Post on 28-Mar-2018
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Plant Design Suite Ultimate Data and
Modeling Tips from Technical Support
Joel HarrisSr. Premium Support Specialist, BIM AEC, Autodesk, Inc
Joel.Harris@Autodesk.com
Background
Trained in Mechanical Engineering – Caltech
Worked as AutoCAD 3rd-Party Developer and
Authorized Autodesk Reseller in the 1980’s
Piping designer and piping software administrator
for Anvil Corporation for 23 years (Oil & Gas
engineering firm)
Adjunct Faculty at Bellingham Technical College
Author of Autodesk Plant Design College Curriculum
Contributor to DaveTyner.com and KnowledgeSmart
Autodesk Premium Support Specialist since April
About the Instructor
This class will focus on solutions to common issues
encountered in customization and implementation
workflows with Autodesk Plant Design Suite Ultimate.
Additionally, we will cover some of the most effective
ways to find solutions to your questions through
Autodesk technical support, social media, and
knowledgebase sites.
Class summary
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
Find answers to technical questions through the Autodesk Knowledge
Network, community forums, and elsewhere on the web
Improve your ability to work with data between AutoCAD Plant software
and AutoCAD P&ID software
Access AutoCAD Plant 3D software process data from within Navisworks
software using DataTools
Understand efficient practices for working with 3D models from various
Autodesk packages in AutoCAD Plant 3D software
Key learning objectives
Everybody has used tech support
services at one time or another.
Real-world problem solvers
Tech Support – What do these people really do?
Work-arounds
“Aha” moments
Learn from
users’ industry
expertise
Conduit to
development
My goal: to help you improve your role as an active partner in the
“tech support” relationship.
Give you the tools in the form of great sources of technical information
Share some tips and tricks to demonstrate the effectiveness of these
sources
Why do I think it is important to teach this class?
Using the Autodesk Software Development
Philosophy to your Advantage:
Open architecture and open communication:
It’s not just that you can customize it – making it work for you
Learn best practices for not customizing yourself into a corner
Autodesk blogs for the Plant Design Suite
In the Pipes http://www.in-the-pipes.typepad.com
AutoCAD DevBlog http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad
Navisworks/BIM http://beyonddesign.typepad.com
Revit Structure http://bimandbeam.typepad.com
A complete list lives here: http://www.autodesk.com/blogs
Blogs
Autodesk Reseller/Partner blogs specializing in Plant Design topics:
ECAD http://www.pdoteam.com
Ketiv http://ketiv.com/support/tech-tips
Hagerman & Co. http://blog.hagerman.com
Gateway to Autodesk’s Online User Resources
Support – find answers to commonly asked questions, white papers
Learning – tutorials, videos, help documents
Community – Forums, articles and ideas from users
http://knowledge.autodesk.com
Autodesk Knowledge Network (AKN)
A compendium of past AU classes
Class recordings (from Autodesk Universities around the world)
Class handouts and presentations
http://au.autodesk.com/au-online/overview
Autodesk University Online
A free service that allows anyone to capture what they know, share with
others, and learn for themselves.
Recording application
Website processes & displays interactive video tutorials
https://screencast.autodesk.com
What is Autodesk Screencast?
Any one who has
registered for an Autodesk
account can use it!
Other Online Training Resources:
YouTube (http://www.youtube.com)
Lynda.com (http://www.lynda.com)
CADTutor (http://www.cadtutor.net)
KnowledgeSmart (http://www.knowledgesmart.net)
Global eTraining (http://globaletraining.ca)
…and countless more!
Some are free, while
others are fee-based and
customizable to your
company’s needs.
Other Online Communities, Forums, etc:
DaveTyner.com http://www.davetyner.com
PipingDesigners.com http://pipingdesigners.com
The Swamp http://www.theswamp.org
AUGI - http://www.augi.com
Keep online
communities alive by
participating – you’ll
get back more than
you’ll ever give!
Autodesk Exchange Apps:
https://apps.exchange.autodesk.com
Searchable database of downloadable apps.
Both free and affordable apps in the store.
Check out the
updated content
packs that
always being
added to the
AutoCAD Plant
3D exchange
store!
Plant 3D and P&ID Databases:
Application “Group” SQLite Database Name SQL Database Name
P&ID ProcessPower.dcf <Project Identifier>_PnId
Plant 3D Piping.dcf <Project Identifier>_Piping
Isometric Iso.dcf <Project Identifier>_Iso
Orthographic Ortho.dcf <Project Identifier>_Ortho
Miscellaneous Misc.dcf (or PnIDMisc.dcf) <Project Identifier>_Misc
Separate databases mean:
You can work with only Plant 3D or only P&ID – both aren’t required
More flexible workflows
Better information control
Unique tags exist in both P&ID and Plant 3D
databases:Exist in P&ID? Exist in Plant 3D?
Pipeline tags Pipe Line Group P3d Line Group
Equipment tags yes yes
Nozzle tags yes yes
Instrument tags yes yes
Hand Valve tags yes yes
Supports yes
Tags are unique within the project database (i.e. P&ID or Plant3D).
You can add tags to other component classes but uniqueness is not
enforced without some custom modifications to the database tag
registry.
Warning: Don’t use Find and Replace to modify tag information.
Mapping “Objects” between P&ID and Plant 3D:
1. Map Pipe Line
Group to P3d
Line Group.
2. Map properties
from one group
to another.
3. Set whether
Project
Validation will
check these
properties.
Use the P&ID Line List window in Plant 3D:
Uses mappings to copy
properties from the P&ID
database to the Plant 3D
database.
Window can be refreshed to
reflect additions to the P&ID
database.
Once a mapped line
number, nozzle, fitting or
hand valve is placed in the
3D model, differences in
values between P&ID and
Plant 3D will be reported
during Project Validation.
Using Data Manager to import properties:
Use this later in the project
when information gets
changed and properties
need updating.
Export from P&ID to Plant
3D
Join us on Twitter: #AU2014
Demonstration: Exporting and Importing
Process Line Data using Data Manager
https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/Timeline/304dbb5b-6034-40cc-8ed7-
400890c180fc
Plant 3D properties in Navisworks:
These properties can be used in Navisworks to create Selections and
Search Sets
Example: Find all of the new items in a model (Status = New)
They can be “extended” to include additional process line information
using the Line Number property and Navisworks DataTools
Class (ex: Flange) Insulation Type Pressure Class (ex: 150)
Material (ex: CS) Line Number Insulation Thickness
Facing (ex: RF) Long Description (Family) Service
Size Material Code (ex: ASTM A105) Tag
End Type (ex: FL) Schedule
Spec Status (ex: Existing)
Navisworks DataTools Explained:
It uses existing ODBC (Excel,
Access, dBASE, SQL, Text, etc.)
drivers installed on your system
The OS bit version (64bit vs. 32-bit)
determines what version of
Navisworks you have installed.
The MS Office version (64bit vs. 32-
bit) determines what version of the
ODBC drivers you have installed.
Your ODBC drivers must match your Navisworks version “bit-
wise” (64bit vs. 32-bit) for DataTools to work!
Navisworks DataTools Link Example:
The DataTools link will specify what external data file to
connect to, what Navisworks property to use as the search
criteria, and what data to display in the Navisworks
Properties window.
Join us on Twitter: #AU2014
Demonstration: Adding AutoCAD Plant 3D Process
Line Data to Navisworks using DataTools
https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/Timeline/1d1469ec-d712-4e19-9f52-
d3df73c5adca
Exploring Interoperability between
AutoCAD Plant 3D and other Autodesk
Modeling Software in the Plant Design
Suite
Example – Using Inventor Equipment:
Use the BIM Exchange Inventor
ribbon to create an export (*.adsk)
file.
Create AutoCAD Plant 3D
equipment using the Convert
Inventor Equipment command.
Tip: Use “Shrinkwrap Substitute” to remove unnecessary
geometry from the Inventor model before exporting. This will
improve AutoCAD Plant 3D modeling and ortho performance!
Join us on Twitter: #AU2014
Demonstration: Using Inventor Equipment
in AutoCAD Plant 3D
https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/Timeline/1fede656-f651-4812-b358-
6185542f3c7a
Example – Using XREFs as Equipment:
Vendor Pump
ModelAttach
as
XREF
Equipment ModelAttach
as
XREF
Piping
Model
Use AutoCAD Plant 3D
Convert Equipment
command on an XREF in
the equipment model.
Join us on Twitter: #AU2014
Demonstration: Using an XREF as
Equipment in AutoCAD Plant 3D
https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/Timeline/d91489fa-7aa8-4550-ac73-
db30be5b5bca
Example – Optimal Plant 3D Model Location:
As near to 0,0,0 as possible – avoid large coordinates where…
Connecting components may become difficult
Isometrics may not extract properly
Crosshairs may disappear
Objects may not display correctly
Model orientation should be orthogonal to the World UCS
Work within the World UCS (i.e. Plant UCS = World UCS)
“Here be
Floating
Point
Dragons”
Use a Temporary Plant Origin:
Locate the Plant Origin on the project site. This will be the World UCS 0,0,0
in the Plant model. Plant coordinates used to be a very common practice.
Use a blank drawing containing XREFs to “shift” this into project coordinates
for reference.
Autodesk is a registered trademark 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. © 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
Autodesk is a registered trademark 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. © 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
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