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More Links:
Complete AcornPipe Downloads
AcornPipe Update Downloads
Network File Downloads
Demonstration Videos
Learning Centre - PDF Tutorial
Files
Learning: Download Flash Video Tutorials
Frequently Asked Questions and Tips
(Troubleshooting)
Vista Problems
Installation Drawings
Frequently Asked Questions
Material Control in AcornPipe
Software
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AcornPipe
Software,
a Piping Project Control System, capable of drawing any type of
piping system including, ID pipe, OD Pipe, Victaulic,Thin
Wall Stainless, Brewery Piping, etc.
Sets of Master Files with fittings separated by type
into different files are used for materials, schedules descriptions and
dimensions of fittings and pipe.
AcornPipe program users are able to display those files and add descriptions,
and dimensions, and pick images
to show specific fittings. This includes changing the pipe
walls for different systems and adding different materials.
Some other pipe systems may require the end user to
create a library of images from the "Draw Your Own" section, and
include descriptions for your custom fitting, adding different fitting
images to show odd connections, etc. on those "Customized" systems
libraries.
AcornPipe System users
create specs based on
our system files, which contain all of the
choices needed for drawing any specific system.
As many new system files, as you need, can be created and these files become the template
for the specification files.
These system files, allow the user to switch pipe sizes on, or off, to only show the ones you
need.
For example separate system files can be created for Carbon steel and Stainless
piping. The Lap joint flanges could be only shown in the Stainless system and if you
only draw sizes up to 24 inch the sizes above that can be switched off. By reducing
the number of choices drawings can be produced faster.
Create Client Folders:
The new program will allow the creation of different Client folders containing jobs
just for that client. Each Job folder will have sub folders for Estimates,
Installation Drawings, Fabrication Drawings, Specifications and Materials.
An estimating module will be included in the future, to allow a fast material takeoff without doing
any drawings. Then material and labor summaries can be made from the takeoff,
creating files which can be imported into your own estimating system. The estimate
files will also create inventory files with material quantities in the Estimate
column. Installation drawings will be separate from the Fabrication drawings so that
Installation drawings can be split into Spools in the Fabrication drawing folder.
Installation drawings produced by others can be estimated quickly, materials would
again be placed in Estimate columns in inventory files. Then if the estimate is
successful the drawings can be quickly converted into Fabrication drawings. All modes
will use the same common specification files.
Faster Drawing Completion:
We are aiming to increase the drafting speed by at least 20% from the existing
program and as the drawing module progresses it could be as much as 30-40%. We are
eliminating much of the repetition required in the current program while maintaining
the use of the keyboard as well as the mouse wherever possible for drawing and
selecting choices.
Some of the improvements are as follows: -
Our new AcornPipe
System will introduce the software user to new possibilities, such as scaleable
drawings, resized offset boxes while drawing, copy and paste capabilities for piping
branches, editing of fittings at the drawing screen, as well as adding welder ID,
Heat Numbers, and inspection information from the drawing screen.
Specifications:
All choices will be shown on screen. The Walls and Ratings and Materials are shown on
single screens, and most choices can be made with a couple of clicks of the mouse. Any
selection will copy down to smaller unselected pipe sizes. If all SW/TH sizes have XS
walls you just make the selection at the largest SW/TH size and it will copy down to
all smaller sizes. Ratings and Materials do the same. Specifications can be copied
from any other job, and can be copied from more than one existing job.
The North Arrow orientation and fitting size are set by job since most jobs use the
same North Arrow and Fitting scale. They can also be changed for odd drawings if needed.
Drawing:
The entire drawing sheet with border and specification information is viewed in
drawing mode, so that you can add notes anywhere in the sheet.
Added features include, the ability to
zoom into sections of the drawing as needed. The screen resolution
remains perfect, in Zoom mode.
The Client and Job will be selected on the first screen of the program so they will
never need to be selected when going to the Drawing or Estimating modes while working
on the same job.
Changing Client and Job have simple drop down lists. New Clients and Jobs are created
directly from the main program screen.
Locating the drawing start point is much faster with a single click, then one more
click for the drawing direction.
Offset boxes are drawn easier and faster with the choices of boxes restricted to only
the allowable directions for 90 Elbows and other angles.
Pop-up menus appear at the drawing location to select items to draw, sizes, etc.
A great deal of time will be saved by not needing to place item number boxes with
each item as they are drawn.
The fitting images will have co-ordinates stored with them to place the box in a
suitable location automatically. You only move the boxes which you need to move.
A complete new fitting image file has been developed for better looking images and
more choices.
Entering dimensions will be faster. Feet and inches can be entered on the same line
and calculations can be done with the entry. For example two elevations can be
subtracted without having to use a calculator. Dimensions can also be added in the
same way. Locating the dimensions on screen will also require just a single click.
It will be faster to move around the drawing to draw on other items and place
branches.
Software pricing:
The cost will be as low as $1.20 Canadian Funds per drawing.
The new hardware lock (Sentinel), which is included with the software is programmable with the number of drawings
you have purchased.
The initial price for 100 drawings with the hardware lock and
software is $360.00 Canadian funds plus any applicable tax.
The new, programmable, lock can be installed on a network so that any company with a
network will just need a single lock.
Then anyone on that network will be able to use the software. The initial 100
drawings will allow users to practice with the software and easily learn how to use
it.
The counter will activate to reduce the number of drawings available, only when
drawings are saved. This will allow as much practice as needed to learn how to use or
try different configurations at no cost, if they are never saved.
The counter will also activate when material summaries are made. Drawings,
complete with the Bill of Material, can only be
printed after they have been saved.
The purchase of additional drawings can be done initially by phone
or fax. In a later update, we will include Internet
purchases.
A code is
supplied to program the new quantity into the hardware lock. The lock will allow any
drawing made with the program on any other lock to be displayed and printed so that
it can be used purely as a drawing viewer and printer.
The counter will only be activated if changes are made to a drawing produced on a
different lock and then saved, or if material summaries are made.
Phone, email, fax will be used to allow the program user to purchase
more drawings, as required by providing the serial number of the key and a Visa Card
number, MasterCard number; and by Check, when a P.O. is issued
for existing customers.
We will email or fax a code to allow the key to be used for the new number of drawings
purchased.
Pre-purchase Drawing Files:
It will also be possible for a company to pre-purchase a number of drawings then have
pre-approved users download drawings from the account as needed. Some
of our clients plan to issue a standing Purchase Order number, for the purchase of
drawings in various locations.
Your company can restrict the number of drawings which can be downloaded at a time
and receive confirmation of each download by email.
By using this method of marketing, very small companies and the individual program
user can get started and produce drawings at very low cost.
The loss or theft of the hardware lock will only lose the number of drawings stored
in it and can be replaced very easily.
If we can encourage more Engineering companies to use Iso-Express software for
Installation Isometrics, they will be able to go out for bid with just drawing files,
for almost instant fabrication costs.
Bidding could involve displaying the isometrics and switching shop welds to field
welds, if that hasn’t been done already, then doing an instant labor summary priced
for fabrication.
The successful bidder can then break the Isometrics into fabrication spools without
having to re-draw them. This should save a great deal of estimating and bidding time
for all fabricators and ensure they are all bidding on the same information. The same
drawings can be used for recording 'as-built' changes and then passed to the final
owner for use in maintenance and inspection of the piping systems.
*The estimating option will be free to allow fast material takeoffs from drawings
done on other drafting systems. This will also allow summaries and creation of
inventory files from the estimate. Then, as drawings are completed the materials can
be compared directly with the estimate.
More fields will be allowed in the drawing files for entry of heat numbers, user
codes, welder names and inspection information. The information could be scanned in
with the bar code reader and added to drawing files automatically. The drawings could
be re-plotted with the information or that information could be transferred to spread
sheets.
Contact
John Young or Donna Mackey at Acorn Pipe Systems regarding training at
780-963-3303 or 1-800-363-9777. By email:
support@acornpipe.com
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) currently offers classes on the use
of the
ACORNPIPE SOFTWARE.
You may also contact pipe trades instructor Dave Hughes at
dhughes@nait.ab.ca for more course information.
-
ACORN PIPE SYSTEMS INC.
- See the
press release
for more
details.
-
AcornPipe System Pricing:
- See the
product data and Pricing Page for
more details.
Contact Information
- Telephone:
-
780-963-3303
800-363-9777
888-476-9777
- Fax:
-
780-963-7156
- Postal
address
Acorn Pipe Systems Inc.
- Box
67, Site 4, RR #2,
- Stony
Plain, Alberta,
-
Canada, T7Z 1X2
- Electronic
mail
-
General Information:
email to Sales Information - Click Here
-
Customer Support:
email to Customer Support - Click Here
John Young: John Young, President of
Acorn Pipe Systems Inc.
Donna Mackey: email to Donna
Mackey, Software Support/Sales
Joanne Rowland: Office
Manager/Sales
Webmaster:
email to
Webmaster - click here
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