# Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc — Calculates Layout dimensions

> Pipe elbow layout and cutting template calculator for fabricators and fitters. (iPhone/iPad app by Jean-Paul Lanaux.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-base-elbow-layout-calc/id537390779 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jean-Paul Lanaux](https://appshunter.io/developer/306486995)
- Category: Reference, Productivity
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 9 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 1 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2012-07-19
- Data updated: 2026-08-23
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-base-elbow-layout-calc/id537390779/reviews.md

## What is Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc?

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calculator is a iPhone app that provides the fitter with the points to make an accurate cut (fish mouth, cope, etc) for piping (base pipe cylinder to elbow radius) intersections. This app is intended to be used by fitters, welders, fabricators, or anyone who needs to join a metal cylinder at an elbow.

Are you still carrying that blue book around? Confused about how to layout cut lines for joining a piece of pipe to an elbow? If you are a pipe fabricator, welder, or fitter who needs to make perfect elbow base support cuts, then this app is for you. Forget books, calculators, compasses, ancient saddle layout procedures, laptops, expensive CAD programs, mathematics or internet access to figure out how to make that perfect base ell joint.

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calculator is easy. Piping Base Elbow Layout Calculator provides the offset layout dimensions for that perfect pipe joint. This calculator works with any size pipe, any size elbow of any radius, and any wall thickness of pipe. User enters: main pipe outside diameter, base support diameter, wall thickness (this app considers wall thickness, you don't want to leave too much metal, or take too much off) and elbow or bend radius. The calculator does the rest.

The calculator will provide dimensions for three different configurations: CENTER (base support), TOP (dummy leg), or BOTTOM (dummy leg).

This calculator immediately produces an ordinate table of the offsets. The beauty of this app is that it also produces full size pattern templates, so you don't have to measure and layout all of the work points. Now you can print out your pipe pattern templates for any size and any angle intersection. This version outputs patterns configured for an 8.5 X 11 (everyone has access to one of these), 11 X 17, and 24 X 36 printer sizes. So with this app and a 8.5 X 11 printer, the user can still produce any size pipe coping pattern.

The calculator is very versatile. Presently input and output is US based imperial and/or metric. Output is feet, or feet and inches, decimal or fractions (to 1/32").

User can control how much cut line accuracy he/she wants by setting how many control points are desired (infinite amount, user can get 8 control points, i.e. every 45 degrees or 360 control points, i.e every degree, or more). Most books only give 8 or 16 control points. This app allows an infinite amount. For example, a 2" pipe needs fewer control points than a 48".

## Key features

- Calculates layout dimensions for pipe intersections
- Generates full-size pattern templates
- Supports various pipe and elbow sizes
- Considers pipe wall thickness
- Outputs for different printer sizes
- Provides imperial and metric units
- Allows adjustable cut line accuracy

## Chart rankings

- #187 in Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (9 of 9)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-base-elbow-layout-calc/id537390779/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Can't set page size to A4. Error emailing calculations.

*2024-07-29*

Can't set page size to A4. To be fair this is noted in help but is a basic requirement if the purpose of the program is print templates.

Error when attempting to email calculations. No response or support from developer. As far as I can tell emailing calculations is the only way to print templates. Not being able to print templates makes the program useless

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2021-08-19*

Used this to layout an 8” dummy leg on 10” 90° Elbow and it was way out once cut. Better off using the book

### 1/5 — Good concept, lacking features.

*2020-07-24*

Considering this is used in aiding template development I feel you should include the ability to generate the template as well, waste of 7$ for anyone interested.

### 5/5 — Great App!

*2019-06-08*

I’m a Journeyman Pipefitter and a construction supervisor. I forgot my Red Book and my foreman didn’t have his 1001 Ordinance book. We downloaded this app and had a template built in 15 minutes. Saved us about 2 hours on a Saturday. Paid for itself 10x over with the first use.
I recommend this app for experienced tradesmen who are already familiar with template development. If you haven’t done this work before, take the time to watch a YouTube video or two.
Again, great app!

### 1/5 — Does not compute

*2018-12-14*

This app is terrible. Ordinates given do no even make a symmetrical wrap around. All attempts at making a template using this app failed. Went back to my 1000 ordinates book and also found a much better app that worked great. Please do not waste your money as you will just be disappointed as I am.

### 5/5 — Piping base Elbow Layout Calculator

*2014-06-14*

I saw the app online, got my phone, paid , printed, and was cutting pipe within 1/2 hr. All I had to do was knock off the slag. Tack!!

### 5/5 — Awesome app

*2013-06-29*

Was doing a shop base ell. I already had a template. I tested this app against my existing template and the PDF drawing was spot on. Looking forward to using this app on a base support where I don't actually have a template.

### 1/5 — Waste of Money

*2013-04-19*

I bought this App to help me lay out a 30" base support on a 42" elbow. None of my fabrication books had a lay out for a 30" support on that large of an elbow.  When I saw this App and how it claimed to be able to calculate support lay outs for ANY size I thought it would be a great time saving tool.  So I bought it. Just $5. 

Wasted.  The only part of the support that touches is at the 0 and 180 degree marks.  The was enough room on top and bottom to put my hand through.  Not a result of user error either. I've been a pipe fitter for over ten years and I know how to read and lay out a base support.  This App simply doesn't do what it claims it can do.  Maybe it works on smaller pipe, but you really don't need a special calculator for that.

### 5/5 — Pipe

*2012-10-24*

Awesome app and great back service for help

## Frequently asked questions about Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc

### What is Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc used for?

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc is used to calculate precise layout dimensions for making accurate cuts on pipe intersections, specifically for joining a cylinder to an elbow. It generates full-size pattern templates to simplify the fabrication process.

### What information do I need to input into Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc?

You need to input the main pipe's outside diameter, the base support diameter, the wall thickness of the pipe, and the elbow or bend radius. The app then uses these inputs to calculate the necessary dimensions.

### Can Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc print templates?

Yes, the app produces full-size pattern templates that can be printed for various standard paper sizes, including 8.5 x 11, 11 x 17, and 24 x 36 inches. This allows users to create any size pipe coping pattern.

### Does Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc support both imperial and metric units?

Yes, the calculator is versatile and supports both US-based imperial and metric units. The output can be displayed in feet, feet and inches, decimal, or fractions up to 1/32".

### How accurate are the cut lines generated by Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc?

Users can control the accuracy of the cut lines by setting the desired number of control points. The app allows for an infinite amount of control points, offering greater precision than traditional methods that typically provide only 8 or 16 points.

### What configurations can Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc calculate?

The calculator provides dimensions for three different configurations: CENTER (base support), TOP (dummy leg), and BOTTOM (dummy leg), ensuring flexibility for various fitting needs.

### Is Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc available on Android devices?

Based on the provided data, Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc is an iPhone app and is supported on iPhone and iPod devices. There is no information indicating Android compatibility.

### How often is Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc updated?

The latest version of Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc is 4.0.6, which was last updated on November 8, 2020. This indicates a past update, but the frequency of future updates is not specified.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.0.6 — 2020-11-08

updated

### 4.0.3 — 2019-02-04

Revised bug (was not showing angles)

### 4.0.2 — 2018-12-13

Added blueprint background

### 4.0.1 — 2018-11-02

Misc code maintenance, updated icons

### 4.0.0 — 2018-10-28

Updated for Xr & Xs

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## More apps by Jean-Paul Lanaux

- [Piping Abacus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-abacus/id421739105)
- [Piping Offset Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-offset-calculator/id483337421)
- [Piping Support Selector](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piping-support-selector/id497652271)
- [Pipe Saddle Layout Calculator](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pipe-saddle-layout-calculator/id524302215)
- [Tangential Nozzle](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tangential-nozzle/id1440414408)

All apps by Jean-Paul Lanaux: https://appshunter.io/developer/306486995

## Related topics

[pipes layout](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pipes-layout) · [elbowdata](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/elbowdata)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-23.*