Well, I am working on a program to make homemade designs. Basically, there is a bin with a bunch of parts, and you drag and drop them onto the grid. You can then save a picture of the design. This way it is a lot easier than in Paint, and looks better. I still have to add a few things (check valves, ball valves, caps and reducers) and polish it up, such as lining the pipe up and a few other things.



That's just a portion of the grid, the grid is actually about 550 pixels wide and about 430 pixels tall. There's also a file menu. The pipe in the picture is 1 inch.

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The 1.07 version can be downloaded here. Saved files from eariler versions won't work with this version. Also, the source is included, made with Game Maker 6.

What are you designing it with (hopes it's not VB)? Will it be Mac/Linux freindly?

It's Game Maker. :ph43r: No, it's not Mac/Linux friendly, sadly.

Here's a picture of the interface, I have ball valves and check valves working. The 'Load' and 'Save' buttons don't work yet. Since I have to hand make (the scaling functions make it look bad) the pipe graphics, right now only 1 inch works.

Beta Download

Nice.

v0.9 Download
Same place as last time.

All of the pipe is working except pipe that crosses two sizes (like bushings and reducers). The pipe sizes available are 1/2", 3/4", 1", 2", and 3". The file menu works completely. Save picture saves a .bmp of the grid, save and load use a .pvc file, native to this program. (so you can open and edit the design later)

I'm going to post it on the other forums when I finish it. ;)

Wow-that's really cool. Can't wait for the finished product. B)

I present: Version 1.00

All of the buttons work, there are four sizes of bushings and two sizes of reducers. I even threw in a wooden rod (for pump shafts).
Same place as always: Version 1.0 Download

The .zip also has the design file for Ben's APH. (pictured)

Any chance of including a few other items such as a metal ball valve, tracked pump, and a conical nozzle? Very interesting program, although I couldn't bear to use a pvc ball valve or un-tracked pumps and therefore have made a bunch of unfinished designs. :P

Ok, there's a new version now, 1.05. I have added an aluminum rod, tracked pipe, metal ball valves and couplings. There's also a slight grid enhancement, a cookie for whoever figures it out. :lol:

Same download place as always.

It would be really nice if you built in springs. A lot of my designs feature springs, and the addition of such would really make this the ideal designer for me, and for many people I know.

Great program by the way, I use it all the time.

EDIT: I'm also pinning this, because as this program evolves, I have a feeling it's going to become more popular.

Yeah, this is a great program. It's very helpful in relaying plans and stuff.

Well, I added a button to rotate the pipe in the opposite direction. :D I also fixed up the saving/loading system a bit, the current version is 1.07. Due to the changes and the way I am saving things, saved files from earlier versions won't work with this version.

And, if anyone wants to add something or just learn from it, I released the source. It's included in the .zip, it's the .gm6 file. You can edit it with Game Maker 6.

I like the PVC designer, it seems to be a step closer to standardising homemade designs. It is also heplful as I have now seen many flaws in homemade designs that I have put on paint and been able to correct them on here. Good job with this and there could not have been a better time to come up with this! :)