Sure-FireFeatures AUTOCADPLANT3D IN
KEN FAUVER ECAD Senior Technical Consultant Over 30 years’ experience in the Oil & Gas industry as a Piping Designer, Drafter, and CAD Administrator. Also worked as a System Administrator, Trainer and CAD Coordinator with several software applications. Supported Industries PetroChem / Water Wastewater / Pharma AARONSIMPSONTABLE OF CONTENTS 01. Pipeline Grouping (P&ID) 02. Creating Equipment Templates (3D) 03. Converting 3D Solids to Plant 3D Equipment (3D) 04. Creating a Custom Support (3D) 05. Non-Intelligent Objects (3D) 06. Line To Pipe (3D) 07. Using Object Snaps 08. Point Filters (3D) 09.CustomDataManagerViews(ProjectSetup)
A AARON SIMPSON ECAD Technical Consultant Experienced Autodesk® Certified In- structor. Supports, consults, and teaches a variety of Autodesk soft- ware including AutoCAD Plant 3D®, Civil 3D®, Revit®, and Advance Steel®. I 09. Custom Data Manager Views (Project Setup) 10. Custom Data Manager Reports (Project Setup) 11. Make Pipe Components Dynamically Editable (Spec) 12. Description Styles (Spec) 13. Spec Update Settings (Spec) 14. What Can I Do With These Parameters? (Catalog) 15. Export to MS Excel® (Catalog) 16. External Database Manager (P&ID/3D)
01. Pipeline Grouping (P&ID) In a P&ID drawing, pipelines are grouped based on the tag value of the Pipeline Group. The default tag value of the group is the Line Number. Also, the default tag value of a line segment includes the line number (for example: in [Size-Spec-Service-Line Number]). This means that by default, setting the line segment tag also assigns the line group. The other way around, it means that assigning the line group partially sets the line segment tag. The above image shows line number 101 and an unassigned (?) line selected.
P . 1 You can use SLREGROUP to set the unassigned line to an existing line number (line group tag value). P . 1
The selected unassigned line number is now in line group 101, partially setting the default line segment tag. Note: Pipelines are not automatically added to existing groups if you assign identical tags. Instead, a Tag Already Assigned dialog box dis- plays, and the tag assignment is canceled. Also, you cannot connect to an unassigned line. However, you can connect an unassigned line to an assigned line. Use the SLGROUPEDIT command to edit an existing line group.
P P . 2. 2 P . 2
02. Creating Equipment Templates (3D) After defining your equipment inside the Create Equipment dialog, you can save those equipment definitions as a template. Those templates can be loaded again later in the project. Any equipment that was converted from a solid can also become an equipment template. NOTE: To allow for all projects to see the equipment templates, place the folder in a network location. You can point all projects to that folder from within Project Setup.
P P . 3. 2 P . 3
03. Converting 3D Solids to Plant 3D Equipment (3D) When creating equipment using Convert Equipment, make sure to make a block from the solids that represent the equipment. This will allow you to use the Block Editor command to adjust the shape of the equipment.
P P . 4. 3 P . 4
04. Creating a Custom Support (3D) Instead of using the Convert Support tool, try creating a support from the Simple Pipe Support shape and using Attach Support to add your geometry to the support. If you do not want to see the ring around the support adjust the diameter so that the ring exists inside the pipe and when using a realistic visual style, you’ll only see the solids you associate with the support.
P P . 5. 3 P . 5
05. Non-Intelligent Objects (3D) Not all content needs to be smart to be useful. You can draw Auto- CAD solids to represent volumes if they don’t need to be reported on. For example, you may want to designate a location as a maintenance zone for a specific piece of equipment. This volume can assign a special layer to identify it in Navisworks. It can then be used for clash detection to flag objects that are in the working area. The layer can also be assigned transparency, so the solids don’t block you from viewing objects inside the maintenance zone.
P P . 6. 4 P . 6
06. Line To Pipe (3D) When routing pipe, you can typically use auto-routing to quickly add items connecting the path between parts you’ve already placed, but sometimes auto-routing may not be able to connect the items in the way you want. Don’t forget that Plant 3D also gives you the Line to Pipe tool. It does mean you’ll need to draw the path of your pipe centerline manually, but with the use of some AutoCAD lines to define the path, you can get some great results.
P P . 7. 4 P . 7
07. Using Object Snaps Using nearest snaps to draw lines down the center of the existing pipeline, you can use the end grip to Lengthen the lines, so they appear to cross.
P P . 8. 4 With that, you can use the apparent intersection snap and draw a vertical line to connect your path. Once you have the path drawn and trimmed out as needed, you can use Line to Pipe to model your pipe. P . 8
08. Point Filters (3D) At any prompt for locating a point, you can enter point filters to specify a single coordinate by extracting the X, Y, and Z values of several points. In the following example, the start point for the line has a co- ordinate constructed from the X value of the midpoint of the first object you select, with the Y and Z values of the midpoint of the second object you select. Command: LINE Specify first point: .x of mid of Select an object f(dYZ)id
P P . 9. 5 of (need YZ) mid of Select another object To point: Specify a point NOTE: If you need only the X location, you can type @ <Enter> to finish. Additional Info: About Combining Coordinate Values (Coordinate Filters) P . 9
09. Custom Data Manager Views (Project Setup) Create Data Manager Views to help users enter group information that doesn’t appear in the property menu. P&ID and 3D have separate Data Manager Configuration for doing this. See Data Manager Configuration under P&ID DWG Settings and Plant 3D DWG Settings in Project Setup.
P P . 10 . 5 P . 10
10. Custom Data Manager Reports (Project Setup) From Project Setup under General Setting > Reports you can modify existing Data Manager reports or create custom reports. NOTE: Data Manager reports can be used to Export/Import data to/ from MS Excel.
P P . 11 . 6 P . 11
11. Make Pipe Components Dy- namically Editable (Spec) If you have wondered how you could dynamically edit pipe components through the Properties Palette like you can dynamically edit supports, you can. With this simple input within the pipe spec using the Edit Parts dialog. Fill out the Component Designation field with the “Custom” Value for any components. NOTE: By default, you can edit the actuators from within the Properties Palette.
P P . 12 . 6 P . 12
12. Description Styles (Spec) Did you know that you don’t have to create a separate component for every material type in your catalogs? This would make for very large catalog files. The idea is to create components in the catalog will minimal information and use the Description Styles utility within the Spec Editor to format the descriptions. You can save Description Styles per customer. This allows at any point to change the component descriptions in your customer specs. You can also use the batch feature to select multiple specs to update at once. NOTE: Remember to create/modify both the Family and aSizedescriptionstyle.
P P . 13 . 7 a Size description style. P . 13
13. Spec Update Settings (Spec) If you edit field values from within the Edit Parts dialog of the Spec Editor, it is imperative that you know how to change the Spec Update Settings. If you change values then run the Spec Update from Catalog utility, all the values you change can revert to the original catalog values. For example, if you prefer to manually update the Long Description (Family) from the Part Editor dialog, turn that setting off. Now when you Update from Catalog, it will not overwrite what you edited.
P P . 14 . 8 P . 14
14. What Can I Do With These Parameters? (Catalog) When entering Size Parameters in the catalog, there may be some additional switches available that will allow additional calculations, as shown. These types of values are commonly used for multiport items to re- duce time on repeat dimensional data, but sometimes affect the geometry in significant ways. To become more familiar with these properties, you should experiment with the Custom Part tool in Plant 3D to make sure the adjustments affect the geometry in the way you intend.
P P . 15 . 9 P . 15
15. Export to MS Excel® (Catalog) For people working in catalogs that prefer using Excel, you may want to try using the Show All Part Sizes view of your catalog and then fil- ter for the specific part you need to make changes to using the Long Description (Family). When you export, you can make changes in Excel like it’s a full spec data export.
P P . 16 . 9 P . 16
NOTE: When exporting parts separated by size, you do not need to export using the full catalog data export to modify dimensional information as you do for specs. Once you save the file, you’ll get one tab per Long Description (Family) just like you would when exporting full spec data.
P P . 17 . 10 P . 17
16. External Database Manager (P&ID/3D) The External Database Manager is a hidden utility that allows your project to con- nect to an external database such as MS SQL, MS Excel, and MS Access. Once you connect to the database and define property mapping, data will be automatically pushed from the external database to the Plant 3D database. 1) Create an external database with data to be pushed to Plant 3D. 2) Type the command PLANTXDBMANAGER in the command prompt to begin configuration. 3) Determine which Plant 3D module will use the data. P&ID, Piping, IsoorOrtho
P P . 18 . 10 Iso, or Ortho. 4) Define a connection string (data source) for the database. 5) Map properties based on one or more primary key properties. For additional information, refer to AU class OG10334. P . 18
ECAD, Inc. is a proud Platinum Partner of Autodesk. Our company includes a highly skilled technical team that’s well-versed in Architec- ture, Engineering & Construction, computer-aided Manufacturing and Process & Power programs. We work together to provide the best possible solutions for our customers through professionally certified iiididi
P P . 19 . 11 training, superior support, and customized services. www.ecadinc.com Autodesk, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Plant 3D, Civil 3D, Revit, Advance Steel, and the Autodesk logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. © 2020 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. This e-book is an independent publication and is neither affiliated with, nor authorized, sponsored, or approved by, Microsoft Corporation.