Calculators · Software · Productivity

Tools, Calculators & Software

Fifteen free engineering calculators built to ASME, ISO and API codes — plus honest assessments of the design and analysis software I actually use on real projects. No marketing fluff, just field perspective.

Free · SI & Imperial · Code-traceable

Engineering Calculators

Every calculator runs in your browser, no signup, no data collected. Each cites its source code (ASME B31.3, ISO 5167, API RP 14E…) and includes a brownfield reality-check. Use them as a sanity check, not as a substitute for stamped engineering.

Mechanical Design (B31.3)

ASME B31.3 §304.1.1
Wall Thickness
Minimum required wall for internal pressure with corrosion, mill tolerance and material allowable stress.
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ASME B31.3 §304.3.3
Branch Reinforcement
Area replacement check for unreinforced and reinforced branch connections, with pad sizing suggestion.
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ASME B31.3 §345.4.2
Hydrotest Pressure
Test pressure per B31.3, B31.1, B31.4 and B31.8 with proper allowable stress ratio handling.
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ASME B36.10M / B36.19M
Pipe Weight
Empty, water-filled and insulated weight per linear unit, all NPS ½″ to 48″ and schedules.
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MSS SP-58
Support Span
Maximum distance between supports based on stress and deflection limits, with insulation allowance.
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Thermal & Stress

B31.3 App. C
Thermal Expansion
ΔL for any pipe material, length and ΔT — carbon steel, stainless, alloy, plastic.
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Guided cantilever
Expansion Loop Sizing
L-leg length for U-loops based on guided cantilever method. Quick first-pass sizing before stress analysis.
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ASTM C680
Insulation Thickness
Skin-temperature targeting for hot or cold service. Heat loss, condensation control, personnel protection.
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Flow & Hydraulics

API RP 14E
Fluid Velocity
V = Q / A with erosional limit Vₑ = C / √ρ. Status indicator vs API recommended limits.
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Re = ρVD/μ
Reynolds Number
Flow regime classification (laminar / transition / turbulent) with 9 fluid presets at temperature.
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Darcy-Weisbach + Colebrook
Pressure Drop
Iterative Colebrook-White friction factor with 6 fluid presets and 6 surface roughness profiles.
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ISA S75.01 / IEC 60534
Control Valve Cv / Kv
Liquid Cv sizing with choked-flow and cavitation flag. Six valve styles with FL recovery factors.
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ISO 5167-2
Orifice Plate Sizing
Reader-Harris/Gallagher full equation. Three tap configurations, gas expansibility, β-ratio bisection.
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Field Utilities

ASME B16.5 / B18.2.2
Stud Bolt Length
Raised-face flange pair stud length with gasket and washer options. Rounded to standard B16.5 lengths.
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9 categories
Unit Converter
Flow, pressure, viscosity (dyn & kin), length, mass, torque, density, temperature — piping engineer focused.
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Honest Assessments · Field Perspective

Software Reviews

The design, scanning and analysis tools I actually use on real projects. Honest assessments from someone who’s on the model every day — not marketing copy, not vendor pitches.

3D Piping Design

AVEVA E3D / PDMS
AVEVA
The industry standard for large EPC projects. Steep learning curve, powerful spec-driven workflow. Dominant in European and Middle Eastern petrochemical.
Industry standard for major EPCs
AutoCAD Plant 3D
Autodesk
More accessible entry point, widely used by smaller engineering firms. Good integration with AutoCAD ecosystem. Catalog-driven. Familiar if you come from a 2D AutoCAD background.
Strong for mid-size projects
SmartPlant 3D / S3D
Hexagon / Intergraph
Rule-driven design with strong integration to SmartPlant suite. Common on large US and Asian projects. Data-centric approach. Heavy infrastructure investment required.
Large project / US market focus
Navisworks
Autodesk
The go-to for model review, clash detection and 4D scheduling. Not a design tool — an aggregation and review tool. Essential for multi-discipline coordination.
Essential for clash review

Scan-to-Model & Point Cloud

Leica Cyclone
Leica Geosystems
Industry-leading point cloud registration and processing. The benchmark for accuracy. Pairs naturally with Leica RTC360 and BLK360 scanners.
Benchmark for accuracy
Autodesk ReCap
Autodesk
Point cloud management and preparation. Integrates directly with Plant 3D and Navisworks. Good for importing and cleaning scans before design work.
Seamless Autodesk integration
CloudCompare
Open source
Free, powerful, and surprisingly capable for point cloud analysis, comparison, and basic processing. Steep learning curve but excellent for verifying registration quality and change detection.
Free — no excuse not to learn it
Trimble RealWorks
Trimble
Strong alternative to Cyclone for registration and feature extraction. Paired with Trimble X7 scanners. Growing presence in construction and industrial markets.
Strong Trimble ecosystem fit

Stress Analysis

CAESAR II
Hexagon
The global standard for pipe stress analysis. Every stress engineer knows it. As a piping designer, you don’t run it yourself — but you need to understand what it’s checking and how your routing decisions affect the results.
Global stress analysis standard
ROHR2
SIGMA Ingenieurgesellschaft
Widely used in European (especially German) engineering. Full-featured stress analysis with strong code coverage including EN 13480. Common on German and Dutch EPC projects.
European market focus