Pipe Cuts (Admin)

Owned by Conk Buckley
Last updated: Jul 17, 2024
5 min read

Stratus is integrated with PypeServer software and the Watts cutting machine so that a .PSVR file can be generated and exported from Stratus and imported into PypeServer.  PSVR works from the Package's Cut Lists where a separate cut list PSVR file is generated for each material-diameter combination. Configuration of PSVR output relies on Admin > Company > Pipe Cuts settings, where the company's o-let hole sizes, connector bevel angles, etc. are entered. PSVR cut list files are sent to a station configured for the PypeServer tool.  The process of downloading PSVR cut list files happens in the Shops > Station view. See the PypeServer article for more information.

Note: PCF output also works with PypeServer, but will always be a manual file export and relies on setting managed on the PypeServer side.

The Pipe Cuts page describes the best practice configuration for AutoCAD and Revit and the Pipe Cuts configuration within Stratus. Pipe Cuts configuration is needed because it is difficult for PypeServer to determine whether a connector needs to be a bevel or plain angle cut. 

Video

Stratus 09/03/2020 Implementation Webinar - Multi-Axis Pipe Cutter (26:40)

02:05 Database Settings Fabrication CADMep
04:34 Connectors
05:28 What do I do if the model is drawn but doesn't have material information? UPDATEFROMSOURCE command
06:49 Stratus Pipe Cuts
08:55 RFA and Part Templates > Cut List Mapping
11:20 Saddles, Olets, Connectors and Part Templates > Cut List Mapping
16:37 RFA Saddles, Olets, Connectors Saddles
17:39 Validate .PSVR File Data with JSON Formatter
20:25 Direct Integration .3DPP or PypeServer
23:30 API Integration

Stratus 05/09/19 Implementation Webinar (Pipe Cuts Webinar - 21:00)

ITM Content Database 

For those who use ITM content, review your ITM library content for Wall Thickness and Precision which are required for PypeServer and 3DPP.

 Wall Thickness

  1. Review a pipe like Std Carbon Steel.


  2. Open Piping Materials Specifications. In this example, Pipe OD is defined, but this level of setup does not provide the pipe wall thickness which is needed to drive the Watts or any of your 5-axis cutting machine. The pipe wall thickness is used to set the speed and burn rate of the cutting machine.  


  3. To set the pipe wall thickness, under Materials > Carbon Steel, indexing will display.


  4. Click Sch10, for example, and the Diameter, Pipe OD, and Pipe ID will display. The delta between the Pipe OD and Pipe ID is .5” total wall, .25” wall on 14” pipe. Stratus uses this delta when it generates the .PSVR file.

Precision

Verify that precision is 3 or higher else rounding will generate a very small inaccuracy in Stratus.

Stratus Pipe Cuts

Select Division

Pipe Cut Settings can be configured for more than one Division or shop. See the Division (Admin) article for more information. If more than one shop Division has been created, select the Shop and then configure the Pipe Cuts for the shop. 

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Ends

The Ends section is used to determine if the type of connector. The Ends section maps each connector type, size, and and tells PypeServer the angle, root gap, and speed to cut. Note: An entry for a size without a connector name can be created which will be used when there is no match on connector name to any of the other entries for the particular size (or size range). If no entry with empty connector name exists, the first pipe cut end matched on size alone (and alphabetized by connector name) will be used for speed and root gap lookup.

To configure a Connector: 

  1. Click New End. A new row will display with pre-populated data. 

  2. Nominal Size = Enter the Nominal Size of the pipe. 

  3. Connector Names – Enter one connector name per row.

    1. Determine the name of your Bevel Connectors. 

      1. In Stratus, select the pipe, click the Properties tool, locate the connector, and then copy/paste this name into the Bevel Connector Names field. 


    2. Or, review your authoring software to determine your Bevel Connector Names. For example, this Butt-Weld is Bevel End 37.5. Copy/paste this name into the Bevel Connector Names field in Stratus.


  4. Angle – Set the Angle associated with the Nominal Size and Connector Name. 

  5. Root Gap - The Root Gap is the gap between two connecting pipes and is specified when the gap is not modeled with a part so pipe cutting software can account for it during fabrication. The Root Gap column defaults to 0 and is exported within the PSVR file when the value is greater than zero. Root Gap does not impact cut lengths or reporting in Stratus. Root Gap values greater than 0 will be included in the exported file.

  6. Speed – For the row, set the appropriate speed for the equipment being used. 

  7. Click Save. 

Saddles

A saddle is a fabricated tee created by joining two pipes directly together.  The main pipe has a hole cut in its side, the end of the branch pipe is “fish mouthed” (contoured to the shape of the main pipe), and then the two are joined together and welded. Define all nominal sizes in the Saddles section. 

To configure a Saddle: 

  1. Click the New Saddle button. 
    Note: When there are multiple Saddles and all column data is the same except for the Nominal Size, only enter one row that includes the largest Nominal Size. All smaller sizes will inherit the settings.

  2. Nominal Size = Enter the Nominal Size of the pipe. 

  3. Calculated Diameter (Recommended) – The Calculated Diameter calculation is preset to OD - (2 * WT). This takes the pipe OD (Outside Diameter) and subtract 2 times the Wall Thickness which will result in the actual diameter to be cut or the ID (Inside Diameter).  

  4. Use Override Diameter – Leave unchecked if the shop is using the Calculated Diameter. When checked, the Use Override Diameter checkbox will override the Calculated Diameter and will use the Override Diameter value.  

  5. Override Diameter – Leave at 0 if the shop is using the Calculated Diameter.  For the nominal size, the Override Diameter is the diameter of the hole that needs to be cut into the pipe that it is going to mate into. When the Use Override Diameter is checked, the value entered in the Override Diameter will be used instead of reading the Calculated Diameter.  

  6. Click Save. Below is an example where the Nominal Size (24). All sizes that are “equal to or less than” the Nominal Sizes (Ex. 2.5) will automatically inherit the settings.

Olets

Olet configurations enable customization of the Threadolet, Sockolet, and Weldolet hole diameters. This way the Anvil hole diameter can be different than a Bonney Forge hole diameter. To provide flexibility, the Olet dialog is used to configure hole diameters used by your shop. 

To configure an Olet: 

  1. Click the New Olet button.  

  2. Nominal Size = Enter the Nominal Size of the pipe. 

  3. Cooplet Hole Diameter – Enter the hole diameter that will be cut into the mating pipe. 

  4. Threadolet Hole Diameter – Enter the hole diameter that will be cut into the mating pipe. 

  5. Sockolet Hole Diameter – Enter the hole diameter that will be cut into the mating pipe. 

  6. Weldolet Hole Diameter – Enter the hole diameter that will be cut into the mating pipe. 

  7. Cut Surface - The Cut Surface is the pipe diameter reference for olet hole cuts and may be either ID (inside diameter) or OD (outside diameter). The Cut Surface column defaults to OD and can be changed to ID. The value will be exported within the PSVR file. The Cut Surface value will be included in the exported file.

  8. Repeat these steps until all sizes cut in the shop have been listed. Below is an example.









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