ec design to fabrication release notes v7.0 2017 · systems from revit, or generic autocad mep duct...

Release Notes

Version 7.1 for Autodesk 2017

▪ EC CAD - Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP

▪ EC PartManager

▪ EC DuctMaker

Copyright

2005-2016 EastCoast CAD/CAM. All rights reserved. This document and the information contained within are CONFIDENTIAL

AND PROPRIETARY, and are the property of EastCoast CAD/CAM and may not be copied, stored, used, or transmitted, in whole or in

part, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of EastCoast CAD/CAM.

Disclaimer

Programs are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the warranties of

merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. This publication could contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors.

Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of this publication.

EastCoast CAD/CAM is without obligation to notify any person of such revisions or changes. Subject to change without notice.

Proprietary Restrictions

The information contained herein is provided subject to a non-disclosure agreement and/or contractual confidentiality obligations and is

for use by authorized employees of the parties thereto only and is not for general distribution within or outside their respective

companies.

Trademarks

Autodesk and AutoCAD and Revit MEP are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. The following are trademarks of EastCoast CAD/CAM: EC

Virtual Construction, MEP Fabrication, Design to Fabrication, Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP, EC DuctMaker, EC-CAD, EC-Maker,

Series 1000 Plasma table, Series 2000 Plasma Table. Other trademarked products used in this book are trademarks of their respective

copyright.

Patent Disclaimer

The manufacture, offer for sale, sale or use of this product is subject to exclusive patent rights owned by EastCoast CAD/CAM as

claimed in one or more claims of U.S. Patent Numbers 7,499,839, 7,917,340 and 8,335,667, entitled: Method and Apparatus for

Importing Data into Program Code also known as “Design to Fabrication”, which is a trademark of EastCoast CAD/CAM.

Release Release date MEP Design

to Fabrication

EC CAD PartManager DuctMaker PartManager

Database

Version 7.1 for 2017 April 2017 7.1.3.170 7.1.3.170 7.1.3 7.1.3 7.1.3.13

All Style

Drawings (dwgs) All Templates

(dwts) EC Manufacturer

Specific Catalogs

EC Parametric

Part Wizard

Templates

CDM

Database

7.1.0.170 7.1.0.170 7.1.3.170 7.1.3.170 7.1.0

EASTCOAST CAD/CAM

2200 West Park Drive, Suite 210

Westborough, MA 01581

Phone: 800-334-2977

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Design to Fabrication V7.1 Release Notes

EastCoast CAD/CAM 1

Table of Contents 1 EASTCOAST DESIGN TO FABRICATION ..................................................................................... 2

1.1 GENERAL RELEASE INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 2 Software Distribution ................................................................................................................................. 3 Prior Release Notes Documentation ........................................................................................................... 3 Design to Fabrication Components Overview ............................................................................................ 3

1.2 COMPATIBILITY ................................................................................................................................. 4 Operating System ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Autodesk Software ...................................................................................................................................... 4

1.3 UPGRADE PREPARATION ................................................................................................................... 5 HASP Key License Update ......................................................................................................................... 5 Backing Up Your Data................................................................................................................................ 5 Upgrade Installation Documentation ......................................................................................................... 6

2 EC CAD .................................................................................................................................................. 7

2.1 NEW FEATURES AND ENHANCEMENTS ............................................................................................. 7 Auto Tag – New “Same as Objects” Layer Option .................................................................................... 7 C2AngleShowSymbol Tag ........................................................................................................................... 7 Cap Open Ends ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Damper Functionality Added to Transitions and Elbows ........................................................................... 8 Deleting Pipe Content Warning Message ................................................................................................... 9 EC DuctMaker Limited License included with EC CAD ............................................................................ 9 Fabrication Palette Delete Menu Items ...................................................................................................... 9 Manual Tag – New Feature .......................................................................................................................10 Manufacturer Default Improvements .........................................................................................................10 New ½ Perimeter Specification Rules (Std Duct & Non Std Duct) ............................................................11 Normal X, Y, and Z Properties in AutoCAD MEP .....................................................................................11 Out of the Box Setup ..................................................................................................................................12 PipeSpoolRevisionNumber and DuctSpoolRevisionNumber Property Sets ...............................................13 RodLength ECEquipmentSystemData Property Set ..................................................................................13 Specification Improvements .......................................................................................................................14 System Pipe Content Fixes .........................................................................................................................14 Total Station Point Tag.dwg Improvements ...............................................................................................15 Updated Pipe Content................................................................................................................................15 Vulcan to Trimble® FabShop ....................................................................................................................16

2.2 RESOLVED ISSUES ........................................................................................................................... 16 Auto Tag Manager Rule Issues ..................................................................................................................16 Duct Fabrication Modify Flange Display..................................................................................................16 Estimate Palette Display............................................................................................................................16 Estimate Import Error Verbiage ................................................................................................................17 Pipe Template Issues .................................................................................................................................17 Revit Import Wye Issue ..............................................................................................................................17 Specification Issues ....................................................................................................................................17 Total Station Issues ....................................................................................................................................17 Vane Tagging Placement ...........................................................................................................................17 Vulcan (Trimble® FabShop) Download Issues .........................................................................................17

2.3 KNOWN ISSUES ................................................................................................................................ 17 AutoCAD MEP Object Viewer Liner and Insulation Display ....................................................................17 Duct Routing Performance ........................................................................................................................18 Insulation Display on Attached Views and XREF Files ............................................................................18


EastCoast CAD/CAM 2

Oval Duct Display in AutoCAD MEP ........................................................................................................18

3 DUCTMAKER ..................................................................................................................................... 18

3.1 NEW FEATURES AND ENHANCEMENTS ........................................................................................... 18 Alignment Quarter Mark (Square to Round and Round to Square) ..........................................................18 Conn. Type Value Added to Labels ............................................................................................................19 DuctMaker Shop Policies ..........................................................................................................................20 Damper Functionality Added to Transitions and Elbows ..........................................................................20 Equivalence Table Sorting .........................................................................................................................20 Manufacturer Default Improvements .........................................................................................................21 New ½ Perimeter Specification Rules (Std Duct & Non Std Duct) ............................................................21 New Label Profiles ....................................................................................................................................21 New Report Enhancements ........................................................................................................................25 Specification Improvements .......................................................................................................................27 System Drivers ...........................................................................................................................................28

3.2 RESOLVED ISSUES ........................................................................................................................... 28 Access Panel Hole Size ..............................................................................................................................28 Cloned Fitting Nested Piece Number ........................................................................................................28 Combined Face Fitting Cut Path ...............................................................................................................28 Damper In/Out Seam Interference .............................................................................................................28 Drop Cheek Elbow Cut Path .....................................................................................................................28 Equivalence Table Determines the Size of the Interior Metal ...................................................................29 Estimation Integration Issues ....................................................................................................................29 Fabricate Status Missing from Radius Elbows ..........................................................................................29 HASP License Management Shortcut ........................................................................................................29 Library Part List ........................................................................................................................................29 Rectangular Elbow, Square Heel Type and Liner Heel Type ....................................................................29 Rectangular Transition, Ogee Notch Placement .......................................................................................30 Roof Curb Hole Size ..................................................................................................................................30 Round and Oval Dual Wall Duct Interior Type and Status .......................................................................30 Round Tap, Loloss Damper Hole Layout ..................................................................................................30 Segmentation Issues ...................................................................................................................................30 Specification Issues ....................................................................................................................................30 Top Change Rounding on Labels...............................................................................................................31

3.3 KNOWN ISSUES ................................................................................................................................ 31 CenterLineInput = FALSE .........................................................................................................................31 Duct Dimension Rule for Taps on Existing Specifications ........................................................................31 Specification Export ..................................................................................................................................31

1 EastCoast Design to Fabrication

Design to Fabrication Version 7.1 is a full installation for new customers, and applies software enhancements

and corrections for customers who are upgrading from an earlier release (V7.0 or earlier version) of all the

Design to Fabrication software components, including MEP Design to Fabrication, EC CAD, PartManager,

and DuctMaker. Your license and specific installation may include some, or all, of these components.

1.1 General Release Information

Design to Fabrication V7.1 Release Notes EastCoast Design to Fabrication

EastCoast CAD/CAM 3

This release is being provided as a full installation (via the

setup.exe) so that both new and upgrading customers can apply

the latest software to their system using the Design to Fabrication

Setup user interface.

Refer to each product section in this document to identify specific

corrections, updates and known issues associated with this

software version, as follows:

Installation

EC CAD

EC DuctMaker

Software Distribution

This software update is available for download from the EastCoast CAD/CAM Customer Portal as an

EastCoast Design to Fabrication Tools Installation zip file.

Customer Portal Access

The Customer Portal is an area of the EastCoast web site available to EastCoast Subscription

Customers, providing software updates, documentation and video resources. To gain access, simply fill

out a short registration form which requests access from EastCoast CAD/CAM Customer Support. Once

approved, you can then log in with your user name and password at any time. To register, copy the link

below into your Internet browser:

http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/register.htm

Prior Release Notes Documentation

This document describes the enhancements and updates when moving from Version 7.0 to Version 7.1.

For customers upgrading from a release earlier than Version 7.0, you can access and review new features

and functionality for each prior release on the EastCoast Customer Portal.

Design to Fabrication Components Overview

The EastCoast CAD/CAM Design to Fabrication software system provides a streamlined workflow that

allows users to move from design to fabrication with one set of products.

• MEP Design to Fabrication is the tool for converting MEP engineering designs (duct and pipe

systems from Revit, or generic AutoCAD MEP duct systems) to Fabrication-ready drawings using

automated routines, saving significant fabrication detailing resources and time. MEP Design to

Fabrication works inside both Autodesk’s Revit and AutoCAD MEP software. Customers have the

choice of purchasing their CAD seat(s) with or without an MEP Design to Fabrication license.

• EC CAD includes several software components. Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP software is

integrated directly inside AutoCAD MEP, to give users enhanced detailing capability and tools to

work with real-world specifications and sizing for duct, and real manufacturer mechanical content.

http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/


http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/register.htm



EastCoast CAD/CAM 4

Customers choose to install only the elements of Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP that they are

licensed for and plan to use - Pipe, Duct, or Combo (for both Pipe and Duct functionality).

PartManager is the user interface to the EastCoast manufacturer library and database that is used by

Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP, providing easy access and organization and management of all

parts, fittings, valves and shop defaults being used for project design. EC Project is the software

tools and database for transferring As-built Sheet Metal drawings into Revit as native Revit

objects. A limited license of EC DuctMaker is also included with EC CAD. This limited license

provides EC CAD users with the ability to review their fabrication pickoffs in DuctMaker and to

gain full CAD and CAM access to the EastCoast manufacturer library and database.

• EC DuctMaker is the CAM software tool, providing a fabrication interface used to build a highly-

customized duct library that can be shared with design team colleagues, via Fabrication for

AutoCAD MEP Sheet Metal. DuctMaker contains a comprehensive library of Oval, Round and

Rectangular fittings and duct as well as specialty parts. It accepts Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP

pickoff lists, estimating downloads, and allows for more editing if required. The software downloads

fittings directly to the shop floor plasma cutters, liner cutters and coil lines, and uses barcode

scanners to track the inventory of items during fabrication.

1.2 Compatibility

Operating System

The software was primarily tested under the Windows 7 64-bit operating system, with Microsoft Sync

Framework Runtime and Service Native v1.0. It is supported under Windows 8 and 8.1 as well.

NOTE: This version was not tested and is not officially supported under Windows 10.

Autodesk Software

This release supports Design to Fabrication for 2017 versions of Autodesk AutoCAD MEP and

Autodesk Revit software. [2299]

Service Packs and Hotfixes

This version of EC CAD has been tested with the Autodesk Software service packs and hotfixes

identified below. EastCoast recommends keeping your system up to date with any available Autodesk

Service Packs or Hotfixes. Apply any Autodesk service packs first, and then install or update Design to

Fabrication.

NOTE: Be sure to read through this entire section before applying Autodesk Service Packs.

Autodesk Software

Version

Service Pack or

Hotfix

Software update website

AutoCAD MEP

2017

Service Pack 1 https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-

mep/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autocad-mep-

2017-service-pack-1.html?v=2017

Revit 2017 Service Pack 2 https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-

products/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-

revit-2017-service-pack-2.html?v=2017

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-mep/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autocad-mep-2017-service-pack-1.html?v=2017



https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/downloads/caas/downloads/content/autodesk-revit-2017-service-pack-2.html?v=2017




EastCoast CAD/CAM 5

AutoCAD MEP Migration Assistant Issue

Autodesk has reported that verticals of

AutoCAD, including AutoCAD MEP, should

NEVER use the Migration Assistant. Use of the

Migration Assistant will cause problems with

the software, requiring a complete uninstall and

reinstall.

When upgrading AutoCAD MEP, if you are

prompted with the Migrate Custom Settings

dialog box shown at right, click Cancel.

Autodesk Learning Resources

In addition to this document, be sure to review the Autodesk resources listed below to learn more about

the features and functionality of the base software which Design to Fabrication runs within:

• AutoCAD MEP Support and Learning http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-

mep#?p=BLDSYS&p_disp=AutoCAD%20MEP&sort=score

• Revit MEP Support and Learning http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-

products#?p=RVT&p_disp=Revit%20Products&sort=score

1.3 Upgrade Preparation

HASP Key License Update

A HASP key license update may be required for use with this version. The HASP key update must be

done first, before updating the software components. Refer to the Upgrade Installation Guide or contact

Customer Support for information on how to obtain and apply HASP key license updates before

upgrading the software.2299] [2331]

Backing Up Your Data

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-mep#?p=BLDSYS&p_disp=AutoCAD%20MEP&sort=score

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-mep#?p=BLDSYS&p_disp=AutoCAD%20MEP&sort=score

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products#?p=RVT&p_disp=Revit%20Products&sort=score

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products#?p=RVT&p_disp=Revit%20Products&sort=score


EastCoast CAD/CAM 6

IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL UPGRADE CUSTOMERS: Before installing, remember to create a

backup of your database, and any custom content you may have added to the Styles and Template

folders used by Fabrication for AutoCAD MEP, located in the following directories, to retain any

customization you may have applied to these files:

C:\Program Data\EastCoast\Fabrication for MEP <version#>\Styles

C:\Program Data\EastCoast\Fabrication for MEP <version#>\Template

For more detailed information on database backup procedures, refer to the following technical document

for assistance:

Backing up your SQL Database http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=94855

Upgrade Installation Documentation

Customers who have Version 6.2 or higher can upgrade to this version using the instructions in the

Upgrade Installation Guide, which can be viewed or downloaded from the EastCoast Customer Portal.

Once logged into the Customer Portal, to access Installation

documentation, click Installation & Migration on the left, and then

on the right, select the installation guide that pertains to your

installation.

• Design to Fabrication Upgrade Installation Guide - For

customers who are using one or more components in the

Design to Fabrication software system.

• DuctMaker Upgrade Installation Guide – For customers

who are only using and upgrading EC DuctMaker

NOTE: If you are upgrading from an earlier version than Version

6.2, please contact EastCoast CAD/CAM Customer Support for

assistance.

http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/_literature_94855/Backing_Up_Your_SQL_Database

http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=94855

http://eccccustomerportal.worldsecuresystems.com/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=232133

mailto:[email protected]

Design to Fabrication V7.1 Release Notes EC CAD

EastCoast CAD/CAM 7

2 EC CAD

2.1 New Features and Enhancements

Auto Tag – New “Same as Objects” Layer Option

Auto Tag Manager previously allowed the user to select which layer each tag should be placed on.

Starting in Version 7.1 there is a new layer option called, “Same as Objects” that has been added to the

top of the layer selection list. Selecting “Same as Objects” for the layer will place the tag on the same

layer as the object that is being tagged, but with a “.tags” extension. Placing your tags on the same layer

as the object that is being tagged can make it easier to control both the display of the tag and the host

object within your drawing. The “.tags” extension added to the layer makes it easy for the tags to be

isolated and located in the drawing.

Many users find it beneficial to setup their layers by AutoCAD MEP system so that their different duct,

pipe, and plumbing systems are drawn on unique layers. Now with the “Same as Objects” layer option

added to Auto Tag both your tags and your total station points can now be associated directly to the object

that they are attached to.

Example of Same as Objects Layer selection:

Example of Duct System Layers with their associated tags and points layers:

C2AngleShowSymbol Tag

A new tag “C2AngleDegree” was created and added to the EC Schedules and Tags.dwg. This tag will

display the angle of connector 2 with the degree symbol present. If you don’t want the degree symbol to

be present, we suggest you use the “C2Angle” tag from the EC Schedules and Tags.dwg. You can also


EastCoast CAD/CAM 8

control the degree symbol by setting the “C2AngleShowSymbolCalculation” property set to TRUE or

FALSE. TRUE = Degree Symbol Present; FALSE = No Degree Symbol Present.

Cap Open Ends

A new feature called Cap Open Ends has been added to the program that

allows you to quickly and easily cap the open end(s) of any selected

duct or duct fitting. This featured can be used to cap individual duct

objects or you can cap many duct objects at the same time.

When you select any duct or duct fitting, the Cap Open Ends button will appear on the Modify

Ribbon. Selecting this button will bring up the Cap Open Ends Tool dialog box, which has a

Rectangular, Round, and Oval dropdown. Under each shape dropdown you will have:

• Options of all combinations of Manufacturer Defaults and Specifications that are loaded in

the catalog, which would be applied to the End Cap.

• Same as Object, which will place the End Cap with the same Manufacturer Default and

Specification as the selected fitting. If the Manufacturer Default and Specification isn’t

loaded in the catalog, you will receive an error message.

• None, which will place no End Cap. An example of this is, selecting more than one

Rectangular and Round ducts or duct fittings and you didn’t want End Caps to place on the

Round open ends, but you did want to place End Caps on the Rectangular open ends. If that

was the case, you would select None for Round and select Same as Object or a combination

of Manufacturer Defaults and Specifications for Rectangular.

Rectangular End Caps have a specification parameter called Pre End Cap Connector. When you use this

tool to apply a cap the tool will change the connector on the duct or duct fitting via duct spec override to

the Pre End Cap Connector. If you don’t want it to apply the Pre End Cap Connector, you can uncheck

“Apply Pre End Cap Connector” in the Cap Open Ends Tool dialog.

Damper Functionality Added to Transitions and Elbows


EastCoast CAD/CAM 9

Damper functionality has been added for Rectangular, Round, and Oval Transitions and Elbows.

Dampers can be automatically specified for the inlets and/or outlets of these fittings or placed on the fly

in AutoCAD MEP:

Rectangular Round Oval

• Rectangular Transition

(Normal, Concentric,

and Eccentric)

• Round Transition


and Eccentric)

• Oval Transition


and Eccentric)

• Rectangular Elbow,

Radius

• Round Elbow, Gored • Oval Elbow, Gored


Radius Angle Throat

• Round Elbow,

Mitered

• Oval Elbow, Mitered


Square

Complete instructions on setting up dampers can be found in the EC CAD Pipe and Sheet Metal User

Guide – Design to Fabrication V7.1.pfd under sections 6.4.5 Damper Manufacturer Defaults, 6.4.5.1

Minimum Required Straight Option for Volume Dampers, and 6.5.3.3 Automatically Including Dampers

in Taps and Fittings.

Complete instructions on manually placing dampers in fittings in AutoCAD MEP can be found in the EC

CAD Pipe and Sheet Metal User Guide – Design to Fabrication V7.1.pdf under section 10.10.1 Adding

Volume Dampers.

Deleting Pipe Content Warning Message

When deleting pipe content from PartManager, you will now be prompted with the warning message

“Are you sure you want to delete the selected pipe(s) or pipe fitting(s)?”.

EC DuctMaker Limited License included with EC CAD

A limited license of EC DuctMaker is now included with EC CAD. This limited license provides EC

CAD users with the ability to review their fabrication pickoffs in DuctMaker and to gain full CAD and

CAM access to the EastCoast manufacturer library and database. This can prove useful for CAD

detailers that wish to review their pickoffs in more detail before sending them to the shop for fabrication.

Additionally, this license enables the ability for CAD detailers to import specifications and manufacturer

defaults into the EastCoast manufacturer library and database.

Fabrication Palette Delete Menu Items


EastCoast CAD/CAM 10

The fabrication palette delete menu items have been changed to Delete Pipe Spools, Delete Pipe Spools

and Folders, Delete Duct Spools, Delete Duct Spools and Folders, Delete Pickoffs, Delete Pickoffs and

Folders, Delete Total Stations, and Delete Total Stations and Folders.

Manual Tag – New Feature

A new feature has been added that allows users to more easily place their tags. This new feature makes it

quick and easy for customers to select any one of the tags in their tag template drawing and place them in

their working drawing. The new Manual Tag feature also allows the user to place any tag on any layer in

the existing drawing “on the fly” or select the Same as Objects layer option to place the tag on the same

layer as the host object that is being tagged, but with a “.tags” extension.

The new Manual Tag feature can be accessed via the button Manual Tag that has been added to the Duct

Number Tags and Pipe Number Tags dropdowns.

When you select Manual Tag, you will get the Manual Tag dialog with the two dropdowns:

• Tag – The tag list will show all tags from the drawing specified in ECTools -> Options ->

AutoTag Options -> Tags Drawing Path

• Layer – The layer list will show all layers in the current drawing, but it will also have the new

option “Same as Objects” at the top of the list. The “Same as Objects” option will place the tag

on the same layer as the object, but with a “.tags” extension. The “.tags” extension added to the

layer makes it easy for the tags to be isolated and located in the drawing.

• Once the desired Tag and Layer is chosen and Place is selected, the manual tagging behavior

will be the same as if you selected the tag from the Tool Palette.

o Select object and place the tag

o Multiple Tagging Option

o Etc.

• When you’re done placing the tag using the AutoCAD commands you will want to press Esc to

be brought back to the EC Manual Tag dialog. When you have placed all your manual tags and

you’re done with the EC Manual Tag tool, select finish to close the dialog.

Manufacturer Default Improvements

When setting up rules in the manufacturer defaults that use the “InRange” function, the range will now

include the From and To values in the range, so it will work the same as it does in other parts of the



software. For example, if you set up a rule that is InRange From 28 To 120, 28 and 120 will now be

included in that range. Prior to this release, the range would have included the values between 28 and

120 and not the From (28) and To (120) values as part of the range.

New ½ Perimeter Specification Rules (Std Duct & Non Std Duct)

In the specifications for rectangular duct there is a specification rule called ½ Perimeter that is typically

used to control the Type and Liner Type (Wrapper, L – Shape, U – Shape and Four Pcs) of your

rectangular duct. Two additional rules have been added to this release:

• ½ Perimeter Std Duct

• ½ Perimeter Non Std Duct

These two rules will enable you to control the Type and Liner Type separately for Standard Duct (full

joints) and Non Std Duct (short pieces).

You can control the following parameters when using either one of the new ½ perimeter specification

rules:

• Lock

• Intermediate Reinforcement

• Connector Reinforcement

• Dampers

• Special Instructions

• Status

• Type

• Liner Type

Normal X, Y, and Z Properties in AutoCAD MEP

The Normal X, Normal Y, and Normal Z properties are often used to create smart properties that know

the rotation of objects and therefore report and tag the correct information to the user regardless of the

objects orientation in the CAD model. While these properties are important in creating smart properties,

they were also often times problematic in the CAD drawings and the properties would show on the

drawing as formulas instead of the desired values.

For that reason, we have replaced the existing Normal, Normal X, Normal Y, and Normal Z formula

property sets with manual property sets that will automatically be populated by the program. Any

formulas that used the old formula property sets as part of their formula have been replaced by the new

manual property sets, such as C2BotChangeAdvTag.

We have updated our out of the box setup to use these new properties and so if you are following best

practices by not modifying the ECDuctSystemData property sets and instead adding all of your custom

properties to the ECDuctCustomData property sets then you may simply need to replace the

ECDuctSystemData property set in your template and your existing drawings with the new one that we

provide with this release.

However, if you have made custom changes in your ECDuctSystemData property set then you may very

well need to apply these changes to your existing setup. To apply these changes to your template files

and your existing drawings you will want to add 4 new manual property sets to ECDuctSystemData:



• Normal

• Normal X

• Normal Y

• Normal Z

If you run DuctScheduleData on an existing drawing that doesn’t contain the above property sets, you

will receive an error message “Unable to collect the values for the property sets: Normal, Normal X,

Normal Y, Normal Z. Some tags, schedules, and properties that use these values may not be accurate.”

until they are added to the drawing.

Once these 4 manual property sets have been created, you will want to modify the formulas of the

following formula property sets and replace the formula “NormalZCalculation” property set with the new

manual “Normal Z” property set. You will also need to modify any formula property sets that you may

have created on your own that used any of the Normal properties.

• C2BotChangeAdvTag

• C2SetBottomAdvTag

• C2SetLeftAdvTag

• C2SetRightAdvTag

• C2SetTopAdvTag

• C2TopChangeAdvTag



• C3SetLeftAdvTag


• C3SetTopAdvTag




• C4SetLeftAdvTag


• C4SetTopAdvTag


After the new manual property sets have been added and the formula property sets have been updated,

you will want to run a DuctScheduleData on the entire drawing to update the new property sets and tags

on your drawing.

Out of the Box Setup



The out of the box setup has been updated and cleaned up for accuracy and completion. We have

modified and updated the allowance connectors, seams, joints, and reinforcements. The shop standards

rectangular specifications and sheet parameters have also been updated.

11 new rectangular specifications have been created:

• .5 wg 5 ft TDC

• 5 wg 5 ft SD x TDC

• 1 wg 5 ft TDC


• 2 wg 5 ft TDC


• 3 wg 5 ft TDC • 4 wg 5 ft TDC • 6 wg 5 ft TDC

• 10 wg 5 ft TDC • Rect (Dampers-Misc-Access Panels)

The duct catalog and AutoCAD MEP routing preferences have been populated with these new

rectangular specifications.

PipeSpoolRevisionNumber and DuctSpoolRevisionNumber Property Sets

We have included 2 new property sets in our out of the box template files and schedules and tags

drawing. PipeSpoolRevisionNumber has been added to ECPipeSystemData, which will report the pipe

spool revision number. DuctSpoolRevisionNumber has been added to ECDuctSystemData, which will

report the duct spool revision number. These property sets can be used for scheduling purposes or to

create tags.

RodLength ECEquipmentSystemData Property Set

Rod Length will no longer automatically get exported as part of the .tfl and .mep total station point files.

We now include the property set “RodLength” as part of the ECEquipmentSystemData, which will be

automatically populated. If you want “RodLength” as a Total Station Point attribute, you will want to

create a “RodLength” formula property set and make it equal to ECEquipmentSystemData:RodLength in

the desired ECPoints property set definition. For this property set to export as a point attribute, the

visibility of the formula property set must be turned on.



Specification Improvements

Two specification improvements have been made in V7.1.

• Tap Joint has been removed from the taps level of the specification. The reason being, there is a

separate joint list for Rectangular than there is for Round and Oval. You will want to setup Tap

Joint on the Rectangular, Round, and Oval level under taps. If existing specifications did have

Tap Joint setup on the Taps level, Tap Joint will not be removed and it will still work the same

as it did prior to V7.1.

• Connector Out has been removed from the taps level of the specification. The reason being,

there is a separate connector list for Rectangular than there is for Round and Oval. You will

want to setup Connector Out on the Rectangular, Round, and Oval level under taps. If existing

specifications did have Connector Out setup on the Taps level, Connector Out will not be

removed and it will still work the same as it did prior to V7.1.

• To setup different ½ perimeter breaks for rectangular standard length duct than short pieces of

duct, 2 new ½ perimeter specification rules were implemented. Review New ½ Perimeter

Specification Rules (Std Duct and Non Std Duct) for more information.

System Pipe Content Fixes



Anvil and Watts pipe manufacturer joint corrections have been made to fix display issues in AutoCAD

MEP. US Pipe manufacturer joint corrections have been made to fix incorrect automatic gasket

insertions when routing flange type pipe and fittings.

Total Station Point Tag.dwg Improvements

Multiple Total Station Point Tag.dwg improvements have been made in this release.

• PointDescription and PointID tags have been created and added, which can be setup in the Auto

Tag Manager, or can be used to manually tag total station points.

• All total station point symbol tags have been renamed to have a similar naming convention as

other tags in the software.

• The total station tags drawing path on the ECTools tab in options is now correctly labeled.

Updated Pipe Content

Apollo Conbraco Content

This content has been added to the EC-CAD Version 7.1 Software. The following Product Lines and

fittings are provided:

Apollo Conbraco Valves

Valve, Angled – Wheel Handle

Valve, Ball – Lever Handle

Valve, Ball – Tee Handle

Valve, Ball – Wheel Gear Box

Valve, Butterfly – Lever Handle

Valve, Butterfly – Wheel Handle

Valve, Check – In-Line

Valve, Globe – Wheel Handle

Valve, Three Way – Lever Handle

Strainer, Tee

Fitting Groups and Filters

To assist in locating new content, you can use the filters in the table below to locate each product

line, and if desired, build unique fitting groups for each.



The suggested filters listed below are intended to isolate the entire product line. More filtering may be

required to further adjust the groups for optimal routing preference setup.

Product Line Suggested Fitting Group

Name

Filters to Use

Apollo Conbraco Valves Apollo Valves Apollo Valves

(Product Line)

Vulcan to Trimble® FabShop

We have changed Vulcan to Trimble® FabShop in all parts of the software, such as the fabrication

palette, EC Tools tab, and the export file names.

2.2 Resolved Issues

Auto Tag Manager Rule Issues

All duct elevation tag auto tag manager rules will now work correctly, such as “On start piece of duct run

or branch”, “On duct prior to transitioning fittings”, “On duct after transitioning fittings”, and “On duct

with taps”.

Duct Fabrication Modify Flange Display

When using the Duct Fabrication Modify command on duct or duct fittings the specification and

manufacturer default properties would update correctly, but the flange thickness and flange extension

display would be incorrect until you ran OBJRELUPDATE. The flange thickness and flange extension

display will now be correct when using the Duct Fabrication Modify command without having to run

OBJRELUPDATE.

Estimate Palette Display

The estimate palette information in AutoCAD MEP will now display correctly when one of the estimate

definitions is selected.



Estimate Import Error Verbiage

When importing an estimate xml file into AutoCAD MEP, the ECEstimate property set definition must

include all the parameters that are part of the xml file. If the xml file includes additional information, you

will now receive the new error message “Property Set xxx isn’t included in the ECEstimate property set

definition. This property set will need to be added to the ECEstimate property set definition.”.

Pipe Template Issues

Two pipe template issues have been corrected in V7.1.

• The Return pipe template has been corrected, and joint 1 and joint 2 will now display correctly

in AutoCAD MEP.

• The Valve, Three Way – Tee Handle pipe template has been corrected, and joint 1 and joint 2

will now display correctly in AutoCAD MEP when the joints are different.

Revit Import Wye Issue

All sized Wye Laterals will now import correctly into AutoCAD MEP from Revit MEP.

Specification Issues

The scroll bar functionality will now work as expected when creating a specification that has enough

rules that requires you to use the scroll bar. The up and down arrows will also work as expected when

creating a specification that has enough rules that requires you to use the up and down arrows.

Total Station Issues

When using the Add or Remove option on a total station point group definition, the numbering start

value will now be correct.

Vane Tagging Placement

All vane tags will now be placed correctly regardless of the size of the Rectangular Elbow, Square. The

insertion point of the tag will be placed at the midpoint from the bend in the throat to the bend in the

heel.

Vulcan (Trimble® FabShop) Download Issues

The Rectangular Elbow, Square wouldn’t export and download correctly to Trimble® FabShop if it had

vanes. The Rectangular Elbow, Square will now export and download correctly to Trimble® FabShop if

it does or does not have vanes.

2.3 Known Issues

AutoCAD MEP Object Viewer Liner and Insulation Display



Liner and insulation will not display correctly on Round and Oval Gored Elbows, Radius Elbows, and

Ogee Transitions when viewing them via the AutoCAD MEP object viewer.

Duct Routing Performance

You may experience some jumpy cursor movement when routing depending on the complexity of your

duct specs and the performance of your computer hardware.

Insulation Display on Attached Views and XREF Files

Insulation will not display correctly on Round and Oval Gored Elbows, Radius Elbows, and Ogee

Transitions on attached views and XREF files.

Oval Duct Display in AutoCAD MEP

In AutoCAD MEP 2017, oval ducts with flange thickness display an extra line in plan view for certain

dimensions. This is a known issue in AutoCAD MEP 2017 and it has been reported to the Autodesk

development team. They are currently investigating it to determine a fix for a future update or release.

3 DuctMaker

3.1 New Features and Enhancements

Alignment Quarter Mark (Square to Round and Round to Square)

A new parameter “Alignment Quarter Mark” has been added to the Fitting Settings for the Square to

Round and Round to Square transitions. This parameter will control the depth of the alignment quarter

mark, so that it can be easily recognized. This will work with all mark quantity options of 1, 3, 5, or

distance.

Design to Fabrication V7.1 Release Notes DuctMaker


Conn. Type Value Added to Labels

There has been a new value option “Conn. Type” added for Connector 1-4 on the labels. This option

will report the connector type per face only. This feature will make it much clearer as to which connector

type should be applied to each face. For example, it may not be obvious which face of a transition should

get a Slip and which side should receive a Drive. This new feature will make it obvious in each case.



DuctMaker Shop Policies

The out of the box DuctMaker “Piece Number Minimum Digits” shop policy parameter has been

changed to 3. Now when you create parts in DuctMaker, the piece number will be 001 for example

instead of 01.

Damper Functionality Added to Transitions and Elbows

Damper functionality has been added for Rectangular, Round, and Oval Transitions and Elbows.

Dampers can be automatically specified for the inlets and/or outlets of these fittings or placed on the fly

in DuctMaker:

Rectangular Round Oval

• Rectangular Transition


and Eccentric)

• Round Transition


and Eccentric)

• Oval Transition


and Eccentric)


Radius

• Round Elbow, Gored • Oval Elbow, Gored


Radius Angle Throat

• Round Elbow,

Mitered

• Oval Elbow, Mitered


Square

Complete instructions on setting up and adding dampers in fittings can be found in the EC DuctMaker

User Guide V7.1.pdf under section 5.3.5.1 Dampers Manufacturer Default Settings, 5.4.3.6 Fitting Level

Rules and Settings, and 9.3.6.2 Adding Volume Dampers to Fittings.

Equivalence Table Sorting

Sorting has been introduced to the Round and Oval equivalence tables. All columns can be sorted by

ascending or descending order, such as gauge, nominal size, etc.



Manufacturer Default Improvements

When setting up rules in the manufacturer defaults that use the “InRange” function, the range will now

include the From and To values in the range, so it will work the same as it does in other parts of the

software. For example, if you set up a rule that is InRange From 28 To 120, 28 and 120 will now be

included in that range. Prior to this release, the range would have included the values between 28 and

120 and not the From (28) and To (120) values as part of the range.

New ½ Perimeter Specification Rules (Std Duct & Non Std Duct)

In the specifications for rectangular duct there is a specification rule called ½ Perimeter that is typically

used to control the Type and Liner Type (Wrapper, L – Shape, U – Shape and Four Pcs) of your

rectangular duct. Two additional rules have been added to this release:

• ½ Perimeter Std Duct

• ½ Perimeter Non Std Duct

These two rules will enable you to control the Type and Liner Type separately for Standard Duct (full

joints) and Non Std Duct (short pieces).

You can control the following parameters when using either one of the new ½ perimeter specification

rules:

• Lock

• Intermediate Reinforcement

• Connector Reinforcement

• Dampers

• Special Instructions

• Status

• Type

• Liner Type

New Label Profiles

Label Profiles have been implemented to help with filtering and sorting “Label Only” type tickets. This

can be used to build Label Profiles that will match the filtering and sorting of specific reports, such as the

Coil Line Report, Fittings Sheer Report, and Spiral Weight Report. With similar filtering and sorting of

your tickets and reports you can print out your report and your matching tickets and deliver them to the

shop floor. You can create multiple Label Profiles with different filter setups and different sorting

options for each specific report.

To create a Label Profile, you will want to go to the “Tickets” tab and make sure Label is selected on the

bottom of the UI. You then will select “Properties” located in the top right hand corner.



This will bring up the “Label Profiles” dialog box.



To create a new Label Profile, expand the dropdown and select “New Label Profile”. At this point you

can give the Label Profile a name such as “Coil Line Duct” for example. All Label Profiles can be

deleted, renamed, or cloned as desired.

After you create a Label Profile you will decide what it is you would like to include and use the filters

accordingly.

• You will first want to decide what Shapes you would like to include, such as Rectangular,

Round, or Oval.

• What type of Ducts you would like to include if any, such as Rectangular Ducts, Longitudinal

Ducts, Spiral Ducts, and Spiral Rib Ducts.

• Next would be to consider what Fittings to include, such as Canvas Connectors, Collars, Duct

Couplings, Fitting Couplings, or Other Fittings. Other Fittings will include all other fittings that

don’t have a specific filter option.

• You can also include Parts by selecting the Parts filter listed under Special. If you wanted to

create a Label Profile for only Parts, you would only need to check on “Parts”.



The next thing you would want to setup is the Sort by properties, which can be added by selecting Add

Property. Select whatever property you would like to sort by from the list and give it a display name. The

display name is the name it will display as on the Label Profile. Each property you add for sorting can be

turned off, set to descending or ascending, and ordered in any order.

The active Label Profile can be changed easily by selecting this dropdown and selecting which Label

Profile you would like to be active.

The Label Profiles are stored in .xml format at this location:

Documents\EastCoast\DuctMaker\User\Tickets\TicketsSettings.xml. Since it is stored in .xml format, the

Label Profiles can be setup on one machine, then the TicketsSetttings.xml can be shared to all other users

and placed in the correct location mentioned above.



In this effort, we have made filtering, sorting and other enhancements to the following DuctMaker

Reports, Coil Line Report (v2), Fittings Sheer Report, and Spiral Weight Report. This can be reviewed in

the next section New Report Enhancements.

DuctMaker V7.1.3 will install with the out of the box TicketsSettings.xml setup. We include the

following Label Profiles and their aligned reports. You can use the below Label Profiles setup as a

guideline to fit your shop’s requirements.

• All Label Fittings

• Coil Line Duct – Coil Line Report (v2)

• Oval Fittings Sheer – Fittings Sheer Report

• Round Fittings Sheer – Fittings Sheer Report

• Spiral Duct – Spiral Weight Report

New Report Enhancements

Coil Line Report (V2)

The option “Coil Duct Only” has been added to the Coil Line Report (v2) properties. When this option is

checked on the report will report Coil Line ducts only. When this option is unchecked, it will report all

Coil Line ducts and any other short piece ducts that have a label status.

The following Sort by properties have been added in this order. This order of Sort by properties can be

changed to fit the user’s needs. The only exception is Material and Gauge. Material and Gauge needs to

be at the top of the list since this report is broken down by Material and Gauge sections.

Fittings Sheer Report

The report filters Collars and Connectors have been combined into one filter “Collars & Connectors”.

The following Sort by properties have been added in this order. This order of Sort by properties can be





Spiral Weight Report

The Spiral Weight Report Properties has 4 new sections, Report Columns, Report Filters, Report

Options, and Sort by Properties. The Report Columns section includes Double Wall, Lining, Material

(LN FT), and Piece No. Checking on any of these options will include them as additional columns on the

Spiral Weight Report. The Report Filters Spiral and Spiral Rib have been added. Checking on Spiral or

Spiral Rib will include all Spiral and Spiral Rib ducts on the report. Unchecking either of the options will

exclude Spiral or Spiral Rib ducts from the report. The Report Option Group by Diameter groups all like

pieces together in one row with a total quantity. The ducts will only be grouped if all columns on the

report match.

The weight column now reports the total weight of the length of the duct instead of the Material (LN

FT). The formula used is ((Diameter in FT) * (PI)) * (Material Weight in Lbs/Sq Ft) * (Length in FT).

This has also been changed on the Fabrication Report.

Length will now report in Feet and Inches rounded to the nearest 16th inch.

The following Sort by properties have been added in this order. The order of Sort by properties can be





Specification Improvements

Three specification improvements have been made in V7.1.

• Tap Joint has been removed from the taps level of the specification. The reason being, there is a

separate joint list for Rectangular than there is for Round and Oval. You will want to setup Tap

Joint on the Rectangular, Round, and Oval level under taps. If existing specifications did have

Tap Joint setup on the Taps level, Tap Joint will not be removed and it will still work the same

as it did prior to V7.1.

• Connector Out has been removed from the taps level of the specification. The reason being,

there is a separate connector list for Rectangular than there is for Round and Oval. You will

want to setup Connector Out on the Rectangular, Round, and Oval level under taps. If existing



specifications did have Connector Out setup on the Taps level, Connector Out will not be

removed and it will still work the same as it did prior to V7.1.

• To setup different ½ perimeter breaks for rectangular standard length duct than short pieces of

duct, 2 new ½ perimeter specification rules were implemented. Review New ½ Perimeter

Specification Rules (Std Duct and Non Std Duct) for more information.

System Drivers

Five new system drivers have been added to the software.

• Esab – Vision LE Type 2

• PPICNC 5X Type 1

• MultiCam Type 4

• Torchmate – Burny Phantom II Type 1

3.2 Resolved Issues

Access Panel Hole Size

The access panel hole will now correctly adjust its size,

when the panel joint parameter is changed.

Cloned Fitting Nested Piece Number

A cloned fitting will now display the correct piece number

on the nested sheet instead of the piece number of the

cloned fitting.

]

Combined Face Fitting Cut Path

The cut path on combined face fittings, such as Gored

Elbows, Offsets and Mitered Elbows has been corrected.

Instead of first traversing to the origin, it will traverse

directly to the start point and will begin cutting without

extra movement.

Damper In/Out Seam Interference

When creating Spiral or Spiral Rib Oval and Round duct,

you will no longer receive the following new error

messages “Damper In: Hole interferes with the fitting’s

seam.” or “Damper Out: Hole interferes with the fitting’s

seam” considering the damper holes won’t be burned.

Other fittings or duct such as Longitudinal Oval and

Round duct will receive the new error messages

mentioned above. 18]

Drop Cheek Elbow Cut Path

A cutting issue on drop cheek radius elbows that have a

significant rise or drop, and is less than 90 degrees has

been corrected. All drop cheeks elbows will now cut

correctly.



Equivalence Table Determines the Size of the Interior Metal

The equivalence table per connector setup will now

determine the size of the exterior metal and the interior

metal.

Estimation Integration Issues

Five estimation integration issues have been corrected:

• Inner wall tee and cross parameters will now

import and display correctly when you edit the

fittings. When editing the fittings, if “Apply

Specification” is unchecked, the tees and crosses

will no longer update as if “Apply Specification”

is checked on.

• Saddles on taps will now import, nest, and report

correctly if it is specified in the estimate xml file,

or if it is specification driven.

• The Straight Out parameter will no longer be

ignored when importing a Round Tee, Tapered.

• You will no longer be asked to map the round /

oval connector when importing a standalone tap

that is attached to a round or oval ghost body.

• Alias will now always import correctly if it is or is

not specified in the estimate xml file with “Apply

Manufacturer Defaults” set to TRUE in the shop

policies.

Fabricate Status Missing from Radius Elbows

The fitting status “Fabricate” is no longer missing from

the Rectangular Elbow, Radius and Rectangular Elbow,

Radius Angle Throat.

HASP License Management Shortcut

The HASP License Management shortcut has been moved

to Windows/Programs/EastCoast. It will no longer be

found in the PartManager or DuctMaker folders.

Library Part List

Fittings and Parts that are on the DuctMaker library list

will now upgrade correctly from release to release.

Rectangular Elbow, Square Heel Type and Liner Heel Type

Two new parameters Heel Type and Liner Heel Type

parameters have been implemented. You will have the

options 1 or 2 for Heel Type and Liner Heel Type. Using

the option 2 for Heel Type and Liner Heel Type will split

the heel right at the center of the bend notch. This can be

setup in the specifications, and a new rule has been

implemented “Heel Length” to control your Heel Type and

Liner Heel Type based on the over length of the heel.

When you’re using Heel Type 2, you can control the seam



separately on the Advanced tab during fitting creation by

modifying the Heel Seam parameters.

Rectangular Transition, Ogee Notch Placement

Specific sized Rectangular Ogee Transitions when nested

had overlapping notches. When these fittings were cut, the

overlapped notches caused the torch to go out. The fitting

will no longer have overlapped notches when nested, and

the torch will no longer go out when cutting these fittings.

Roof Curb Hole Size

When the joint is now changed on the Round Roof Curb,

the size of the hole in the plate and the size of the body

will be adjusted accordingly. Changing the Roof Flange

Joint on the advanced tab will also update the size of the

hole in the plate and the size of the body accordingly.

Round and Oval Dual Wall Duct Interior Type and Status

You can now control the interior and exterior Type and

Status of dual wall duct independently from each other.

For example, when creating Round and Oval Spiral or

Spiral Rib duct, you can now have the interior type set to

Longitudinal with a status of Fabricate if desired. Any

combination of exterior/interior types and statuses can be

created for Round and Oval ducts.

Round Tap, Loloss Damper Hole Layout

The Round Tap, Loloss damper hole layout distance will

now be correct when creating or importing this fitting into

DuctMaker.

Segmentation Issues Four segmentation issues have been corrected:

• When creating an oversized Oval Elbow, Mitered

2 gore elbow, both gore 1 and gore 2 will now

segment correctly.

• When creating an oversized 2 gore Oval Elbow,

Mitered, Oval Elbow, Gored, Round Elbow,

Mitered, and Round Elbow, Gored with a seam

count of 2, and a seam location of throat or

throat_throat, both gore 1 and gore 2 will now

segment correctly.

• When creating a specific sized asymmetrical

Rectangular Elbow, Radius, the heel will now

segment and nest correctly.

• An oversized symmetrical or asymmetrical

Rectangular Elbow, Radius with a radial split

segmentation setup will now segment the cheeks

at the center of the throat radius to the center of

the heel radius.

Specification Issues The scroll bar functionality will now work as expected

when creating a specification that has enough rules that

requires you to use the scroll bar. The up and down arrows

will also work as expected when creating a specification



that has enough rules that requires you to use the up and

down arrows.

Top Change Rounding on Labels

The Top Change field on all labels will now round to the

nearest two decimal places like the Left Set, Right Set, and

Bottom Change fields.

3.3 Known Issues

CenterLineInput = FALSE

CenterLineInput in the Shop Policies is currently not working as expected when it is set to TRUE. We

have set the CenterLineInput in the database to FALSE and recommend the user to set CenterLineInput

to FALSE until it is implemented in a future release.

Duct Dimension Rule for Taps on Existing Specifications

We have removed the Duct Dimension rule from the taps portion of the specification, but some users

may already have a specification setup that has taps using the Duct Dimension rule. The existing Duct

Dimension rules for taps will still work as expected, but we recommend deleting these rules and creating

new rules that use the new specification rule Duct Dimension Outlets.

Specification Export

If a specification has shapes turned off in the Specification Options and was exported using an earlier

version than version 7.0, the specification will import into DuctMaker ignoring your Specification

Options and all 3 shapes rectangular, round, and oval will be turned on. The Specification Options will

need to be manually modified.