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MagiCAD 2021 Update Release 1
1. New radiator connection function
Piping
A new Radiator connection function creates automatic radiator connections to main pipes and provides advanced connection options. You can adjust several different parameters and change connection options allowing for a wide range of connection variations. You can also preview the different options in order to examine potential alternatives and to ensure that the optimal design is achieved.
Previous versions of MagiCAD for AutoCAD already provided a functionality for connecting radiators to main pipes while drawing, but the connections had to be done one radiator at a time and with limited connection options.
2. Improved pump curves
Piping
MagiCAD calculations now support multiple pump curves and areas for stepless pumps that are frequency controlled. The actual duty point for these pumps on the pump curve diagram is calculated in heating and cooling systems if the Calculate to pump pressure option is selected.
3. Diversity calculations for heating and cooling systems
Calculations, Piping
Diversity factors enable you to estimate the practical real flow of a heating or cooling system when it is in use. Pipe and pump sizes can then be reduced to match the practical real flow requirements in order to minimise material investments and to produce energy savings. Diversity factors affect pipe sizes during sizing and pressure drops during balancing.
The same diversity factor needs to be used for both supply and return pipes. Diversified flow is not supported in systems where the supply and return routes are different, such as reverse return systems.
4. Improved sprinkler reports
Sprinkler Designer
Sprinkler reports have a page header with the possibility to add custom logos and the overall layout has been edited to match other calculation reports. It is now also possible to print all the calculated design areas into the same file. The default names of the printed pdf files reflect the content as the design area name is used when printing a single area (“design area name”.pdf) and the project name is used when printing multiple areas (“project name”.pdf).
5. Preview calculation results for ventilation and piping networks
Calculations
Although calculation report tables contain full information on calculation results, it can be hard to get a good general overview of a network just based on the report. A network preview has now been added to all calculation reports in the Ventilation and Piping modules in MagiCAD for AutoCAD. The preview combines information from all drawings and shows a 3D view of all system elements that are affected by the calculation results.
The network preview makes it much easier to get a visual overview of how the calculation results affect the general design. It also helps in identifying potential issues that may affect the calculations.
6. Use 2-sided and 3-sided insulation on rectangular ducts
Ventilation
It is now possible to draw rectangular ducts with only 2-sided or 3-sided insulation. Partial insulation is commonly used when one or more sides of the duct touch a surface or the insulation of another element. You can define the insulated sides of a duct during drawing in the Design Options dialog under Insulation series. You can also edit an existing duct with the Partially Remove Insulation function under Modify.
7. Define raised or lowered floor areas
Ventilation, Piping, Electrical, Sprinkler Designer
It is now possible to draw floor areas with a custom offset from the default storey floor level. Floor areas allow you to take raised and lowered floors into account in MEP system designs. The floor area offset is used in all installation functions, modification functions and dimension texts inside the area. You can also use a priority setting to manage overlapping floor areas with different sizes and elevations.
8. Create provision offsets according to segment size
Ventilation, Piping, Electrical, Sprinkler Designer
Earlier, if users defined an offset for provisions, the same offset was used for all segments in the drawing regardless of their size. It is now possible to define different provision offsets for different sized segments. The Provision for Builderswork Openings tool settings include tables where you can assign a custom offset for each segment size. The tables can then be assigned to duct, pipe, cable tray, LED-stripe, or lighting track series.
9. Create customized drawing export files
Ventilation, Piping, Electrical, Sprinkler Designer
Designers often need to share their drawings with other project participants who might only need some specific information in the drawings for their own work. For example, architects often need to know which devices are in false ceilings but may not need information on every hidden system element.
The new DWG Export function makes it easy to create drawing export files with only the segments and devices that are needed for a particular purpose. You can select which drawings in the project are used and which objects should be included in the new versions. The devices to be included can be filtered using the MagiCAD Object Selection Set function.
10. Enhanced switchboard and host management
Electrical
Switchboard and host management now has additional properties available for selection and editing. The new properties allow you to, for example, change the elevations of host devices or change the IFC types of switchboards. When you change the elevations of hosts or switchboards, all connected cable packets will follow as well. You can also switch the modification range between the currently active drawing and all model drawings, and the dialog will remember your selections.
11. Add automatically updated property values to text notes in schematic drawings
Schematics
Previously, when users added text notes to drawings with information on different devices and parts, the property text and the general text had to be written separately. Any adjustments to properties then meant that the text had to also be edited.
The new Multi-line notes function enables you to include property text values as an automatically updated part of the general text. This means that any updates and changes to properties are automatically updated in the note. The notes can be placed in the drawing as a free text or bound to a specific object as a reference text. You can also include properties from many different devices and create an automatically updated text describing all the various parts and properties in a drawing if needed.
12. Intelligent connection point handling for terminal blocks
Circuit Designer
A new Area function makes it easy to add multiple connection points to a terminal block. Every unconnected connection point in a selected area is added to the terminal block and they are arranged in alphabetical order.
Connection points are also now handled individually even if they share an ID with another connection point. Jump wires are now drawn correctly between adjacent connection points in a terminal block, regardless of how the wiring between the connection points has been drawn.
13. Improvements to the Change Properties feature
Circuit Designer
You can now change attribute visibility settings, connector IDs, 2D symbols, and contactor numbering rules with Change Properties, instead of editing individual objects. This makes it much faster and easier to modify drawings.
For example, changing a contactor type would be time-consuming when done individually for each contactor, its connector ID and symbol. With Change Properties you can define the correct numbering rule and perform the needed changes to selected contactors simultaneously.