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.

scottscs71@yahoo.com

Additional page on back for Notes!

 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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!
2
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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! – 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! – 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! – 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!
3
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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.

Start Point
(NODE)

End Point
(NODE)

Assisted Routing Example

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.
4
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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

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.

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.

5
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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.

Iso
Annotation
in Pipe

 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)

Active
Drawing
Pipe
X-Ref
Drawing
Pipe

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.

6
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

 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.

Active X-Ref
Drawing Drawing
Pipe Pipe

 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

7
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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.

2. This 1. This
Viewport 3. Use the Viewport
shows the “.X” Point shows the
drop to Filter of the start point at
specific Pump the Tank
distance or Suction to Nozzle
elevation locate this
elbow’s
horizontal
distance to
its vertical
turn
5. Shows
the overall
view of the
pipe run
4. Use
Assisted
Routing or
Point Filters
to end at the
Pump
Suction

8
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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.

Create Define
New Colors for
Layers Model and Make sure
Orthos to set up
Use names
to show up Plot and No
in Orthos Plot Options

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

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

9
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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. 10
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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 Reducers
Size, Spec, and Automatically
Line Number Added
Five
as well as a
Components
few other
Selected
properties.

11
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

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: Change Pipe

Elevation

Create a
Branch at the Continue
Pipe Midpoint Piping Route

Substitute Move
Part Part

On Fittings:
Continue
Piping Route

Flip Substitute
Part Part

Rotate Move
12
Part Part
 Flip Inline PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

Part

On Valves:
Substitute
Rotate Part
Part

Continue
Flip Piping Route
Part

Move
Part

Other Symbols:

The “Red Line of Connectivity” The Compass

Use CTRL+RightClick to change the

Compass orientation

If the Red Line Stops, the Route is broken

The Pencil Steel Stretch Grips

Use CTRL+LeftClick to access the Nozzle

Edit Pencil on a Tank or Vessel – Use the Grips to Stretch the Structural Steel
“CTRL” Not required on Pumps and Handrail
and other Equipment

13
 PD2297: AutoCAD® Plant 3D Tricks of the Trade

Additional Notes during the Class:

14