Spooling Software and Its Key features

Though building information modeling (BIM) software is increasingly being used for the design of piping and plumbing systems in commercial construction, dedicated pipe spooling software is still an important and common tool for complex piping system design. Spooling software allows users to efficiently create drawings from scratch, import spools as IDF and PCF files, and generate detailed bills of materials and 2D pipe spool fabrication drawings.

PypeServer’s Enterprise and Lyte tool-control software have long had the ability to import PCD, PCF, and FIX fabrication files exported from the leading spooling software packages, including SpoolFab, SpoolCAD, and Spoolgen. However, file-based importing has no tracking or revision control, limits the information that can be put on part labels, and can be an IT risk. PypeServer’s  Cloudinator application addresses all these issues and more by adding cloud capabilities to legacy spooling software.

Bringing Cloud Power to Legacy Spooling Software

The Cloudinator is a fast, easy, no-cost way to cloud-enable legacy spooling software. It’s a lightweight Windows application that reads PCD, PCF, CSV, Excel, PSVR, and other files and uploads their information to PypeServer’s free Cloud Service.

The Cloudinator reads any PCF, PCD, CSV, Excel, FIX, or PSVR file and sends all the parts to PypeServer’s Cloud. The result is exactly the same as if you’d sent the parts using one of our Connect plug-ins. This allows you to take parts from any spool design software that produces PCF, PCD, CSV, Excel, FIX, or PSVR files and create packages that can be fabricated using any PypeServer-driven tool.

Once in the Cloud, material takeoffs and 3D views of the parts and spools are automatically generated, allowing users to visualize them on any phone, tablet, or computer.  The Cloudinator can also transfer the PDF fabrication drawings created by SpoolFab and other programs to the Cloud, automatically matching them with their corresponding spools, thus providing the familiar 2D drawings alongside the auto-generated 3D drawings. This seamless integration enables users to effortlessly transfer cut lists to PypeServer-driven pipe profilers and tools using just an internet connection, thereby eliminating machine programming, file transfer hassles, and any IT risks from having the tool on the company network.

From Cloud to Cut with PypeServer Enterprise and Lyte

Once the Cloudinator has uploaded all the spool information and sheets, it’s instantly available to PypeServer’s Enterprise and Lyte software.  Enterprise is compatible with pipe profilers from Vernon Tool (Lincoln Electric), HGG, Lone Star Cutting Solutions, Machitech, and most Watts machines.  With Enterprise and the Cloudinator, there is no need for USB sticks or network file transfers.

As parts are processed by Enterprise, it updates the Cloud with fabrication status, productivity metrics, and other information that can be used to track and improve fabrication efficiency. Once a part’s status has been set to “cut,” it cannot be accidentally sent to the machine again, preventing double cuts.

After cutting, a wide variety of data can be put on the part labels, including QR codes that link to PypeServer’s 3D Assembly Viewer, URLs for the isometric drawings, or any other required information. PypeServer’s software can also produce joint labels that send weld instructions to robotic welders from Novarc, Rotoweld, and NAP (formerly North Alabama Pipe, now part of ASC).

Features for an Enhanced Fabrication Workflow

PypeServer’s Cloud-enablement of traditional spooling software provides significant new capabilities for the shop and the field, including seamless and secure data transmission to fabrication machines, enhanced labeling, real-time status tracking, and more.