Instructions for using the Mechanical Design Libraries

About the Components and SketchUp Place mechanical components by dragging them from the Component Window and dropping them into your model. Most components are self-explanatory and can be placed using standard methods. All components have an axis origin which doubles as an insertion point. Each components insertion point is located at a bottom surface corner or, in the case of circular components, at the center of the bottom surface. In all cases the blue axis is pointing skyward. There are some exceptions, however; these are explained in the following instructions. These components were created using the latest standards specific to each library. Though every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, it is the users responsibility to ensure that components conform to their own specific requirements. @Last Software does not accept responsibility for any errors that might occur, either in the components themselves or as a result of their use.

How to use the Piping Libraries

These libraries can be used to develop anything that might contain pipe fittings and piping systems. All of the piping and fittings were created with the origin at the exact center of the bottom surface. The blue axis always points up when in the Front View. This was done so that they can easily be snapped to another part or assembly in your drawing. In the case of the Raised Face components, the origin is at the bottom center of this raised face. The raised face is of the 1/16 type. Placing these components is similar to that of other components except for the orientation of the axis on the drawing where the component is being inserted. The origin must be moved to the exact center of the location you want the component to snap to on the drawing. The pull-down tool axis can be used to orient the axis. You must also orient the red and green axes properly as well. The red axis needs to follow along a line 90 degrees from the vertical centerline of this surface when viewed in 2D. In other words, once the axis origin center is snapped (moved) to the center of the destination part or assembly, move the cursor to the right so that it will fall exactly on the right quadrant of the circle. After clicking on the red axis, move your cursor around, either upward or downward, so that the blue axis comes out of the drawing toward you. Now, when you insert the component from the Library, it will snap to this surface perfectly, with the blue axis pointing in the same direction (out of the drawing) as when you moved the origin to start with. If a gasket is used, move the part along the blue axis the thickness of the gasket, prior to deselecting.

The above method is used for most pipe and pipe fittings, both flanged and non-flanged. Elbows, however, are an exception. They are inserted the same as above, but once placed, might be oriented in an unwanted direction. Elbows can be re-oriented by using the rotate tool and locking the compass to the circle face (angelic halo) that has been placed at the top of the fitting. Then, when the proper orientation has been accomplished, remove the circular surface. Ts and other fittings and Valves that have faces aligned with the blue axis already do not require the above operation because you can easily lock the protractor to the top face for rotation. You will notice that all of the components have been created in what is called two bolting. For those that dont know what this means, the bolt holes are oriented such that no bolt falls on a centerline of the part. The primary reason for this is that components such as Butterfly Valves have the Operators passing through their vertical centerlines. Therefore, their bolting patterns are rotated so that they are offset from the vertical and horizontal centerlines allowing for the Operator to pass through its body. Another thing that should be noted is that we have supplied two piping Library types in both 150# and 300# fitting categories. One Library was created with the default 24 sided circles that produce very good looking results. However, when complicated piping assemblies are made up of many components, file sizes can become enormous. Therefore, we created a Library using fewer sides for those instances. These Libraries can be identified in the title by such terms as VLP (very low polygon) and usually will specify the number of sides that were used, such as 16s x 8s. The first figure is the number of sides found in the flange and the second is the number in the neck of the part. The reason for the difference in the sides within the part is because the flanges are generally much larger in diameter than the necks. The fewer sides they contain, the more faceted they appear. Therefore, the flanges have as many sides as possible and yet use a minimum amount of polygons to keep the file size down. The necks usually snap to some other part or component making them appear much more smoothly because you do not see the ends. Most drawings using the VLP piping are rarely zoomed in close enough to really make a difference. But, if you are creating a stand alone assembly that will not be used in a larger equipment layout or assembly, you can probably use the nicer looking Library.

How to use the Gusset Library

The Gusset Library was created with steel weldments in mind. Since Gussets are usually placed near the mid-point of corners, we placed the origin of the component in the middle of the edge at its apex. When inserting the component into the weldment, move the axis, like in the piping example above, to this mid-point. The gusset will then automatically snap to this location when inserting. In addition to the many gusset sizes included in the library, the thickness of the gussets can be changed after inserting if a different dimension is required. If an odd sized gusset should be required, this size can easily be changed by modifying it in place on the drawing after inserting. Simply right click and modify the component. If several

components of the same type are being used and need modifying, it would be best to insert them first, then modify one and they will all change automatically.

How to use the Hardware Library

The Hardware Library consists of nuts, bolts, screws, and the like. Most do not need any explanation as they are inserted in drawings in various ways. However, a couple of things should be noted. The origin points, again, are always at the center of the bottom surface, regardless of what that component might be. In the case of bolts, the shank lengths are known only by the user, so we created two Libraries. One just has the bolt head with a circle at the bottom surface that matches the diameter of the shank. In a lot of cases, you will not see the shank because it will disappear in the assembly. Therefore, it is not needed, and we left it out for that reason. The other Library of bolts includes the shank in 1 lengths for those cases where showing the shank is necessary, such as exploded views of an assembly. All one needs to do with this component is edit it and push-pull the shank to the required length. We included a Stud Library for parts that are bolted together with nuts on each end. Again, the circumstances will dictate how these are inserted into the drawing. These were created with 1 spacing between the nuts to make it more convenient in setting the proper length of the shank between the bottom surfaces of the nuts in the assembly. The easiest way, of course, is to modify these once placed in the assembly. Again, place all the bolting arrangements first and then modify the lengths so they will all modify at once.