill out the title
block area like a regular AutoCAD drawing.
Isogen uses Positioned Text for this function.
In Project Manager
101. Click in the Positioned Text area.
Positioned Text
used to place text in
a drawing
Opening the
Positioned Text file
102. Click the Edit button.

258

Module Three
This opens up the Positioned Text file that you can adjust to
map the locations of pieces of text onto your border.
Looking at the
contents of the
Iso_A3 sheets
positioned text file
Opening the
Positioned Text help
file
You can Justify the

text (Left, Center,
Right) and you can
Rotate the text as
needed.
103. Close Notepad now, dont save any changes.

Note: Open the Positioned Text help file (a pdf file). It is
found at C:\CADWorx Plant
2008\Isogen\Isogen_Utils\POS_Help.pdf
You should print out this file, since it is only six pages and has
some useful information in it.
You can see from the file we opened in the previous figure
that there is an item named -6. It has an X position, a Y
position, a Character Width, and a Character Height.
The numbers for position and height are in hundredths of a
millimeter. Since Isogen was originally developed in Great
Britain the values are in metric.
The Positioned Text file can actually have more columns than
shown above. This can be useful, because you can specify the
texts justification and rotation angle as well. Heres an
expanded version of one of the lines with the item labeled -6.

259

Module Three
A Justification (column 11) of 0 is Left, 1 is Center, 2 is Right.

The Rotation (column 12) can be set as needed (usually 0 or
90).
If you look at the following figures, you can see that the item
labeled -6 is what Isogen uses to place the drawing title (it
uses the pipeline name).
Some of the fields

that can be brought
into your title
block and drawing
This area allows

you to create User
Fields that can be
mapped into your
drawing. You can
create as many as
100 fields
The Positioned Text help file has the following information in

it.
You will use this information to map some values into your title
block.

260

Module Three
Note:
What they are calling a User Defined Attribute

Block in the figure above is not something that comes
from AutoCAD. This is Alias own naming, and it is
used differently than attributes and blocks are used in
AutoCAD.
104. In Project Manger

105. Click the Project Name (above the Metric_Inch_A1 this
example is showing an Ansi_B sized border. All units work
the same here.)
Click Project Defaults.

This brings up the Project Defaults dialog box.
106. Click on the tab labeled Specification.
The Specifications area of the Project Defaults

Opening the Project

defaults dialog box
The project defaults

is where you can put
text that can be
mapped into the title
block area, or
anywhere in the
drawing
In the Specifications
area are some fields
you can fill out and
have them get placed
into your isometrics
automatically
261

Module Three
Any values in these fields (Piping-Spec, Insulation-Spec,

etc.) can be mapped into the drawing or title block.
For instance the Piping-Spec would be brought in using the
code of -11. You would add a line to the ANSI_B.pos file
(shown in a previous figure) starting with an -11 entry.
Then you would add its X and Y position, and its height.
You could do the same for the other specs, like InsulationSpec, Tracing-Spec, etc.
Next youll map in some examples to see how this works.
107. Click the Miscellaneous tab.
The Miscellaneous
tab has additional
fields you can store
text information in,
and then have it
mapped into your
title block area, or
anywhere on the
drawing.
108. In the Revision field - Type: A.

109. In the Project Identifier field
Type: COADE 001-A25.
110. In the Batch/Area field Type: 3400.

262

Module Three
111. Click on the Attributes tab.

112. Fill out the values as shown.
These are User Definable fields. You can create as many
as 100 fields to use for text that can be mapped into your
title block. The dialog box shows 10 fields, but if you
click the Append button (shown in the previous figure) you
can keep adding new ones.
The Attributes tab

gives you User
Defined fields you
can fill out as
needed and have
them mapped into
your title block or
elsewhere on your
drawing
Setting up values to
be mapped into the
title block
You can create as

many as 100 text
fields to map into
your title block or
drawing
113. Click OK when done.

263

Module Three
Now that the text fields (Alias calls the attributes) have
been defined, youll figure out where to place them in your
drawings title block.
The first thing you need to do is come up with the coordinate
positions for these pieces of text.
Opening the border

and looking at the
title block area
Scaling up the
border into metric
for an easy way to
locate points for text
placement
114. Open the :\\Examples\Client_A3_Border_0 drawing.
115. Zoom All.

116. Turn on the Layer named Points.
117. Zoom in around the Title Block area.
118. Set OSNAP to have Node turned on.

Type: ID <Enter>
119. Click on the node at Point 1.
120. Using an OSNAP Node, youll get a value

of 18864, 3250.

264

Module Three
Repeat for the other points, and make a list.

Point Number
Location
Pt 1
Pt 2
Pt 3
Pt 4
Pt 5
Pt 6
Pt 7
Pt 8
Pt 9
Pt 10
Pt 11
Pt 12
Pt 13
X = 18864
X = 18864
X = 31375
X = 31375
X = 31375
X = 28017
X = 28017
X = 35463
X = 39211
X = 39211
X = 39211
X = 39211
X = 39211
Y = 3250
Y = 1867
Y = 4409
Y = 3667
Y = 2451
Y = 1875
Y = 1465
Y = 1478
Y = 3972
Y = 3337
Y = 2702
Y = 2067
Y = 1432
121. Save the drawing and close it.

Now youll edit the Position Text file to set up the mapping
Getting the location

of the point where a
text label will be
placed (mapped to)
Locating various
point locations to
place text
In Project Manager,
122. Click on the Imperial_Inch_Ansi_B (or the border youre
working with).
123. Click in the area for Positioned Text.

265

Module Three
124. Click Edit, to open the positioned text file in notepad.
Modify the file as shown.
One comment :
In this example above you mapped in a fixed date from one of
the fields you set up (its listed as the 602 line of
information). You could have used a system date if you
wanted to. It would be done by using a 14 (instead of a 602
like you used). Also on the drawing options, System tab,
switch 6 lets you set a date format as needed (see videos).
125. Save the file under the name.
126. Client_Border_B_at_0.pos, or Client_A3_Border_0,
depending upon the border youre working with (make sure
you dont save it as a .txt file. Youll have to set the file type
All Files).

The completed
Youll need to save

it as a .pos file (not a
.txt type file)
266

Module Three
127. Close Notepad

In Project Manager,
128. Click in the area for the Positioned Text file.
129.
130.
131.
132.
Click Browse and select the file you just saved.

Click the Apply button.
Click OK
Test the border by running a simple example through it.
Using the new

you just modified
Testing and viewing

the results
So you can see that Isogen allows you to fill out your title block
as needed.
If you wanted to use a border that had the title block running up
the side of the drawing, you would use the same procedure.
The only thing youd need to do differently is have a 90 for the
rotation angle in the positioned text file.

267

Module Three
For example , the following line would map a text string into the title block area, but
rotate it at 90 degrees instead of leaving it a 0 degrees.
-601 31375
2451
318
90
Video Seven illustrates how to have the system set up your layer
colors to match the standard Isogen borders.
Lesson Seven
Video One
Video Two
Video Three
The Lesson Seven videos cover how to use and modify the different
Bill of Materials Styles available with CADWorx and Isogen.
Lesson Eight
Video One
Video Two
These videos discuss Line Numbering and how to run the Isogen
Batch command. Also the graphic symbols for a floor or deck
penetration, flow arrows, etc. are covered and you will see how they
can be sent from the model to Isogen automatically.

268

Module Three
Lesson Nine
Video One
Video Two
Video Three
In this lesson you will how to place restraints (hangers, base supports,
anchors, etc.) in the model and have them come into Isogen. Youll
also see how to get Detail Sketches of a Base Support to be drawn in
the isometric. Finally, this section illustrates how to get a Reference
Dimension and Note to appear in an Isometric.

269

Module Three
Additional information
(no videos associated with this section)
Welding Information
It is possible to have Isogen display Welding information
on an isometric. It can list and number the welds in the
drawing.
The easiest way to see how this happens is to use one of
the samples that are shipped in CADWorx (available in
Imperial versions only at this time).
133. In Project Manger, Click on Project 1
Setting the system

for welding
information on
isometrics
Click on the New Style button.

270

Module Three
134. Fill out the New Style information as shown.
Use the Welding

videos to see how to
bring welding data
into your own user
border
135. Click OK
136. Click Apply (Apply makes this the default border).
137. Test your results. You should have an isometric generated
with welding information on it.

271

Module Three
Alternative Text
Isogen has a text file similar to Positioned Text that is
called Alternative Text.
This file is used for labeling various notes that appear on
the drawing.
For instance, you can change the way Isogen labels the
continuation notes when it breaks a drawing between
multiple sheets.
Currently it says CONT. ON DRG 2

You can change

some of the labeling
that Isogen puts on
an isometric drawing
This is handled
through a feature
called Alternative
Text
272

Module Three
Lets say you wanted to change the DRG over to DWG.

In Project Manager,
138. Click in the area for Alternative Text.
139. Click Edit.

140. Click on the Group pull
down menu (at the top of the
screen).
141. Click on the Title Block
group.
Opening the
Alternative Text file
Looking at the Title

Block Group in the
Alternative Text file
This shows all the text in this particular group that Isogen uses
for labeling.

273

Module Three
Change DRG to DWG.
Look over the other Groups in the Alternative Text file. This
file contains many labels that are open for you to change as
needed.
142. Close the file (Click File, Save, and Exit) and click the Apply
button.
143. You can test this by drawing a router line in CADWorx with
multiple changes of direction, then running Plant, Accessory,
Auto Route, Buttweld LR.
Changing the way

Isogen labels
CONT ON DWG
instead of CONT
ON DRG
Its worth taking a

look at the other
groups in this file
144. When you run Isogen the system will break it into multiple
isometrics. You will then see that it changed the
continuation notes to CONT. ON DWG .

274

Module Three
Viewing the change

to the way Isogen
labels the drawing
continuation note
Setting up Square
Elbows
The Data Definition File

The Project Manager also has an are where you can modify
the Data Definition File (similar to the Positioned Text file).
This file contains settings that affect the appearance of how
Isogen draws some of its components for instance rounded
elbows or square elbows. This file also contains information
on what thickness of lines it will use, and how big it will
scale some of the fittings. Also, there is a section in this file
for defining layers,

275

Module Three
Telling the System to Draw Square Elbows

In Project Manager,
145. Click in the area for the Drawing Definition.
Opening the
Drawing Definition
File
Noting the area

where Square
Elbows are defined
146. Click Edit.

147. Change the word for ELBOW from ROUND to SQUARE.

276

Module Three
148. Save the file (make sure it keeps a .ddf extension).

149. Test it on your previous drawing and verify the iso came
out with square elbows.
The help file that comes in the
CADWorx\Isogen\Isogen_Utils folder contains further
information on this file. The help file is titled
DDF_Help.pdf.

277

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CADWorx Video Training Series

Lesson One - Getting Started

Some topics covered in this lesson:

Set up the screen for first time use

CADWorx Video Training Series

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Click the video buttons shown (Piping, Lesson One, Video

Click on the Use a Template button

Click on the Metric.dwg and click OK.

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

In this system you

You can bring your

CADWorx Video Training Series

You always set the

8. Click OK to exit the size settings, and

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Selecting the Spec

11. Set the Drawing Mode to 3D Solids.

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

12. Click the Scale Button

Selecting the Scale

16. Click the 594x420 (Iso-A2) Border, and click OK.

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Clicking the User

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

If youre In AutoCAD 2009, set the Workspace first to 3D

Saving your screen

Saving the Drawing

Click the Save Current As

Click Save As.

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Click the Weld Neck Flange button.

Right click and click Face end.

Viewing the flanges

Double click on the Flange to see the data associated with

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Click on the Reducer, Eccentric button.

Right click on the mouse and click Small End.

Click the Pipe button.

Press <Enter> on the keyboard (the pipe will connect

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Note: Were entering a length of 336 for this exercise.

Click the Weld Neck Flange button.

Press <Enter> on the keyboard (to connect automatically),

Notice, the system placed a Gasket automatically.

Click on the Gate Valve button.

Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect automatically,

Written by Anthony W. Horn 2011

CADWorx Video Training Series

Drag the mouse to the right and click.

Note: If you are not running CADWorx 2009 you will

Click on the Weld Neck Flange button.

47. Press <Enter> on the keyboard to connect automatically

Click on the Tee button.