The Ten Commandments of Equipment and Part Building in Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D

Transcription

1 The Ten Commandments of Equipment and Part Building in Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Creg Dieziger Sr. Designer, Morrison-Maierle, Inc. PD2940-L 90 Minutes - Hands-on Lab - 12/3/13 (Tuesday) 8:00 AM In this hands-on lab, we take an in-depth look at the Ten Commandments to follow when creating custom equipment, and parts with AutoCAD Plant 3D software. We will examine multiple scenarios for building equipment, parts and their workflows, which if followed, will enable attendees to glide through the process of building them. In today's highly competitive market, the ability to work dynamically and efficiently is a requirement. This class enables attendees to see ways of accomplishing this while putting more tools in their toolbox. Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to: Build an AutoCAD Plant 3D part Build AutoCAD Plant 3D equipment Build in flexibility Apply the appropriate level of detail About the Speaker Creg Dieziger is a civil/survey Sr. Designer for Morrison-Maierle, Inc., an ENR top-500 design firm. He has over 24 years of experience in the field, and has worked with multitudes civil/survey clients in the fields of land development, treatment plants, airports, highways, bridges, mines, and fish passages. He loves moving dirt and working with data. Among some of Creg's many duties with Morrison-Maierle, Inc. are training and implementing of CADD procedures. He also teaches AutoCAD, Introduction to Survey and Civil 3D at the University of Montana Missoula College. cdieziger@gmail.com

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3 AutoCAD Plant 3D parts and equipment: AutoCAD Plant 3D is a great program to use for designing a plant, a pipe and equipment models. It contains a wide variety of parts and equipment to use in your design. However, they don t and cannot contain every part and piece of equipment you may need. So they have given you a variety of ways to create these parts and pieces of equipment you need. During this lab you will be given the basics to building the parts and pieces of equipment you can use with AutoCAD Plant 3D. Some thing s that will not be covered during this lab are as follows: AutoCAD 3D Modeling Inventor 3D Modeling Setting up a AutoCAD Plant 3D project AutoCAD In this Lab we will walk through 7 scenarios of ways to build parts and pieces of equipment that can be used for AutoCAD Plant 3D designs. Before you start any of your new creations you should always think about the following things. They will help you in creating the most economical and best part for your design. Determine if this part or piece of equipment has been built before. Why rebuild something that has been built before? Has the manufacturer built a 3D CAD file of the part or piece of equipment? Many of the manufacturers have 3D CAD files that you can download. AutoCAD Plant 3D has the ability to bring in many 3D CAD files types. So even if they do not have an AutoCAD file you may be able to convert it into something you can use. Does one of the many websites have a 3D CAD file of this part or piece of equipment? There are many sites containing 3D CAD files of parts and pieces of equipment. Here are a few sites for you to Google; Autodesk Seek and GrabCAD. How much detail do you need for the part or piece of equipment? You want to use as little detail as possible. The reason for this is that the more detail in the part the larger the file size. If you find a part or piece of equipment look into how it was built. AutoCAD Plant 3D prefers 3D solids rather than 3D surfaces. So if you have found multiple versions of the part or piece of equipment go with the one that is built from 3D solids. If you only have the choice of one with 3D surfaces you need to think about how it will be used. If it is only going to be used a few times in the model or as a one off, it most likely will work fine. If it is going to be used many times you may want to just rebuild it using 3D solids. If you need to build the part or piece of equipment build it with 3D solids. The preferred 3D model is one shrinkwrapped into a ADSK file from Inventor. If you do not have access to Inventor, building it in AutoCAD 3D solids works well also. Is this a part or piece of equipment that will be used over and over, or from project to project? Depending on the answer to this question will help you determine the best way to define this for use in AutoCAD Plant 3D. Will there be need for multiple sizes? Decide how many connection points are needed and which one is going to be the default connection point. 3

4 Decide which scenario to use for defining the part or piece of equipment for use in AutoCAD Plant 3D. Once you have thought through all of these items you are ready to start defining your part or piece of equipment. Scenario No. 1: Creating Equipment Ribbon: Home tab Equipment panel Create Equipment Command entry: plantequipmentcreate This scenario allows you to create equipment from predefined parametric equipment patterns within AutoCAD Plant 3D. Using equipment patterns, you can create your own piece of equipment simply by changing the dimensions, placement parameters, and placement location in the drawing area. For example, you can create a centrifugal pump from an existing pattern with a modification to one of the values. In the illustration on the left, the position for the nozzle discharge (PF1C) of the centrifugal pump is offset to the right by 4 inches. The illustration on the right shows the nozzle discharge set to 0", or centered on the pump. For this scenario we will be creating a horizontal splitcase pump. Step 1: From the ribbons home tab select Create Equipment from the Equipment Panel. 4

5 Step 2: Find the Create Equipment dialog box. Step 3: Select the type of equipment you wish to create from the equipment pattern pull down. For this scenario we will select Pump Horizontal Splitcase Pump. Step 4: Fill in the Long Description and Tag under the General heading on the Create. 5

6 Step 5: Adjust the default parametric dimensions of the pump pattern. You can find the dimension location in the pump preview. For this scenario we will just use the default values. Step 6: Select Create from the Create Equipment dialog box. Step 7: Pick the location and rotation of the pump with in the model. Once the pump is placed you are ready to start running pipes from the pump. 6

7 Scenario No. 2: Creating Custom Equipment Ribbon: Home tab Equipment panel Create Equipment Command entry: plantequipmentcreate This scenario allows you to create equipment from predefined parametric shapes within AutoCAD Plant 3D. Using these shapes will allow you to create your own piece of equipment, simply by combining and changing the dimensions of each shape. AutoCAD Plant 3D gives you several parametric shapes to work with and combine. They are: 2:1 Torispheric Head : Torispheric Head : Round-to-Rectangle: 7

8 Pyramid: Halfsphere: 2:1 Elliptical Head: Elliptical Head: 8

9 Cylinder: Cone: Cube: For this scenario we will build a horizontal tank and define a manway, inlet and outlet to this tank. 9

10 Step 1: From the ribbons home tab select Create Equipment from the Equipment Panel. Step 2: Find the Create Equipment dialog box. Notes: 10

11 Step 3: Select the type of equipment you wish to create from the equipment pattern pull down. For this scenario we will select Tank New Horizontal Tank. Step 4: Fill in the General information for this tank Step 5: Next begin adding the shapes needed to define this tank. You do this by selecting the Add button on the Create Equipment dialog box. Than selecting the shape you wish to use. Continue this process until all the shapes needed have been added. As you add each shape, fill in the proper dimensions for each shape. For this Scenario we will place the following 3 shapes with the following dimensions. 2:1 Torispheric Head: Cylinder: 11

12 2:1 Torispheric Head: Step 6: Select the Create button at the bottom of the Create Equipment dialog box. Step 7: Select the location and rotation for the new tank. Step 8: Select the new tank. When selected the Add New Nozzle icon will appear. Select the Add New Nozzle icon. Step 9: Find the add nozzle dialog box. Within this dialog box we can a nozzle to the tank. We are going to add 3 nozzles. Their location and type are listed as follows. N-1: 12

13 N-2: N-3: You are now ready to start running pipes from the tank. It is important to note that you can select the tank and right-click, and you will find an option to save the tank as a template allowing you to use it again with these dimensions and configuration. 13

14 Scenario No. 3: Converting Solid Models to Equipment Ribbon: Home tab Equipment panel Convert Equipment Command entry: plantequipmentconvert In this scenario we will create custom equipment from AutoCAD objects. When you convert AutoCAD objects to equipment, you can mark nozzles on it, tag it, and add it to your plant model. The piece of equipment we will be creating is a vertical pump. Step 1: Insert a 3D AutoCAD block of a vertical pump. Insert the drawing IL_40_170-5_5_2.dwg from the dataset. Step 2: Select Convert Equipment from the Equipment panel on the home tab ribbon. This will activate the Convert to Equipment Dialog box. 14

15 Step 3: Select Pump from the Convert to Equipment dialog box. Than pick the Select button. Step 4: Select Pump block from the model and then the center of one of the nozzles as the insertion point. Note: The nozzle you select for this insertion point should be the nozzle most commonly used to connect the pump first. The Modify Equipment dialog box will than appear. Step 5: Fill in the information from the Equipment and Properties tab and select the OK button. Note: If you do not have all the needed data to fill in this information it can be done later through modifying the equipment. 15

16 Step 6: Now select the pump and then the add nozzle icon. This will activate the nozzle definition dialog box. Step 7: From nozzle definition dialog box select the type of nozzle, and the dimensions. Note: You have already defined the location of the nozzle so you do not need to worry about the change location. 16

17 Step 8: Repeat Steps 6 and 7 for the second nozzle. You are now ready to start running pipes from the pump. It is important to note that you can select the pump and right-click, and you will find a option to save the pump as a template allowing you to use it again with these dimensions and configuration. You can also select the nozzles and the modify nozzle icon to change the nozzle properties. = Modify nozzle icon. Scenario No. 4: Importing an Inventor Equipment Model (ADSK file) Ribbon: Home tab Equipment panel Convert Inventor Equipment Command entry: plantinventorequipmentconvert In this scenario we will import an Inventor ADSK package into AutoCAD Plant 3D. Select the type of equipment in the Convert to Equipment Dialog Box. Once the equipment is in the model, you can route pipe from nozzles or add new nozzles. For more information about creating an ADSK package from Inventor, see the Inventor Help topic on AEC Exchange. Step 1: Select Convert Inventor Equipment for the Equipment panel on the Home tab of the Ribbon. 17

18 Step 2: Browse to the dataset and locate the file pump.adsk and select to open. Step 3: Pick the location and rotation of the pump in the model. The Convert to Equipment dialog box will appear. Step 4: Pick the Pump, in the Convert to Equipment dialog box in the Select equipment type list. Than select button on the Convert to Equipment dialog. The pump is now ready to route pipes from for the model. You will note by selecting the pump that the nozzles are already defined from the data provided in Inventor for the pump. This is the preferred method of importing a custom part. So if you know Inventor or know someone that does this should be your first choice for creating the 3D part model. Scenario No. 5: Importing Miscellaneous Equipment Model File Types Ribbon: Home tab Equipment panel Convert Equipment Command entry: plantequipmentconvert In this scenario we will create custom equipment from an imported file from another program. When you import these files they are converted to an AutoCAD block. This block can be converted to equipment, you can mark nozzles on it, tag it, and add it to your plant model. The piece of equipment we will be creating is a vertical pump. The file we will be using in this scenario is a solidworks file. Step 1: From the Insert tab of the Ribbon, select the import button on the Import panel. Than browse to the IL 40_170-5,5_2.SLDPRT from the dataset and select the open button. 18

19 Step 2: Select the location and rotation of the vertical pump. Step 3: Follow Step 2 to Step 8 from Scenario 3. Once the file is imported the 3D equipment is an AutoCAD block. This scenario demonstrated how you can use a 3D part from another design program with AutoCAD Plant 3D. Essentially you are importing this other file type into AutoCAD Plant 3D and which time it is convert into an AutoCAD 3D block. From there you are just following the procedure described in Scenario 3 for converting an AutoCAD 3D block into a AutoCAD Plant 3D piece of equipment. Tip: When all possible 3D Blocks should be built out of 3D solids. While other types of 3D components can be used I have found that there are little to no problems with 3D solids in AutoCAD Plant 3D while other types tend to introduce other problems. Scenario No. 6: Adding a New Part to a Catalog In this scenario we will create a new Part Catalog and add a new parametric part in it. AutoCAD Plant 3D offers a wide variety of parametric shape that can be used to define a custom part for your designs. Step 1: Start AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor. Step 2: In the Spec Editor go to the File pull down menu and click Open Catalog Step 3: Browse to the dataset folder and select the file called AU2013.pcat. This a blank part catalog that I have created for storing custom parts in. Note: you may want to do a saveas of this catalog prior to editing. Step 4: Select the Create New Component button, in the Spec Editor. This will activate the Create New Component dialog box. 19

20 Step 5: From the Create New Component dialog box select from the following image. Note: There are literally hundreds of Plant 3D Parametric Graphics to choose from. Step 5: From the Create New Component dialog box select the Create button at the bottom of the dialog box. You have a new component in your catalog that can be added to a spec for use in AutoCAD Plant 3D. 20

21 Step 6: From the Spec Editor select the tab Sizes in the Piping Component Editor. The Sizes tab allows you to do several things a general list follows; Add, Remove and Duplicate Sizes Modify Size Parameters Modify Connection Port Properties Modify Component Properties. At a minimum the Long Description (Size) value should be modified for each size. This is the description used to fill in fitting tables and reports. It is always good to put all the know information in if you have it. 21

22 You can now add this valve to a spec and use it within your AutoCAD Plant 3D projects. Tip: The catalogs you create will be stored on your local hard drive by default. You may want to locate them in a secure location from which others can access them for use, avoiding the duplication of custom parts. Scenario No. 7: Creating a New Part Using a Block Based Part as a One Off Part In this scenario we will create a new Part from within AutoCAD Plant 3D and a project. This method of creating a part is used when you have a part that is unique and will most likely never be used again. Step 1: Insert or build the 3D AutoCAD part into the AutoCAD Plant 3D project model drawing. Using the AutoCAD insert command or the AutoCAD Plant 3D File Import command found on the Insert tab of your ribbon. For this scenario we will insert RomacSeries400-Blocks.dwg from the dataset. Once inserted explode the block once so each part inserted with this drawing is its own block now. Note: The AutoCAD Plant 3D File Import command allows you to insert a wide variety of file types from other programs. 22

23 Step 2: Pan to the smallest coupling in that was just inserted. It should be the block _00-1. From the command line within AutoCAD Plant 3D type PLANTPARTCONVERT and select this block. Step 3: Select the option Add (type A) from the command line. This will allow you to define a connection port. Select the center of the small circle inside the block. Turn your ortho lock on and drag the direction of the flow to the positive X axis direction. It should look like this. Step 4: Select Accept (type A) from the command line to confirm that this port is correct. Step 5: Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until all ports and there flow directions are defined. Note: This part will have two connection ports. When both ports are completed the part should look like this. 23

24 Step 6: Select EXIT (Type X) from the command line to finish the conversion. Step 7: Select Add Custom Part from the AutoCAD Plant 3D Piping Components Tool Palettes on the Dynamic Pipe Spec tab. This will activate the Custom Parts Builder within Plant 3D. 24

25 Step 8: Select Coupling for the Part Type, AutoCAD Block for the Graphics, and fill in the values shown in the image below for the Part Properties and Port Properties from the Custom Parts Builder. Step 9: Select Choose block from model button from the Custom Parts Builder. Note: you can also Import a block from another drawing if it is not already in this drawing. 25

26 Step 10: Select the _00-1 block that you converted to a block in Step 2. Step 11: You will now see the part previewed and ready to use in the Custom Parts Builder. Select the Insert in Model Button to place it in the Model for use. Note: This method of creating a AutoCAD Plant 3D part is a onetime use. It can only be used in this project drawing and is only available in the defined size. Scenario 8 will demonstrate how to define a multiple size custom part and add to a Catalog for addition to a spec in any project. 26

27 Note: You can also access the PLANTPARTCONVERT from the Custom Parts Builder by selecting the Create AutoCAD block based part button. Note: You can also create AutoCAD Plant 3D parts from the predefined parametric shapes (as shown in Scenario 6 from the Custom Parts Builder by selecting the Plant 3D Shape tab. This will create this part in this drawing and can only be used in this drawing. Scenario No. 8: Creating a New Part with Multiple Part Sizes and Adding it to a Custom Catalog for Further Use. In this Scenario we will add AutoCAD Plant 3D parts that we have converted to parts using the method described in Scenario 7. The basic trick to this is that these parts will not use parametric dimensions so you will need to have a part defined for each size you wish to add with the correct dimensions. We will be adding the coupler that we defined in Scenario 7 and in these sizes 14, 16, 20, 24, 26 and 30. To help with this scenario these coupler parts have already been defined and provided to you in the dataset. Step 1: Open the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor. 27

28 Step 2: Select the Catalog Editor tab from with the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor. Step 3: From the File pulldown menu select Open Catalog and browse to the data set and open the part catalog called AU2013.pcat. Note: This is an empty part catalog that I created by creating a new catalog from an existing catalog and deleting all the existing parts. So when using this catalog it is recommended to do a saveas first allowing to have a blank catalog to start from whenever you would like. Step 4: From the File pulldown menu select Saveas and save the catalog as CustomCouplings in a folder you will create under the folder C:\ AutoCAD Plant 3D 2014 Content\. Call the new folder CustomParts. Step 5: Create a new folder under the C:\ AutoCAD Plant 3D 2014 Content\CustomParts\ and call it CustomCouplings. Than copy the drawing file called RomacSeries400.dwg into this new folder. Note: The drawing RomacSeries400.dwg is a drawing containing the parts already converted to AutoCAD Plant 3D Parts at the sizes listed in this scenarios description at the beginning of this scenario. Note: You must have a folder in the same directory as the catalog and named the same as the catalog s name. 28

29 Step 6: Select the Create New Component button from the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor. This will activate the Create New Component dialog box. Step 6: Select or input the highlighted values and options in the Create New Component dialog box. Than select the Create button. 29

30 Step 7: From the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor on the General Properties tab fill in the highlighted areas. Note: The more information you can fill in the better but it is not necessary to have all the information. You can add more information as you get it. Step 8: From the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor select 15, 18, 22 and 28 one at time and remove by selecting the Remove Size button. From the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor on the Sizes tab select the 14 size. Than fill in the Long Description (Size): field as shown and any other field values you can. The Long Description (Size): value is what displays for each part in AutoCAD Plant 3D. 30

31 Step 9: From the Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D Spec Editor select the Select Model button and browse to the drawing containing that holds the blocks that were converted to AutoCAD Plant 3D parts. Select the block for the 14 coupling than select the OK button. Step 10: Note: You should now have a green check mark next to the size 14 part and a preview of the part. Repeat Step 9 for each of the sizes. 31

32 Step 11: Once all the parts have a there block assigned to it you need to save the catalog. Tip: If PLANTPARTCONVERT is not working Issue You want to create a new component in your catalog based on an AutoCAD block. You have used PLANTPARTCONVERT to convert the AutoCAD block for the catalog. During this process you have added > 0 ports to the block. But when you try to select your custom block for a new component there is no block available. This only happens if you have added ports to the AutoCAD block. Solution The development department is currently working on this issue. Meanwhile you can use the following workaround: With PLANTPARTCONVERT you will create several files. One of these files is an xmlfile. Open this xml-file with an (xml) editor Look for the tag 'blockcnt'. It has the value '0'. Change this to the count of ports of your custom block Save it Now you can add the custom block to your new component in the catalog You are ready to use this new part. It is recommended that you insert these new parts to a spec and place them in AutoCAD Plant 3D as a test to make sure they are working correctly. You may also want to have a part list generated to see how the table values are filled in to verify that it is display the correct information. Happy Part Building! Notes: 32