Getting Started with yEd for Mineral Processing Flowsheets

In this session, we'll guide you through the process of setting up yEd and familiarizing yourself with its basic functions. yEd is our recommended software for creating flowsheets due to its balance of power, flexibility, and ease of use.

Downloading and Installing yEd

The first step in your journey with yEd is to download and install the software. Navigate to the official yEd download page at https://www.yworks.com/products/yed/download. The website should automatically detect your operating system and offer the appropriate version for download.

For Windows users, you'll receive an executable (.exe) file. Simply run this file and follow the installation wizard's instructions. Mac users will download a disk image (.dmg) file. Open this file and drag the yEd application to your Applications folder. Linux users may use the appropriate package manager command or run the provided .sh file, depending on their distribution.

It's worth noting that while yEd is free to use commercially, it's always prudent to review the current license terms before installation and use. This ensures you're complying with the most up-to-date usage guidelines.

Exploring the yEd Interface

Upon launching yEd for the first time, you'll be greeted with an interface that may seem complex at first glance, but is actually quite intuitive once you understand its components.

At the top of the window, you'll find the Menu Bar and Toolbar. These provide access to all of yEd's functions and tools. The Menu Bar contains dropdown menus for file operations, editing functions, view settings, and more. The Toolbar offers quick access to commonly used tools like selection, node creation, and edge (connection) creation.

On the right side of the interface, you'll typically find the Palette Window. This is where you'll access the shapes and symbols you can use in your flowsheet. By default, yEd provides a variety of general-purpose shapes, but later in this tutorial, we'll show you how to add our custom mineral processing symbols palette.

The central area of the interface is the Canvas. This is your main workspace where you'll create your flowsheet. You can zoom in and out, pan around, and arrange your flowsheet elements here.

On the right side, you'll usually find the Properties View. This panel is crucial for customizing your flowsheet elements. When you select an object on the canvas, this view will display all the properties you can modify, such as color, size, label text, and more.

Basic yEd Functions

Now that we're familiar with the interface, let's explore some basic functions to get you started with creating flowsheets.

To begin a new flowsheet, click on File > New in the menu bar, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+N (Cmd+N on Mac). Choose "Empty Graph" for a blank canvas to start your flowsheet.

Adding shapes to your flowsheet is as simple as dragging them from the palette onto your canvas. Once placed, you can resize shapes by dragging their corners, or rotate them using the green handle that appears when the shape is selected.

Connecting shapes is a fundamental part of creating flowsheets. To do this, select the "Edge" tool from the toolbar (it looks like a line with an arrow). Click on the first shape you want to connect, then drag to the second shape and release. yEd will create a connection between the two shapes.

Adding text to your flowsheet is crucial for labeling equipment and streams. To add a label to a shape or connection, simply double-click on it and start typing. For free-standing text, use the Text tool from the toolbar.

Remember to save your work frequently. Click on File > Save, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on Mac). It's best to save in the .graphml format, as this preserves all yEd-specific features and ensures you can edit your flowsheet later without losing any information.

Importing Transmin Icons

One of the powerful features of yEd is its ability to use custom symbol libraries. We've created a set of mineral processing icons that you can import into yEd to create more industry-specific flowsheets.

To import these icons, first download the Transmin Mineral Processing Icons file from our website. Then, in yEd, go to Edit > Manage Palette. In the Palette Manager window that appears, click on "Import Section". Navigate to the location where you saved our icon file and select it. Once imported, you'll see our custom mineral processing icons appear in your palette, ready for use in your flowsheets.

Creating Your First Flowsheet

Now that we've covered the basics, let's put it all together by creating a simple flowsheet. We'll create a basic crushing and grinding circuit as an example.

Start by dragging a "Crusher" icon onto your canvas. Then, add a "Ball Mill" icon to the right of the crusher. Use the Edge tool to connect the Crusher to the Ball Mill, representing the flow of material. Next, add a "Cyclone" icon above and to the right of the Ball Mill, and connect the Ball Mill to the Cyclone.

To complete the circuit, draw a connection from the underflow of the Cyclone back to the Ball Mill, representing the recirculating load. Finally, draw a connection from the overflow of the Cyclone to represent the product stream.

Don't forget to label each piece of equipment and the connecting streams. You can experiment with changing colors and styles using the Properties view to make your flowsheet more visually appealing and easier to understand.

Remember, creating clear and effective flowsheets is a skill that improves with practice. Don't be discouraged if your first attempts aren't perfect – keep experimenting and refining your technique.