autocad plant 3d tricks of the trade -...

AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade Scott Hallmark – Robins & Morton

PD2297

Acquire some of the tricks learned over the years for AutoCAD® Plant 3D. Some of the items to be

covered include the various ways to Route Pipe (Rolled Offsets, L2P, Assisted Routing, “F” as you go,

Elevations, Compass Settings) creating Equipment Templates, Using Viewports in P3D Modeling & X-

Ray View, Layer and Template Options, Iso Messages and Breaks, Model Symbols (Triangles, Pluses,

Inverted Triangles, Arrows, The Red Line of Connectivity) and the proper method of making line and

inline asset size changes.

Learning Objectives At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Route pipe in various ways for different scenarios, Create and store Equipment Templates to be used across multiple projects

Adjust graphical view options to suit the modeling needs, Generate templates with specific layers for modeling

Generate Isos to include various messages and breaks to speed up the “clean up” time

Change sizes of components and moving components without deleting and re-routing

About the Speaker

Scott is a Lead Designer for Robins & Morton, a multidiscipline engineering and construction

firm based in Birmingham, AL with 8 offices in the U.S. Based in Birmingham, he provides

piping design as well as end-user support and customization efforts for AutoCAD® Plant 3D,

P&ID and Autodesk® Inventor. He is an Inventor 2013 Certified Professional as well. Prior to

working for Robins & Morton, Scott had been in the Autodesk® Reseller Channel for five years

working for Applied Software in Atlanta, GA and ALACAD in Birmingham, AL. As a Senior

Application Specialist, Scott traveled the eastern U.S. and Canada instructing users on Plant

3D and Inventor, performing installations, implementations, and customizations for many

industries utilizing the applications. Scott is proud to have landed at Robins & Morton in

November of 2012 where family and safety come first, and support and development of the

employee are second to none.

[email protected]

Additional page on back for Notes!

mailto:[email protected]

PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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Section 1: Route pipe in various ways for different scenarios, Create and store

Equipment Templates to be used across multiple projects In this section, we will look at 4 different methods of routing pipe in AP3D: “F” as you go, L2P

(Line to Pipe), Assisted Routing, and Rolled Offsets. We will also see how to create and store

Equipment Templates.

“F” as You Go: A simple way to route pipe, although a somewhat manual process, is to use

the “F” on the command line as you begin your route. What this allows you to do is to insert

“F”ittings as you route at specific locations and orientations. You can also select a fitting from

the tool palette while routing.

“F” as you go ~ Placing Fittings as You Route Example

TRICK! – Use “B”asepoint in the command line while placing an inline asset using the

method above to cycle thru the insertion basepoints. Try the other command line options!


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L2P (Line to Pipe): This is a quick way to generate piping using the LINE, PLINE or 3DPOLY

command. 3DPOLY works better if you are doing a simple run with no rolled-offsets, as it can

be drawn in all 3 UCS directions. This is a simple method of routing pipe in that you can easily

define the route from beginning to end but you get NO inline assets included except for flanges,

elbows and tees. The line comes in with no reducers, valves, specialty items, etc. See

example below.

L2P ~ Line To Pipe Routing Example

TRICK! – The Command Line is selectable with the mouse! If you do not want to use

the keyboard to type a letter, just pick the BLUE letter(s) to initiate the option.

TRICK! – Use Point Filters to route pipe! You can use the X, Y, and Z point filters to

align new runs with existing runs, equipment and steel members. You can access Point

Filters by using SHIFT+RIGHTCLICK while routing pipe or while using the LINE, PLINE

or 3DPOLY command.

TRICK! – Route using the “Elevation & Routing” option in the Ribbon. Start a vertical

run, type in an elevation and choose the “Set Routing Line” to COP or BOP or whatever

you choose then just drag the pipe and click to place. It will automatically create a turn at

that elevation!


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Assisted Routing: This is a quick way to generate a piping route by selecting a start and end

point of your route. You then allow AutoCAD® Plant 3D to generate a route for you! The

software will usually give you multiple routes to choose from. Sometimes it’s just 2 options and

sometimes you might see over 20 options. (TIP! ~ This does NOT have to be nozzle to nozzle!)

Choosing “N” for NEXT will allow you to cycle thru the routing options

When you find one you like, you can choose “A” for ACCEPT.

If none of the options suite your requirements, choose “U” for UNDO and go back to a

manual method of routing.

Assisted Routing Example

Start Point

(NODE)

End Point

(NODE)

TRICK! – You can change the size of the pipe

run while routing by selecting a new size from the

PART INSERTION section of the HOME tab on

the Ribbon, or use the command line option “S”

TRICK! – Use the Elevation option in the

Ribbon to set vertical elevations while routing. In

this example I set a 6’ EL first then an 8’ EL.

I then used “List” to check my elevations. Also

you can use the “E” option in the command line.


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Rolled Offset: The L2P (Line to Pipe) method will be your best solution for creating a rolled

offset pipe run.

Use the standard AutoCAD LINE command from the end of a pipe, fitting or flange.

Draw the line and form the rolled offset box connecting the opposite corners of the box.

Finish the route with the LINE command.

Use L2P to convert to Pipe and Cutback Elbows by selecting the lines (marked by ).

Rolled Offset Example

Create and Store Equipment Templates to be Used Across Multiple Projects: In your

Project Setup, under ‘Plant 3D DWG Settings’ go to ‘Paths’ and then ‘Equipment templates

directory’. Change this path to a common area for all projects. In this example,

‘M:\Projects\Common\Equipment

Templates’ is the new default location.

When you create a

custom Equipment item,

simply save to the new

location so it is available

to all users.

TRICK! – When you generate your lines for a Rolled Offset or L2P routes, make a

LAYER called ConstructionLines and set the layer settings to NO PLOT.


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Section 2: Adjust graphical view options to suit the modeling needs,

Generate templates with specific layers for modeling Adjust graphical view options to suit the modeling needs: P3D users tend to use multiple

Visual Styles while modeling in Plant 3D. Here is a list of the Visual Styles they tend to use

and why they use them.

2D Wireframe – You can use when placing and editing Iso Annotation globes. It is

limited in the Visual Style settings by not being able to modify Edge Settings.

3D Wireframe – Use when placing and editing Iso Annotation globes. You need to use

this view to be able to see and edit the Iso Annotation globes.

Conceptual – Visually, this is very easy for many users to model in. It uses bright pastel

colors. Most users prefer this view when working with X-Refs and want some color. X-

Refs come in darker and the active drawing entities are darker colors with edges and

tangent lines, or vice-versa depending on your background color. (For a compliment to

Conceptual, see “Shades of Gray” on page 7)

Light Background Dark Background

Realistic – This is the default Visual Style out of the box. It does not show the lighting

as well as the Shaded Views. However, it does show edges and tangent lines.

Iso

Annotation

in Pipe

X-Ref

Drawing

Pipe

Active

Drawing

Pipe


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Shaded – Visually, this is easy for most people to model in. However, it DOES NOT

show edges or tangent lines.

Shaded with Edges – Visually, this is also easy for most people to model in, and it

DOES show edges or tangent lines.

Shades of Gray – Some users prefer this view when working with X-Refs. X-Refs come

in darker and the active drawing entities are a lighter gray with edges and tangent lines.

The same applies for light and dark background colors as it did in the “Conceptual” view.

Wireframe – Use when placing and editing Iso Annotation globes.

X-Ray – This is best used when you want to apply transparency to all objects to check

for clearances and to visually see Iso Annotation globes in the pipe, which you could not

see if you were using Shaded, Shades of Gray or Realistic Styles. You also receive the

edge highlighting benefit when using X-Refs.

Iso

Annotation

in Pipe

X-Ref

Drawing

Pipe

Active

Drawing

Pipe


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Using Viewports to Route Pipe: In a busy area where you need to route a pipe, Viewports

can come in handy to zero in on specific locations that the pipe will need to make its directional

turns.

In the example below, We are routing a pipe from a nozzle on the bottom of a tank. It will drop

6’ or drop to a specific elevation and make a turn to the West. Using Point Filters, I can

determine the horizontal distance I need to go in order to connect to the suction of the pump

below it, all without rotating the model or zooming in and out.

1. This

Viewport

shows the

start point at

the Tank

Nozzle

2. This

Viewport

shows the

drop to

specific

distance or

elevation

5. Shows

the overall

view of the

pipe run

4. Use

Assisted

Routing or

Point Filters

to end at the

Pump

Suction

3. Use the

“.X” Point

Filter of the

Pump

Suction to

locate this

elbow’s

horizontal

distance to

its vertical

turn


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Generate templates with specific layers for modeling: If you prefer, you can generate layers

in your Model Template that you will want to use in your Orthos. Generate these Layers in your

3D Modeling Template (DWT files). Once created in the Template, you will be able to select the

layers from the Layer dropdown list before placing the assets.

To assign these model layers to the orthos, do the following:

Create

New

Layers

Use names

to show up

in Orthos

Define

Colors for

Model and

Orthos Make sure

to set up

Plot and No

Plot Options

TRICK! – Use a Network Location to store your 3D DWG Templates. Make these

changes and then copy to the READ ONLY location that the end-users will pull from to

generate new models in AutoCAD Plant 3D. Iso and Ortho templates have specific

locations that they need to reside in. Also the border block needs to be named “Title Block”

for proper functionality. See examples below for paths.

ISOS …\ProjectRoot\Isometric\Final_ANSI-C\Filename.DWT (“Final_ANSI-C” for example)

ORTHOS …\ProjectRoot\Orthos\Styles\Default\Filename.DWT


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Section 3: Generate Isos to include various messages and breaks to speed up

the “clean up” time You can place Iso Messages and Break Locations at specific locations on the pipe run so that

your Isos will break automatically and annotations will show up on the Iso every time is it run.

You typically want to apply these just before creating your isos so that if you have design

changes, you are not having to re-create these and move them around.

This example includes a Break Point at the elbow.

Also, the LEFT image is using X-RAY, allowing you to see the globe.

This example includes 2 Iso Annotations in the same location, one placed

on top of the other – A Floor Penetration and a “no enclosure” Iso Message.

Also, the LEFT image is using WIREFRAME, allowing you to edit the globe.

TRICK! – When placing Iso Messages, Floor Symbols, Flow Arrows, Insulation

Symbols, as well as Location and Break Points, be sure to swap to a WIREFRAME or X-

RAY view. WIREFRAME works best if you need to edit the “globe” symbol after it is

inserted. X-RAY works best if you just want to see the “globes” and still see a shaded

view of your model as wireframe can get very confusing in a complex model.

TRICK! – You can use the ENTER key on

your keyboard to create multiple lines of text on

your Iso Messages. You can also draw

dimensions to your message automatically by

selecting the check box at the bottom.


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Reducers

Automatically

Added Five

Components

Selected

Section 4: Change sizes of components and moving components without

deleting and re-routing Changing Sizes of Components: To change the

size of a single component after it has been routed

and placed; simply change it in the Properties palette.

For instance, to change the size of this ball valve,

select a new size from the dropdown list in Properties.

You will notice that reducers are added automatically.

You will also notice that the flange sizes change too.

You do NOT have to select the flanges, gaskets, etc.

To change multiple inline assets and pipe sizes, select

them one at a time or see the TRICK below. Change

the size in the Properties palette.

TRICK! –

If you need to

change every

asset in a line,

select a

component and

use the right-

click option

Add to

Selection

Connected

Line Number

to select all

items. Then

you can

change the

Size, Spec, and

Line Number

as well as a

few other

properties.


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Continue

Piping Route

Move

Part

Substitute

Part

Change Pipe

Elevation

Create a

Branch at the

Pipe Midpoint

Move

Part

Substitute

Part

Moving Components without Deleting and Re-Routing:

To move a component, select the asset then pick the blue

grip to move it. You can move from horizontal to vertical,

or vice-versa. You can move from one piping route to

another.

If you do move, for instance an 8” Ball Valve to a 6” line, it

will automatically add the reducers on both ends for you,

as well as adding flanges and gasket/bolt sets.

When you move the asset, you want to make sure

OSNAPs are turned on, or at least use your

SHIFT+RIGHT-CLICK to pick a nearest for placement.

You should also make sure that Dynamic Input (F12) is

turned on so that you can type in a specific location for the

asset.

Extra! Extra!

Model Symbols – What do they mean?

On pipe:

On Fittings:

Flip

Part

Continue

Piping Route

Rotate

Part


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Move

Part

Continue

Piping Route

Substitute

Part Rotate

Part

Flip

Part

Flip Inline

Part

On Valves:

Other Symbols:

The “Red Line of Connectivity”

If the Red Line Stops, the Route is broken

The Compass

Use CTRL+RightClick to change the

Compass orientation

The Pencil

Use CTRL+LeftClick to access the Nozzle

Edit Pencil on a Tank or Vessel –

“CTRL” Not required on Pumps

and other Equipment

Steel Stretch Grips

Use the Grips to Stretch the Structural Steel

and Handrail


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Additional Notes during the Class:

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