Plumbing schematic software for mac?

**wuertele** · 09-25-2010, 06:17 AM

What are people using to draw plumbing schematics? What do process engineers use?

I suppose I could hack away with a generic drawing program, but it seems like there should be a specialized design tool out there, with icons for the various kinds of valves, heating elements, heat exchangers, pumps, and other misc equipment that generally gets plumbed in various systems. A plumbing or process engineering design tool should be able to help with things like dimensioning and BOM writing.

I did some googling but didn't come up with anything that looked promising. Any suggestions?

Sawdustguy · 09-25-2010, 12:15 PM

AutoCad, simply install AutoCad and install the plumbing symbol library.

**wuertele** · 09-25-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawdustguy

AutoCad, simply install AutoCad and install the plumbing symbol library.

Seems everyone who sells AutoCad doesn't tell you on their website how much it actually costs. I guess if I have to ask, I can't afford it?

Sawdustguy · 09-25-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuertele

Seems everyone who sells AutoCad doesn't tell you on their website how much it actually costs. I guess if I have to ask, I can't afford it?

You can buy it directly from AutoDesk. AutoCad LT is sufficient for your needs and it is $1375.

jgoette · 09-25-2010, 11:57 PM

Holy crap, I would never pay 1375 for autocad... check around for some open source alternatives (aka: free)... just a quick google gave me http://www.osalt.com/autocad

**wuertele** · 09-26-2010, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgoette

Holy crap, I would never pay 1375 for autocad... check around for some open source alternatives (aka: free)... just a quick google gave me http://www.osalt.com/autocad

I looked at each of those packages (Archimedes, QCad, BRL-CAD). The only one that looks like it could possibly have support for process engineering is QCad, but I haven't been able to find libraries for it.

$1375 is out of my budget. I could afford maybe $300 to spend on something like this. It sure would be awesome to find an open-source process engineering design tool. I've been googling, but nothing has claimed specific support.

jgoette · 09-26-2010, 12:27 AM

are you looking for like 2d plumbing design?

**wuertele** · 09-26-2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgoette

are you looking for like 2d plumbing design?

Yes, "2d plumbing design" sounds like what I want. I would prefer it to be something that a process control engineer might use to design a beverage processing plant. But what I want is probably far out of my budgetary reach. I suspect there is something that is more affordable for independent plumbing or HVAC desingers (for example, something that could be used to do radiant floor heating designs).

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