Comparison

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc vs Structural SteelBook

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc

This app calculates precise layout dimensions for pipe intersections, generating full-size pattern templates for accurate cuts. It supports various pipe and elbow sizes, wall thicknesses, and output configurations, eliminating the need for traditional reference books or complex calculations.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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".

About

Structural SteelBook

Access a comprehensive reference for structural steel shapes, including multiple AISC library versions. Easily switch between imperial and metric units, sort sections, and perform quick searches. Print or share section properties and cross-sections.

Highlights
  • Multiple AISC library versions (v15, v13, v14, LRFD, ASD)
  • Imperial and metric unit switching
  • Sort sections by property
  • Quick search for steel sections
  • Side-by-side imperial/metric equivalencies
  • Print and share section properties
  • Dark/light mode and dynamic type support
Read full description

The best Structural Steel reference on app store! Now for iPhone, iPad & Mac! Buy once, run on all your devices, no in-app purchases / limited features gimmicks! From the developer of [steel shapes], the highest rated Structural Steel app since 2009. Now with the latest AISC v15 library, more than 20000 steel entries in 19 libraries & MANY new features. SteelBook contains the latest (v15), previous (ASD 5 - 9, LRFD 1 - 3, v13, v14, v14.1) and HISTORIC American Institute of Steel Construction's Structural Steel Databases in a fast, easy to use interface. LIBRARIES: ---------------------------------------- AISC LIBRARIES: - Current version 15 & 15-SI (NEW!) - Versions 13.2 & 13.2 SI, 13.1.1, 13.1.1 SI, 13, v14 & v14-SI, v14.1 & v14.1-SI - LRFD 1st through 3rd Ed. - ASD 5th through 9th Ed. - HISTORIC UNIT SYSTEM SWITCHING: ---------------------------------------- Properties can be displayed in either the original English units or converted to metric with the tap of a button (libraries 13.2 & newer) SORTING: ---------------------------------------- Sort sections within a library given a specific property in ascending / descending order. QUICK SEARCH: ---------------------------------------- SteelBook also lets you find a section with a quick search function, where, for example, "W16 x 89", "W16x89" or simply "W1689" will locate the same section or its closest approximation. NEW! SIDE BY SIDE EQUIVALENCIES ---------------------------------------- Display Equivalent Imperial / Metric designations side by side while browsing NEW! FRACTIONAL DETAILING VALUES, PROPERTIES & UNITS ---------------------------------------- For library version 15, support for v14 coming soon NEW! PRINT & SHARE ---------------------------------------- Print a section's properties & cross section or Share as a PDF NEW! DARK / LIGHT MODE & DYNAMIC TYPE SUPPORT ---------------------------------------- SteelBook's UI adapts to your device's setting, whether you prefer Dark, Light or adaptive color scheme, SteelBook will naturally adapt to it. Also new is Dynamic type support, SteelBook will adapt its interface to your device's accessibility settings. NEW! UNIVERSAL APP, BUY ONCE, RUN EVERYWHERE ———————————————————— The Steel app for the next decade, run on iOS/iPad (iOS/iPad OS 16 and newer) and on MacOS (10.13 / Ventura). ***************************************** visit us at: www.TheMobileEngineer.com

Screenshots

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc4 screens
Structural SteelBook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc at 44% against Structural SteelBook's 0%. Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Structural SteelBook's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc costs $4.99 and Structural SteelBook $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Structural SteelBook has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc's written reviews are positive against 0% of Structural SteelBook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc ships an update every 6 months, Structural SteelBook every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc versus Structural SteelBook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiping Base Elbow Layout CalcStructural SteelBook
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (6 ratings)
Positive reviews44.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJean-Paul LanauxDavid Homes

Customer experience

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative55.6%

Structural SteelBook

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc

No in-app purchases

None

Structural SteelBook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc free?
Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Structural SteelBook free?
Structural SteelBook costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc or Structural SteelBook?
Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc is rated higher. Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Structural SteelBook averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.
Do Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc or Structural SteelBook have ads?
Neither Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc nor Structural SteelBook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc or Structural SteelBook?
Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc ships an update every 6 months, and Structural SteelBook every 3 days. Most recently, Piping Base Elbow Layout Calc was updated on November 6, 2026 and Structural SteelBook on November 3, 2026.

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