Construct Raceway or Panel Ducting

Introduction

Raceway / Ducting networks are created by constructing a series of intelligent, connected route lines. These route lines contain all of the information required for Paneldes to fully create your panel ducting in 3D. Paneldes uses route lines as they are faster to draw and easier to manage at the design stage than the fully modelled duct components. This section describes the process of constructing duct networks, and connecting your components, into the 3D space representing your panel layout or control room (etc.) model.

Design Methods

Ducting network design can be done in many ways from a structured approach to a random approach. Certain criteria for your ducting design will always be defined for you due to availability of space and component layout in your panel model.

Paneldes [and panel wiring in general] is well suited to a structured approach. i.e.

Start at a central distribution point (e.g. A Terminal strip in a panel).
Using an ARTERIAL system branching out from the start.
Place your main arterial routes in the model.
Branch off with routes feeding components.
Wherever you have placed TEE's or X's you can branch easily.

The key to easy use of Paneldes is to design the larger MAIN routes first then BRANCH off these routes to smaller routes.

If you cannot use an arterial route system in your model (or in any part of your model) you will be faced with the task of calculating and aligning 3d polyline endpoints to ensure route connection. This is possible but is much harder work.

"Duct"

During the course of this section you can assume that the word DUCT is being used to summarise DUCT, TRAY and CONDUIT. A single piece of duct is also known as a segment.

Duct Route construction

Ducting Preparation.

3D Visualisation of Duct Network

Ducting ENVELOPE construction can be done at any time for visualisation and plotting.

Ducting networks should be created without the ducting ENVELOPES constructed, for reasons of visual clarity.