Fabricators

Setup

You need to turn on the Total Station and connect to your laptop. If you are not sure how to do this, head here.

Process

As a fabricator, you have a 3-step process for using automet successfully: Design input - Survey - Analysis.

Step 1: Design Input

Automet requires a design to survey against. There are two ways to do this in automet.

Design Input Method 1

The quickest and easiest way to get a design into automet, is to upload an IDF or PCF file of your spool straight into the system.

If you do this, automet will create the design input file (.DES) using all the data in the file and you can survey straight away.

Most plant design systems can export this file type. For a video on this process, go here.

Design Input Method 2

You should learn how to do this, regardless of the availability of IDF and PCF files. You will need to edit design files at some point, so make sure you know how to do this by using the Wiki and YouTube or direct training from MLtech. A full playlist of how to use the software and input each item is located here.

Step 2: Survey

Once you have a design in the system, you're ready to survey.

Start the Survey

Start a survey by clicking the Run Survey button.

Survey Type: START NEW or CONTINUE EXISTING

Start New

When you click the START NEW button, a survey file with the same name as the design file will be generated that includes the survey stage and revision.

Continue Existing

If a survey is not completed or needs to be continued, the CONTINUE EXISITING option can be used to reload all the observations. For this to be a valid option, the spool and instrument must not have moved or the file must have control points, that can be remeasured.

Load Design File

Select a design file for the survey using the three dots.

Survey Stage

• The In-Situ Survey Stage can be used for any survey not performed in the pipe fabrication shop.
• The Tack Weld Survey Stage can be used for any pipe spool survey that is performed during fabrication at the pre-weld stage.
• The Post Weld Survey Stage can be used for any pipe spool survey that is performed after fabrication.

Preparing to Survey

Below are some preparatory steps to take before selecting the Start Capture button.

• Select the Isometric button to review the spool's isometric view. This allows you to verify that the file loaded is the correct pipe spool. The order of observations can be customised, however the flange numbers must match the isometric, otherwise there will be calculation mistakes where the distinction between design and survey flanges has been lost.
• Point the instrument telescope towards a good starting point. This is a point that is easy to get to. Activate the laser by holding down the right mouse button and moving the mouse to guide the instrument telescope. If the prism lock is lost, you can recover the lock by putting your prism back at the start point and facing the laser.

Click here to see a video on the start point:

Click the image to watch the video.

• It is a good idea to mark the flange numbers on the physical flanges.
• Be organised by examining each flange to select where you will begin measuring. Do not begin in the middle of the potential locations around the circumference. Instead, begin at one end and work your way around in one direction. Try to plan where you will move from and to before you start.

Survey

This video shows how a spool flange is measured using the automet® FAB system and provides details of the general spool flange survey process.

Click the image to watch the video.

Surveying supports

See this video to review how supports are surveyed within automet.

Orientation Points

The orientation point (OP) indicates the top dead centre (TDC) of a straight pipe spools in the as installed orientation.

You must measure an OP point on any straight spool - this allows the system to know which way the spool should be oriented. this is important when there are flange deflections, and the orientation is crucial to the installation.

The system will ask for this point first.

Take a single point on top of flange 01 at the TDC point between the top two bolt holes. Then you can carry on with your survey as normal.

Regardless of spool orientation during the survey, the pipe spool will be orientated on the final report with the orientation point at the top, or north if the spool is vertical. If the pipe centre line is vertical in the design file, then the orientation point will be set north.

Videos showing this process can be found here:

Click the image to watch the video.

To make sure everything is installed correctly on site, mark an orientation point on a straight spool.

Step 3: Analysis

Overview

The analysis section has been designed to allow the user to review and compare captured survey data against the design data.

automet® terms:

• Vector error is the difference between a measured work point and the design coordinates.
• Alignment error. The touch point is the point on the flange face that will come into contact with the adjoining flange if a flange is not aligned as intended. The value displayed represents the gap in millimetres opposite the touch point.
• Rotational error is where a flange's bolt holes are not oriented as intended.

Errors and Fit

When the fabricated pipe spool exactly matches the design, all vector arrow values will be zero. Otherwise, the arrows show the measured error in your selected units and in a particular vector direction. The below flange was measured 1.4 mm too high, 0.6 mm too far north and 0.8 mm too far east. Fixing these errors means moving the flange in the opposite direction to the arrows by the stated amount.

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Bolt Hole Rotation

The blue arrow shows the rotational error in mm and the direction of the error.

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Touch Point

The adjoining flange will touch here first - this is the high point. Move the flange back towards the pipe, by the stated amount to fix the error.

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Open Pipe Ends Touch Point

The adjoining pipe will touch here first – this is the long point.

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Final Report

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Analysis Tools

For a video on the analysis controls, head here.

PDF Preview

You can create a PDF of your report to provide to other members of your team or clients by selecting the PDF preview button.