pipingguyYes it is a great article.
A minor point: AutoCAD is really a *platform* for a few different piping design-related software add-on packages – Cadworx, Autoplant, Cadpipe, Procad, Plant 4D et al, although Autodesk is working on their own piping design program codenamed “Stella”, now in beta testing.
Legacy PDS only runs on MicroStation J/7 (I think) and the “big boys” (newest PDMS and developing SmartPlant) do not need a CAD platform to run on top of, as the graphics are all generated “on the fly” from a database. Except for 2D deliverables, which still need a CAD package to generate physical drawings.
If anyone can correct me on any of this, please do so. It’s a confusing business and I miss my T-squares, templates and the graphite-stained fingers.
Paul
Piping Design Central