IsoMet
Import a PCF (IsoGen) file and get a schematic, multi-sheet A3 isometric line drawing — automatic layout and pagination, support/valve/tee glyphs, a generated Bill of Materials, and DXF/PDF export.
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Last updated: October 2026
Overview
IsoMet turns a PCF (IsoGen) file into a schematic 2D isometric line drawing — no manual drafting. Upload a PCF and IsoMet parses the pipe, fitting, valve, and support records and lays the whole run out across one or more A3 landscape sheets automatically.
The drawing is schematic, not to scale — pipe runs use fixed step lengths so the isometric stays legible regardless of the model's real dimensions, while each pipe's real length is still dimensioned on the line.
Access & Permissions
- IsoMet files belong to a project and follow the standard project access rules.
- In the project's Deliverable Register, IsoMet can only be linked to an existing deliverable — it's never auto-created from the add-deliverable form.
- Shared links (7-day expiry) open in a read-only viewer at the exact revision that was shared.
Getting Started
- Open your project and click Add IsoMet.
- Enter a name and description, then upload a .pcf file.
- IsoMet parses the file and lays out the schematic drawing automatically — no further editing step.
- Review the generated sheets, check the warnings list (if any) for elements the parser couldn't place, then export or share.
Reading the Drawing
- Supports draw as per-type schematic glyphs at their pipe node — Anchor, Rest, Hold Down, Guide, Line Stop, Hanger, and Spring Can/Hanger each have a distinct symbol and colour, with a tooltip on hover.
- Valves draw as a type-specific bow-tie symbol on the run — Gate, Globe, Ball, Plug, Butterfly, Needle, Check, Diaphragm, Angle, Y-type, and 3-way valves are each drawn differently.
- Tees show a real branch line off the main run — a dashed "ghost" preview marks where the header continues past the tee, and a branch that runs on to further piping follows its own real bearing.
- Every pipe segment is dimensioned with its own real length (e.g. "1500 mm"), independent of the schematic step used to draw it.
Sheets & Pagination
- Each sheet is a fixed A3 landscape page split into a drawing area, a Bill of Materials panel, a support legend strip, and a title block with revision history.
- IsoMet automatically breaks a run onto a new sheet when it would otherwise run off the page or clash with an already-drawn segment — a "CONTD. ON SHEET n of N" note marks where it continues, with a matching "CONTD. FROM SHEET" note on the next sheet.
- A lone leftover fitting is never left stranded on its own page by itself — it's folded back onto the previous sheet wherever the layout allows.
Free-tier accounts see only the first few sheets of a large drawing — upgrade to view and export the full set.
Bill of Materials
- Each sheet's own Bill of Materials panel lists the items on that sheet, clubbed by matching size and description with a summed quantity and total length.
- A master Bill of Materials (all sheets combined) is included alongside the per-sheet drawing, showing which sheet(s) each item appears on.
- Item descriptions come from the PCF's own component records — or, when the PCF carries a separate MATERIALS block, the human-readable description looked up by item code.
Vertical Axis
IsoMet draws with either the model's Z or Y axis treated as "up" — switch it from the drawing settings if your PCF source used a different convention than the default (Z-up).
Export
- Export any sheet (or all sheets) to DXF for use in a CAD package, or to PDF for review and submission.
- External systems can generate the same DXF/PDF sheets directly from a PCF file through IsoMet's token-metered API, without needing an EngCoSuite login — see your organisation admin for API access.
Revisions & Sharing
- Revisions: alpha mode (A, B, C…) with promotion to numeric (Rev 0, 1, 2…), each a full snapshot. Older revisions are read-only.
- Share: generate a signed URL with a 7-day expiry that opens in a read-only viewer — no account required — showing the exact revision that was shared.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | What to do |
|---|---|
| Some elements are missing from the drawing | Check the import warnings list — the parser covers the common IsoGen keywords, but an unsupported or malformed record is skipped and listed there rather than guessed at. |
| Drawing looks mirrored or upside down | Switch the vertical axis setting between Z and Y to match the convention your PCF source used. |
| Only the first few sheets are visible | Free-tier accounts are capped to a limited number of sheets on a large drawing — upgrade to see and export the rest. |
| A branch or run looks disconnected from the main pipe | Check the "CONTD. ON/FROM SHEET" notes — the run most likely continues on an adjacent sheet rather than being missing. |
FAQ
Can I edit the drawing by hand?
No — IsoMet is generated entirely from the PCF file. To change the drawing, re-import a corrected PCF.
Is the drawing to scale?
No — it's schematic, using fixed step lengths for legibility. Each pipe's real length is still shown as a dimension on the line.
Can I link an IsoMet to a Deliverable Register entry?
Yes, but only by linking to an existing IsoMet — it can't be auto-created from the deliverable add form the way other document types can.