PDMS guide | Beginners: Interface, Settings, Modeling and Drafting

2011/10/25 20:45

1 Interface

1.1 Login

To be able to login to PDMS, user needs to select 1) Project, 2) Facility, 3) Sub Facility, 4) User Role, 5) Module (Design, Draft, etc.) and 6) Databanks (Design, Draft, etc.), see picture 1 below.

Note that once selections have been made, they stay active until changed again.

PDMS Login

Picture 1, Project Login

1.2 Main Windows

PDMS interface consist of three main windows: Graphical Window, Command Window and Draw List Window, which are shown in pictures 2, 3 and 4.

Graphical window is the main window used to create, modify, delete and view model elements.

Command window is used to key on different type of PDMS commands, such as, query attributes, moving elements, etc. Note that these commands can be also accessed from menu.

Draw List window is used to access elements in database hierarchy. Current element is highlighted in Graphical Window. Elements can be added or removed from the main window with different colors.

PDMS graphical window

Picture 2, Graphical Window


pdms right click context menu

Picture 3, Right-click Context Menu


pdms command window

Picture 3, Command Window


pdms draw list window

Picture 4, Draw list Window

1.3 Settings

Settings- menu can be used to change various settings, such as, default colors (picture 5), representation (picture 6), size of aid CE arrow and visible on/off, pline rules (picture 7), tolerances etc.

All changes made through Settings- menu are valid only for the current session.


PDMS color settings

Picture 5, Color Settings


pdms representation settings

Picture 6, Representation Settings


pdms ce arrow settings

Picture 7, Aid CE Arrow Settings


pdms pline rule

Picture 7, Pline Rule Settings

1.4 Position Control

Position control is used for position elements as shown in pictures 8 and 9 or when used dimensioning.


pdms position control

Picture 8, Position Control Settings, Pick Type


pdms position control

Picture 9, Position Control Settings, Pick Method


2 Modeling

2.1 Section Modeling

2.1.1 Create Section

Sections can be modeled by using “Create > Sections > Straight”- function, see picture 10 below. Make sure that the default profile specification has been set.

Section can be positioned by using Position Control. The first point picked will be the start of the section and the second one the end point. Section should be modeled pointing to either to north or to east. After picking the points, press “Dismiss”.

Check off “Secondary Nodes”- option, if section is not to be connected.



NOTES:

- Use always “round” numbers, for example, 1968 instead of 1968.37 when creating or modifying sections for drafting purposes.

- After creating the very first section, double-check the position of it by querying the start and end positions (Q POSS POSE) and then confirming them.

pdms section creating

Picture 10, Section Creation

2.1.2 Modify Specification and/or Justification

Section specification can be changed by using “Modify > Sections > Specification”- function, see picture 11 below.

Select section(s) to be modified by using CE, List or Pick- method. After selection, press “Apply” and “Dismiss”.


NOTES:

- Make sure that Justification and Member lines are set correctly. (Both should be the same).


pdms section specification

Picture 11, Section Specification


2.1.3 Extend Section

Sections can be extended (trimmed) by using either one of the following functions:

1) “Position > Extend > Through” (explicitly)

- Select pline > Apply > Dismiss

2) “Position > Extend > By” (relatively)

- Key in positive or negative distance > Apply > Dismiss

2.2 Panel Modeling


create panel pdms

Picture 12, Create Panel


modify panel pdms

Picture 13, Modify Panel


3 Draft

3.1 General

There are three different applications within Draft, which can be switched between by using buttons shown in picture 14.

Always navigate to the correct element in the Members list (eg. VIEW, LDIM etc.) before applying function.

drafting buttons pdms

Picture 14, Drafting application buttons


3.1.1 Create Drawing

Use “Create > Drawing > From Template”- function to create a new drawing.


3.1.2 Add Structural Members

Use “Modify > View > Limits-Defined”- function to add structural members, see picture 14 below and follow the below shown steps:


- Goto the correct View- level in the hierarchy

- Select Graphics > Drawlist

- Select members from “Reference List Members”

- Add

- Dismiss


3.1.3 Modify View Limits

- Select “Modify > View > Limits-Defined > Limits > Drawlist Members”- function

- Change limit coordinates (+1000 mm) and check the ccc- button

- Right-click on the screen and select “View Frames On/Off”

- Apply

- Update Design

- Remove structures, if needed, using “Graphics > Drawlist”- function


3.1.4 Update View

Use “Graphics > Update > Design/Annotation/All”- functions.


3.1.5 Delete Drawing

First remove the drawing first from the working sheet by pressing the “-”- button

And then delete it by pressing the “X”- button.


3.1.6 Move View

View can be moved by using BY@ , BY X/Y or XYPOS- commands.


NOTE: Use always “round” numbers


3.1.6 Create View

View can be created by using “Create > Copy > View”- function.


limits defined view pdms

Picture 14, Limits-Defined View


3.2 Dimensioning

3.2.1 Create Dimensions

- Select view

- Use “Create > Dimension Toolbar”- function to create dimensions, see picture 15.


create dimension pdms

Picture 15, Create Dimensions


3.2.2 Modify Dimensions

Use “Modify > Dimension Points”- function to modify dimensions, see picture 16.


modify dimension pdms

Picture 16, Modify Dimension


3.2.3 Modify Projection Line Clearance

Use “Modify > Dimension Points > Pos > Clearance > Cursor All”- function or

type PLCM @ in Command Window, select option (see picture 17), and indicate projection line to be changed.


point option pdms

Picture 17, Point option


3.2.4 Re-attach Dimension Line

- Select dimension line (DPPT)

- Type ON ID@ (element) or ON IDP@  (ppoint)

- Indicate new element or ppoint


3.2.5 Add New Dimension Line to an Existing One

- Goto to the correct element in hierarchy

- Type ON ID@ (element) or ON IDP@  (ppoint)

- Indicate new elemnt or ppoint


3.2.6 Remove Projection Line

Use “Modify > Dimension Line Definition”- function and select “Projection Line Only” in Options or type DLFG PROJLINEONLY in Command Window.


3.2.7 Change Line type of Projection Line

- Indicate dimension projection line

- Type PLPEN 136 for centerline


3.3 Labeling

3.3.1 Move Label

- Indicate label

- Type XYPOS


3.3.2 Change Rotation

- Indicate label

- Type ADEGREES


3.3.3 Hide Label

- Indicate label

- Use “Modify > Label Blanking”- function or type LVISIBILITY FALSE


3.3.4 Blank Label

- Indicate label

- Use “Modify > Label Blanking”- function or type BLNK TRUE


Article written by Marko Ervonmaa