BubbleView Modelling

BubbleView Modelling is an incredibly fast way of producing 3D CAD models directly from the laser scan data. It is highly intuitive and easy to learn. A pipe-elbow-pipe branch can be modelled in just four simple clicks of the mouse. Productivity with this technology is greatly enhanced when compared to any previously available software. Modelling of complete pipe branches becomes a simple matter of 'sketching' a line along the length of the pipe and clicking on the start and end of elbows. During the sketching phase, a roll of the mouse from the user lets the system know what the underlying piping element is. Once complete, the fitting process and branch creation is then fully automatic. LFM Modeller also incorporates tools to allow fitting in the more traditional 3D view.

Connectivity

The piping discipline makes extensive use of connectivity. As each pipe is modelled, a "snap-on" connector is automatically placed on the ends of the pipe. This enables standard library components such as flanges, tees, elbows and reducers to be rapidly instanced and connected onto the end of other objects.

Connectors bring the user many advantages. Each connection is 'keyed' so that it can only connect to objects of the correct type. Where a flange has been placed onto a pipe, only other flanged objects, such as a valve, will then be presented to the user for downstream connection. This feature makes selection of components a simple process.

In addition, a logical layer provides intelligent component instantiation from the library. So, where a user has a 600psi flange, then only 600psi matching elements will be presented as possible matches.

Connectors also allow valves, tees and elbows to be rapidly slid along piping or rotated to any orientation.
They also provide logical linking of individual components into long flows. This means that entire branches can be quickly modelled, adjusted or moved around within the modelling session.

Structure

Fitting structural elements into scan data has, until now, been a slow process. All this has been turned on its head in the latest LFM Modeller, it is now a very rapid two-click process to fit beams, columns, channels, angles and box sections. A large range of stock standards are included in the standard library.

During the creation of the structural components, the user can opt to create the structural elements into an aligned NSEW frame. This feature facilitates the smooth transition into target CAD systems which can only accept structure in an orthogonal NSEW frame.

Extensive Library

An extensive new library of piping components has been created for piping which includes elbows, tees, reducers, flanges, valves, and actuators. Where clients require additional library components which are not included, a toolkit is available which allows the user to create their own components.