New product names and packages
From version 7.0, all CAD Schroer products will be marketed under the M4 brand. The individual industry-specific product packages are given the appropriate product names, such as M4 DRAFTING for 2D design in mechanical engineering or M4 FACTORY for the 2D/3D layout in factory planning.
The complete range of all new packages and prices can be found under the respective product. An overview of our current product range can be seen in the following graphic.
New Features, Updates and Changes
2D Factory Layout: New Tools and Optimizations
Version 7.0 of the M4 Factory Layout Module has been significantly optimized and enhanced with additional functions. The improvements increase the design speed by a simpler user workflow
Optimization and extension of the symbol catalog
M4 always offers the possibility to select 3D components from a catalog and to place them in a 2D layout as a symbol. The selection of the components has now been simplified by a symbol catalog. In addition, the standard supplied catalog compo-nents have been significantly extended.
Improved Catalog Selection of Components
In version 7.0, the selection dialog for catalog components has been re-created from the ground up, making it far easier to select components. The selection is enhanced by selection filters and a measurement function. In addition, individual variations for a attribute of the component can now be supplemented by descriptions. The catalog table columns are now customizable and can be modified to the requirements of the user.
2D/3D Groups for Components
The components scheduled in 2D can now be grouped in the structure tree. When loading the 2D layout in 3D, the groups are maintained and can be used here for further design purposes. In addition, these can be saved as a group component in the catalog for easy reuse. This optimization allows far better structuring of the design and much easier reuse of existing groups of components.
Structure tree for systems and subsystems in 2D
The M4 2D area now displays the 3D structure tree for the system and sub-system structure. Here you can view the individual scheduled components and select them for editing; the same mechanism in 2D and 3D.
2D Factory Layout Dashboard Optimized
The dashboard for editing the properties of factory layout components now includes an automatic check of systems and subsystems. This avoids incorrect or duplicate naming of systems and makes for better “right first time” design.
New: Production of steel platforms and staircases
M4 includes a new tool that allows you to easily create steel platforms with handrails and stairs in a 2D layout. Once a profile has been defined for a platform, it can be supplemented with the appropriate steel components such as steel girders, handrails, stairs and ladders. In addition, the steel plate can be provided with holes. The steel platform can also be easily modified at a later date. If, for example, the height of the platform is modified, all other components automatically change as well. Of course, the steel platforms defined in 2D are loaded as a detailed 3D model.
New Structure of Selection Tools
A new selection filter for factory layout elements in the 2D layout has now been add-ed to the selection tools. Additionally, a new selection tool for 2D Factory Layout el-ements has been added to the 3D area; select in 3D and it takes you to the 2D sheet and selects the 2d symbol in one click.
Optimization of the conveyor placement tools
The placement and processing of conveyor components has been further optimized in version 7.0. The improved selection and placement mechanisms have made fast planning very important. The user now has the option of having a conveyor section between two components created completely automatically in 2D. The system then automatically compensates for the height differences and displays the heights at the individual components. With these tools, the length or height of the placed conveyor elements can be changed. Individual elements can also be individually edited after placement by conveniently adjusting the individual parameters from a dialog. In addition, the Copy function has been extended so that the copied conveyor section can now also be mirrored in either axis.
Easier modification of 3D models for the 2D layout
Starting with version 7.0, M4 offers the possibility to edit a 3D model directly within the 2D layout. With the help of a new tool, the user can easily stretch the 2D symbol and the 3D model is modified according to the symbol modifications and saved as a new model. This function offers the user the possibility to adapt 3D models to new requirements without having the design department create them again and again.
2D/3D Machine and Conveyor Catalogue
Renaming the Conveyor Technology Module
The Ribbon tab for placing conveyor components has now been renamed M+AEC (Mechanical, Architectural and Engineering Construction) to better reflect the current level of functionality.
Extension of the machine and conveyor technology catalogue
Version 7.0 of the catalogue now contains many other parametric standard compo-nents that facilitate the planning of complete plants or factories. These offer parametric standard components such as doors, security fences, containers or containers. The parameters of each component can be adapted to your own requirements when they are placed.
Save Component Groups as Catalog Components
Starting with version 7.0, complete groups of catalog components can be saved as a single component in the catalog. This function for creating group components accel-erates any future design and thus enables yet faster delivery of projects.
Piping design
Extension of the Pipeline Construction Catalogue
With version 7.0, the catalogue in the field of pipeline construction has once again been extended with new catalogue components. Users now have access to new catalogues from the PVC-C and hygienic clamping flange piping sectors. New catalogue components are supplied as packages and can be imported into the customers’ existing pipeline construction catalogue if required.
Configurable flange connection fixings
In the new version, flange fixings can be modified to new non default requirements after placement. The new “keep” option allows edits to be made to many connections at the same time, but only changing details which are not “kept”.
Improved generation of piping isometrics
In version 7.0, the module for the automatic generation of pipe isometrics has signifi-cant further improvements. The templates and styles already supplied in M4 ISO have been optimized to show that. The automatic placement of the individual sym-bols and labels has been improved, so that even very complex pipe situations can be optimally displayed and labelled in M4 ISO. In addition, the pipe isometric dialog has been extended with further options. These now allow the selection of a user coordinate system and the definition of optional split points. These allow pipeline isometrics to have more choice over orientation and split into individual drawings at the desired location.
More detailed parts lists
As of version 7.0, you can decide in each discipline whether the parts lists should only display total lengths or individual lengths. For each discipline, the user can decide whether, for example, he wants to see all pipe sections, steel members, cable trays or ventilation ducts with the corresponding lengths individually in the list or whether these should be output as a total length.
Easier moving of individual projects
With version 7.0 M4 offers an even easier way to customize project directories or to organize them. With the new tool, all resources used in the project can be viewed with their file paths and the individual paths can be adjusted. This makes it far easier to adapt projects to new requirements and safely modify them in the future.
P&ID
User-dependent Standard Attributes for Line Labels
The P&ID tool for pipe labelling now allows the definition of user-dependent standard attribute values. The user can define standard values for the currently used attributes within a session. This allows the user to temporarily change the standard attribute values within a project and thus further accelerate the pace of design.
Optimization of the renumbering tool
M4 has supported the renumbering of complete drawings since the version 6.3. This function makes it possible to renumber many copied elements in a drawing so that no components with the same name are used. In version 7.0 this function has been extended to instrumentation, so that the used instruments are now renamed correctly.
Extension of the sheet connector dialog
M4 allows the connection of several drawing sheets into one design project. The lines are connected logically between the individual drawings by sheet connectors. With version 7.0, the Sheet Connector dialog now shows the user which connections are not yet paired in a selection dialog; so the “not yet connected” lines can be easily selected and continued on the current sheet.
Custom Subtypes for Components
M4 offers a default structuring of all components, by types and subtypes; whereby a simpler structuring and parts list generation is made possible. As of version 7.0, the subtypes of the components can be freely edited and individually selected. Direct entry of a new subtype is also possible.
Symbol Favourites
Starting with version 7.0, M4 now offers the option of saving individual P&ID symbols into a favourite’s area of the symbol tab. This is done conveniently via the context menu, where the currently selected symbol is added to the favourites. Favourites created in this way are used to generate diagrams even faster, thus saving design time.
Use of connection points for equipment placement
M4 now allows changing of the datum when placing a component. The individual connection points can be used as alternative datums. The selection can be made conveniently from the context menu.
Customizable Scaling of Different Symbol Types
In M4, the P&ID symbols are displayed as a preview in a clearly arranged dialog. The size of the symbols in the preview could be adjusted, but for all symbol types at the same time. Starting with version 7.0, M4 now offers the option of individually scaling the symbol sizes for each category. For example, symbols for equipment can now be displayed smaller than those for instrumentation.
Define nominal size for connection points
As of M4 Version 7.0, the connection points on the P&ID symbols can be provided with nominal diameters. These can then either be output in a report or used in 3D piping design to place the appropriate components; previous to Version 7.0 nominal diameters were only inherited from attached pipelines.
Move symbols by double-clicking them
As of version 7.0, symbols or line labels can be moved in M4 by simply double-clicking on the corresponding symbol. The current symbol is selected and the appro-priate move function is activated. This results in a significant reduction in user input and a decrease in design time; P&ID’s are amongst the most edited of drawings.
Automatic Creation of Symbol Legends
As of version 7.0, symbol legends can be generated in M4 for individual P&ID flowcharts or complete projects. These are generated either on the current sheet or on a new sheet. During generation, the user can decide exactly what the legend should contain. The user can decide between the current sheet, the entire project or an area in the catalog. The position and size of the legend can also be adjusted. This function eliminates the tedious manual creation of symbol legends, as these can now be generated project-specifically with just a few clicks.
Extension of the P&ID Administration
As of version 7.0, the P&ID administration includes additional options. For example, individual symbols, groups od symbols or complete symbol catalogs can be displayed or hidden from users. It is very common to use alternative symbol sets for different customers; this makes that very simple.
Better generation of parts lists
The generation of BOMs has been further improved in version 7.0. The dialog for generating BOMs has been simplified. Options for configuring the parts lists are now only visible when the user has logged in as admin. Parts lists, placed as table on a sheet, can be updated now rather than repalced. In addition, the BOM configurations are now stored in separate files, making it easier to exchange them between users.
M4 REVIEW
The new version 7.0 of the 3D viewer M4 REVIEW has been updated to the latest state of the art. The individual functions have also been optimized to increase the performance of the software.
Customer development requests
In addition to the many innovations and new products, the new version of M4 contains over 350 customer-oriented productivity improvements. These optimization suggestions are regularly submitted by CAD Schroer customers via the customer portal and are thus incorporated directly into the software development process.