Cloud Piping Designer (CPD)

Overview

Cloud Piping Designer (CPD) is a browser-based 3D piping modeller. You place pipes, elbows, flanges, valves, reducers, supports and instruments on a 3D canvas, and EngCoSuite keeps the geometry valid as you build.

When your design is complete you can export it to PCF (for IsoGen isometric drawing software) or CII (for Caesar II pipe stress analysis), and share read-only viewer links with anyone.

Access & Permissions

CPD files belong to a project. Anyone with access to the project who can edit it can create and modify CPD files.
The file is locked while a review workflow is active — no edits are allowed until the workflow is approved or cancelled.
Older revisions open in read-only mode; they can never be edited.
Shared links (7-day expiry) open in a read-only viewer with all editing controls hidden.

Getting Started

Open your project and click Add CPD.
Enter a name, description, and optional client file number.
The 3D editor opens with an empty canvas.
Start adding elements (next section), then click Save — there is no auto-save.

This first screen establishes the document identity before you begin modelling. Use a descriptive name that your project team will recognise in the register.

Project document area showing Add CPD and the new-file form.

A 400px-wide PNG thumbnail is captured on every save and appears in the project and CPD index, so you can tell designs apart at a glance.

Building Your Model

Adding elements

Click Add Element in the toolbar.
Select an element type: Pipe, Elbow, Flange, Valve, Reducer, Bellow, Coupling, Instrument, or Misc Component.
Specify the from node, to node, size (DN50–DN1050), and the dx/dy/dz offsets in mm.
The element appears in the 3D scene immediately.

CPD editor toolbar and Add Element dialog.

Adding elbows

Double-click any node to add or edit an elbow at that point.
The system validates straight pipe length on both sides before allowing the bend, and automatically shortens the upstream/downstream elements.
Choose a bend radius: 1D, 1.5D, 3D, 5D, or a custom value.

Inserting nodes mid-pipe

Double-click any straight pipe element to insert an intermediate node — the element auto-splits into two segments.
This is essential for adding support points or elbows part-way along a pipe.

Node support controls and the 3D label options.

Working with Elements

Element	What it's used for
Pipe	Cylindrical straight segment between two nodes
Elbow	Bend with a mid node and bend radius
Flange	Pipe flange connection
Valve	Inline valve body
Reducer	Concentric, or eccentric flat-top/flat-bottom size change
Bellow	Expansion bellow
Coupling	Pipe coupling
Instrument	Instrument connection point
Misc	Any other miscellaneous component

Supports & Labels

Pipe supports

Select a node and open the Support tab.
Choose from: Anchor, Rest, Guide, Line Stop, Spring Can, Spring Hanger.
Up to 6 supports per node, each numbered 1–6.
Direction vectors are computed automatically from the upstream/downstream pipe orientation.

Labels

Toggle overlays for: Node ID, Element ID, Pipe Length, Diameter, Bend Radius.
Labels render as 3D sprites at element centres and node positions.

Save control and the updated CPD thumbnail in the project view.

Saving Your Work

Click Save to write the model to disk and capture the screenshot thumbnail.
Auto-save is not enabled — save manually and regularly to preserve your work.

Revision controls showing new revision and alpha-to-numeric promotion.

Revisions

Alpha mode (default)

New designs start at Rev A. Create the next revision (A → B → C → ... → Z → AA → AB) to snapshot the current file.

Promote to numeric

When ready for formal issuance, promote the alpha revision to numeric mode to create Rev 0, then 1, 2, 3…
This mirrors real engineering document control practice.

Viewing older revisions

Click any revision link in the index to open it as read-only.
A banner shows “Viewing Rev X. Latest Rev is Y” — older revisions cannot be edited.

CPD export controls for PCF and CII files.

Exporting

PCF (Piping Component File)

Industry-standard format for IsoGen isometric drawing software.
Includes pipes, bends, flanges, valves, reducers, supports, and a materials list with quantities.
Supports export with the standard SKEY mapping: Anchor → ANCH, Rest → SKID, Guide → GUID, Line Stop → SKID, Spring Can → SPRING-CAN, Spring Hanger → SPRING-HANGER.

CII (Caesar II Input)

Format for Caesar II pipe stress analysis software.
Includes element geometry with wall-thickness lookups (Schedule 80), density data, type flags, and the standard pipe size database.

Share dialog showing the generated seven-day read-only link.

Sharing

Click Share to generate a signed URL with a 7-day expiry.
The link opens in a read-only viewer with all editing tools hidden — no account required for the recipient.
Activity is logged whenever a shared link is viewed, so you can see who has seen your design.

Troubleshooting

Issue	What to do
My work is gone after closing the tab	CPD has no auto-save — click Save regularly while you work.
I can't place an elbow	The system validates straight pipe length on both sides of the node. Extend the adjacent straight pipes first.
The file says it's locked	A review workflow is active on this file. Wait for approval/rejection, or ask the workflow author to cancel it.
I can't edit an old revision	Older revisions are read-only by design. Promote or create a new revision to keep working.

FAQ

What pipe sizes are supported?

DN50 to DN1050 metric, using standard outside diameters (e.g. DN50 = 60.3 mm, DN300 = 323.9 mm).

Can clients view my design without an account?

Yes — use Share to generate a read-only signed link that expires after 7 days.

How do I hand my model to the isometric drafting team?

Export the PCF file — it is directly usable in IsoGen.

How many supports can I put on a node?

Up to 6, numbered 1–6.

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