LuaCAD Help

Inserting parts

Inserting a fitting by hand

Usually "Generate 3D" places the fittings itself. You insert a single part – elbow, tee, reducer, coupling – by hand: it hangs at the cursor and snaps to pipe ends and corners. You decide where it sits and how far it stands off the pipe.

An elbow at the cursor, docked to a pipe end: docking cross (1), lock and pull-away symbol (2)
An elbow at the cursor, docked to a pipe end: docking cross (1), lock and pull-away symbol (2)
  1. On the Pipe page of the panel choose Fitting under "Insert as", select the fitting and click Insert.
  2. Move the cursor to a pipe end or a corner: the part docks (1) – only if nominal size and medium match the pipe; otherwise the cross tells you what does not fit. Elbows and tees snap to the corner, reducers and couplings break into the pipe.
  3. At the docking cross (2): lock = hold (F), arrow symbol = pull away (Z) – a pipe is created in between. Type a length and press Enter.
  4. Rotate with R or the arrow keys. The Space key shows the connections of the part to click.
  5. A click inserts it, and the next part hangs at the cursor. Enter = finish, Esc = cancel.

Inserting a part into a pipe

Valves, symbols, products and custom components break into the pipe: the pipe is interrupted at that point and runs through the part.

A valve at the cursor: first the pipe (1), then the position along the pipe (2)
A valve at the cursor: first the pipe (1), then the position along the pipe (2)
  1. Choose the part in the panel (page Symbols, Products or Custom components) and click Insert.
  2. Point at a pipe until the part aligns with it, and click (1) – step 1 of 2.
  3. Slide the part along the pipe to the right position and click (2) – step 2 of 2. Arrow left/right turns it round, Esc goes back to step 1.
  4. Next to a pipe it docks at a free connection (F holds it there) or is inserted freely – A sets a distance to a point.
  5. The Space key shows the connections to click, R rotates. Enter = finish, Esc = cancel.

Inserting a mounted instrument

Pressure gauges, thermometers and air vents sit on the pipe – the pipe runs through underneath.

A pressure gauge: first click the pipe (1), then choose the position (2)
A pressure gauge: first click the pipe (1), then choose the position (2)
  1. On the Products page choose the neutral instrument (pressure gauge, thermometer, automatic air vent) and click Insert.
  2. Click the pipe the instrument should sit on (1).
  3. Slide the instrument along the pipe (2). The arrow keys turn it around the pipe in steps, R rotates with the mouse, D takes a typed angle.
  4. A click inserts it, Esc goes back to choosing the pipe, Enter = finish.

Custom symbols: defining the connections

With the symbol wizard (Symbols page) you turn a drawn valve into your own symbol. It needs a centre and one point per connection – that is how LuaCAD later places it in the pipe.

A custom symbol: centre (1) and the ends of the connections (2, 3, 4)
A custom symbol: centre (1) and the ends of the connections (2, 3, 4)
  1. Draw the body and the lines of the symbol, then start the symbol wizard.
  2. Click the centre of the symbol (1) – this is where it will sit on the pipe axis.
  3. Click the end of each connection one after the other (2, 3, 4). The direction runs from the centre to the click. An in-line symbol has two connections, one with a branch three.
  4. Enter = finish, the symbol is saved and appears in the list. Esc = cancel – nothing is changed.