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Item Property
Item Property
MSF7757-L ITM content is the backbone of the Autodesk Fabrication products. This manufacture-
specific and real-world content is what helps you better prepare for fabrication and installation. In this
lab, you’ll learn about Autodesk’s approach to ITM content, including how we create it and why it is
delivered the way it is, how to build your own content or add additional pieces to your library, best
practices when using connectivity, and how to mix-and-match Autodesk’s and your own content in your
services.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this class, you will be able to:
• Create fabrication content using the same tools Autodesk does
• Understand why content is setup and delivered the way it is
• Build your own content and add pieces to your library
• Understand connectivity, including how to use existing definitions
After spending three years living in Germany, he has been reunited with his drum sets that have
been sitting silent in a government storage facility. His wife serves in the USAF, which explains
the frequent relocations over the last 15 years. Martin has two daughters, ages 5 and 8, who
consume most of his free time, partaking in activities such as horseback riding, roller skating,
swimming, piano lessons, Lego building and mashing (both the real and virtual Xbox variety).
Andy Robins is the software development manager for the Autodesk Fabrication products. Prior
to the MAP Software acquisition Andy played a major role in the product development of the
renowned CAD-Duct and CADmep+ (now Autodesk Fabrication CADmep) AutoCAD-based
applications, taking its development from a ‘2D Lisp’ based program to a full 3D c++ ObjectARX
application.
Beginning his tenure in 1990, Andy has over 20 years’ experience in software development in
the MEP sector, being heavily involved in the development of the whole MAP Software product
line focused on fabrication from the onset and helping end users generate the greatest value out
of their software packages.
[email protected]
Understanding Your ITM Content
Contents
Learning Objectives .................................................................................................................1
About the Speakers .................................................................................................................1
Materials..................................................................................................................................3
Exercise ...............................................................................................................................3
Inspecting Service Items and Masters..................................................................................7
Making a Pipe Fitting Elbow .................................................................................................8
Template Items, Catalog Items, and Product Lists .............................................................12
Create a Product List .........................................................................................................12
Connectors ........................................................................................................................16
Self Exercise ......................................................................................................................19
Male / Female Connectivity ................................................................................................19
Materials and Connectivity .................................................................................................26
Duct Fitting.........................................................................................................................31
Dimensions - Dependency and Calculation ........................................................................36
Wrapped Parts ...................................................................................................................37
Appendix / Reference ............................................................................................................38
Connectivity Logic ..............................................................................................................38
End Draw Types - Round ...................................................................................................40
End Draw Type – Rectangular ...........................................................................................44
End Draw Type – Oval .......................................................................................................48
Solutions ............................................................................................................................49
Content Resources ............................................................................................................50
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Materials
When creating pipe fittings, the overall geometry is influenced by the material assigned to the
fitting. For example, the overall size of a PVC fitting is generally larger than a copper fitting.
The first set of exercises will expose you to the dimensional information associated with
materials, and walk you through creation and inspection of a simple elbow fitting that
demonstrates this concept.
Exercise
1. Launch CADmep.
2. Select the Imperial Content V3.01 configuration when prompted.
3. Within CADmep, select the Edit Main Database button (or enter the command EDITDB) (see
Figure 1).
Figure 1
4. In the Database editor, click the Fittings button (see Figure 2, #1)
5. Make sure the Materials node is selected (see Figure 2, #2).
6. Make sure the Main button is selected (see Figure 2, #3).
7. From the Material drop list, select Pipe Systems > PVC (see Figure 2, #4).
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Figure 2
8. Double click ASTM D1785 (20’), and note the Pipe OD for the 4” diameter pipe (see Figure 3).
9. Click Close
10. From the Material drop list, select Pipe Systems > Copper.
11. Double click ASTM B88 (20’), and note the Pipe OD for the 4” diameter pipe (see Figure 3).
12. Click Close/OK to dismiss the dialogs.
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Figure 3
Note that the PVC OD (4.500) is larger than the Copper OD (4.125). We will build a basic 4”
pipe fitting elbow, and compare the differences in materials.
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Figure 4
We’ve looked at materials and taken note of the OD. Note that specifications also have OD
definitions (see Figure 4) for legacy reasons. If material has OD, then it is used… if material
has no OD, it uses that which is in the specification. Using the OD on the material has a
significant reduction in file size of each ITM vs. legacy content which had copies of the full spec
and all associated material ODs.
For straight segments, length is defined in multiple places. The Material (Length, see Figure 3),
the Specification (STD Straight, see Figure 4), the straight item definition, and the item instance
all have a length property. These are used for different purposes.
Material drives the length for linear nesting (minimum cuts from minimum segments). When
determining how multiple non-standard length parts will be cut from a single straight segment,
Figure 3 indicates all sizes will be based on a 20’ length.
Specification drives the straight optimization (minimum segments along a straight run) when the
item instance’s length is set to Auto. Also, when laying out segments, they will be coupled at
the specified length. Figure 4 indicates a standard length of 21’.
• Auto - default lengths and optimization of the segment come from the specification.
• Value - this is used as the default length of the segment, and is used as the basis of straight
optimization.
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When creating a part, you need to determine which pattern to base the part on. You can do this
by inspecting the properties of existing service items, and items in the folders hierarchy.
Note on the Pattern Template tab: “(Based on Pattern 2523)” (see left side of Figure 6)
4. Click Cancel.
5. If the service drop list and item view is not visible, open it with the command USESYSTEMS (see
Figure 6)
6. From the Service drop list, select ADSK – Hydronic > Process Chilled Water Supply.
Figure 5
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7. Right click No607 Elbow 90 (C), and select Properties > Copper: ……ITM.
Note on the General tab: “(Based on Pattern 2523)” (see right side of Figure 6)
Figure 6
After confirming the pattern number of the item to create, you are now ready to start creating the
item.
There are four main tabs of information that define the part.
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Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the properties available on each tab.
Patterns have a number of settings that can affect how the dimensions affect the overall
geometry. Your familiarity with these settings will develop over time. Pattern 2523 in particular,
on the Options tab, has an option called Leg Lengths, which affects the input dimensions as
shown in Figure 7.
Length Includes
No Yes
Extensions
Figure 7
Note: For this exercise, we are locking the dimensions to ensure when we insert the part, these
dimensions are used. Otherwise, in some cases, previously used dimensions may take
precedence when inserting the part.
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Figure 8
6. Click OK.
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Figure 9
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Figure 10
Figure 11
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Figure 12
11. Click the Green new button next to the Save (disk) icon (see Figure 13)
• For Column Type, select Dimension.
• In the Select Which box, select Diameter
• Click OK.
12. Repeat the previous step to add:
• Btm Length
• Top Length
13. Add the two rows of data as shown in Figure 13.
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Figure 13
Next, we’ll add the hub, creating the connection from scratch. First, one final modification to the
part dimensions:
Setting the extensions to Auto will force them to be the exact length required for the hub. Figure
14 below shows the same fitting with a connector added, the left with an Extension of 0, the
right with an Extension of Auto.
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Figure 14
Connectors
Connectors define the geometry of the connector, the engagement length, and have definitions
which limits the ability for connectors to connect to each other. We will now enhance the fitting
we’ve been working to incorporate the connector.
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Figure 15
Figure 16
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See Appendix | End Draw Type – Round to see details related to each End Draw Type.
Figure 17
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Figure 18
Self Exercise
1. Add a 6” elbow to the list, setting Top Length and Btm Length to 5”
2. Create an instance. What is missing? Correct the part.
3. Use the following dimensions as reference
a. B Extension = 3.0
b. D Body Thickness = 0.281
c. E Body Length = 3.0
d. What should C Snap Offset be?
Tip: You can fix an instance of the part in the model by clicking the Redraw button, then clicking
OK.
There are two properties of the connector that determine whether one connector can connect to
another connector.
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End Type
• Male can connect to connectors with end type set to Female or None.
• Female can connect to Male or None.
Connectivity
• Two connectors have to have the same connectivity value to be allowed to connect to each
other. For example, in the figure below, any of the connectors defined as Tube&Fittings |
Female can connect to any of the Tube&Fittings | Male connectors. The grouping of the
connectors has no impact.
• Empty values only connect to other empty values.
Figure 19
Note: Only parts based on the coupling patterns 2522 (piping), 522, 1112, 1113, (duct) and
3522 (electrical) will be automatically inserted where two otherwise incompatible connectors are
connected.
TIP: 1112 and 1113 are round and oval couplers with fat sheet developments, for use by
companies that manufacture their own.
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Figure 20
We don’t need to enter anything in breakpoints, as this represents the end of the raw pipe.
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1. Close and restart CADmep. If you don’t, your MSF7757-L folder won’t be available in step 6
below. You don’t need to save your drawing.
2. Select the ADSK – Hydronic | Process Chilled Water Return service.
3. Click the Edit Service Database button (see Figure 21)
Figure 21
Figure 22
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Figure 23
11. Place two elbows back-to-back and confirm that the Male Coupling inserts between them. See
Figure 24
Figure 24
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Process Chilled Water supply. The main pipe is on the Welded tab, as is the threaded stab-in.
The copper pipe is on the Soldered tab, as is the CxM adapter.
The net result is when the user places a copper tube on the stab-in, the adapter is automatically
inserted.
Figure 25
Note how the adapter (row 2) connects the female threaded stab-in to the male tube.
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Figure 26
The next example, when placing a flanged valve on the end of a pipe, connectivity can
automatically insert the required weld and flange on the pipe end, as shown in Figure 26. In this
case, two intermediate parts are inserted (#2 and #3 in Figure 26). The software will figure out
up to four intermediate parts.
Open the dataset file “Connectivity Sample 1.dwg”, and fill in the details of the connectivity
below by inspecting the connector properties of the various objects. Note particularly the
matching connectivity and male/female pairs.
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When configuring the connectors on a coupling part (e.g., patterns 2522, 522, 3522), there is
the option to populate the Connectivity, as shown in the Figure 27.
Figure 27
When using connectivity on couplings, the Connectivity property of the material must be
populated. An empty value (as shown in Figure 28) only matches other empty values.
Connectivity between different materials is allowed, as long as they have the same Connectivity
value.
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Figure 28
If you were to configure the connectors on the nipple and union, how would you populate the
empty values from the table below?
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Figure 29
We’ll now build a coupling that will use connectivity to connect Copper to Cast Iron.
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For connectivity, we need to assign a connectivity string to the material. In our case, the
material is owned/locked data. To reconcile this, we’ll make a copy.
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You will be prompted to change the connector on the fitting… this isn’t what we want. We want
the Dielectric Union to insert… but it didn’t.
What change do you need to make to the My Dielectric Union to get the union to insert between
the copper and carbon steel elbows?
Figure 30
36. Make the required changes, and re-test to confirm you have it working.
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Duct Fitting
Close/Restart CADmep, using the Metric configuration.
In this next example, we will build a duct fitting, and look at a few additional best practices.
1. Find an appropriate template – may take some trial and error with various patterns to find
something suitable.
2. Translate the manufacturer’s dimensions to the template dimensions – use a sketch and
spreadsheet to track your work. There may be some dimensions you need to confirm w/ the
manufacturer.
3. Next review the manufacturer data to see if there are any rules that affect how the part is built.
In this case, we will build a fitting based on the top-left image in Figure 31, using pattern 160.
The top-left image is the diagram from the manufacturer. The top-right image are the default
dimensions provided by pattern 160. Note that the manufacturer diagram is missing info related
to the length of length D. The bottom-left image shows the dimensions once length D is
resolved.
Figure 31
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Figure 32
On the Item tab (see Figure 32), there is an option for Centerline Input. Using this option results
in the dimensions shown in the lower-right image of Figure 31. The table below shows a
comparison of the two options, translating the dimensions in the pattern to the manufacturer
dimensions.
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A D1 D1
B D2 D2
C L1 – D L1 – D
D (A – B) / 2 (A – B) / 2
E Auto Auto
F Auto Auto
G D3 D3
H L3 – A/2 L3
I 90 90
J L4 – G2 L4
K 0 0
L Auto Auto
M 0 0
That the order of the parameters in the Product List window matching the order in the
spreadsheet to makes it easy to copy/paste between applications
The next step is to build up a spreadsheet using formulae as appropriate to populate values.
14. Use the Figure 33 to fill in the required formulae in “Reducing Tee - Start.xlsm” in row 3.
15. Use Excel’s Fill Down (CTRL+D) function to fill in the formulae for rows 4 & 5.
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Figure 33
16. Copy the range of cells shown in the spreadsheet in Figure 34.
17. Paste into the product list as shown in the spreadsheet in Figure 34.
18. Click OK to close the product list.
19. Click OK to close the item dialog.
Figure 34
In this case, the manufacturer provides a table that defines the size of L2 based on the
component’s diameter. Noting this, we can use the connector to drive these extensions, instead
of defining on the part itself. We have already set the associated parameter values to Auto.
Adding these lengths in a connector results in less data in the product list for each part in the
group of manufacturer parts. Additionally, if, for whatever reason, the connector details change,
this can be done centrally, instead of in each fitting definition.
In the Folders view, right click on My Reducing Tee, and select Edit.
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9. Click OK
10. Click Close
11. Right click on XYZ Male (at the top, under No Group), and select Change Group
12. Set the group name to XYZ.
13. Click OK
14. Click OK
15. In the Name column, set C2 and C3 to LBF Male, note that all assigned connectors are locked.
16. Click OK, saving/overwriting if prompted.
Figure 35
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As an arbitrary example, you can define the length of a part to be dependent on the diameter as
shown in the Figure 36.
Dependency works similar to breakpoints. The way the definition below is interpreted, for
example, when the diameter of the part is >100 and <= 200, then the Length will be 1000.
Calculated values are similarly derived from other parameters. The figure below right is
interpreted as the Length of the duct calculated as 2x the Diameter.
To define a Dependency or Calculation, you click on the letter associated with the value (shown
blue in the images below). Once you have defined the dependency and/or calculation, you
select which to use in the Value column, by selecting Dependent or Calc.
Note that it is only possible to have dependency and calculated values based on dimensions;
you can’t, for example, have a dependency on a setting on the Options tab.
Figure 36
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Take a few moments to explore the usage of Dependency and Calculation settings.
Wrapped Parts
You can use the command Convert3DModel to define non parametric items, they may be 3D
blocks, or 3D geometry objects.
Refer to the help topic for this command for more info.
The help topic refers to a ConnDef block. You can find this block in the default configurations:
• C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Fabrication 2015\Metric
Content\V7.01\Blocks\Annotation Blocks\ADSK Annotation Blocks.dwg
• C:\Users\Public\Documents\Autodesk\Fabrication 2015\Imperial
Content\V3.01\Blocks\Annotation Blocks\ADSK Annotation Blocks.dwg
After you have created your item, use the SAVETOFOLDER command (right click > CADmep >
Utilities > Save Item to Folders) to write it to your configuration folders.
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Appendix / Reference
Connectivity Logic
Connectors are allowed to connect based on a series of checks related to the material,
connector connectivity, and connector end type. A summary of the logic is shown in Figure 37,
and locations in the UI are shown in Figure 38.
Figure 37
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Figure 38
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Figure 39
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Figure 40
The main difference between Push Fit and Standard is the Swage starts on the extension body
on the push fit.
The definition of the parameters in the breakpoints table (see Figure 41) are defined below.
Figure 41
A Diameter – The nominal size of the fitting, used to match the connector to the fitting.
B Extension – How long to make the connection beyond the end of the pipe
C Snap Offset – how far from the end of the fitting the next fitting will be placed. The
definition is a carryover from duct… this was historically the gasket
thickness… half applied to each end. For piping, this is very counter
intuitive, in that you specify a negative value, and twice the required
distance. Typically set to 2x E Body Length.
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E Body Length – This is how long to make the hub, using the D Body Thickness
F Body Set Back – Distance away from end of fitting to start the body, would typically be
negative for a slide on flange.
Note: There is no control over the width of the swage, it is proportional to the length.
As an example, Figure 42 shows step-by-step how the parameters affect the geometry.
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B Extension = 100 mm
D Body Thickness = 50 mm
E Body Length = 50 mm
Figure 42
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Figure 43
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Standard Blank
Figure 44
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25 mm F Line 3
25 mm G Line 4
Figure 45
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Sample dimensional variation of Coupling Plate settings (used for bus bar), using D Sides = All
All values 0
20mm G Thickness
10 mm H Vertical Width
Figure 46
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Solutions
Number Item Connector Item’s Item’s Material
Connector
Name Connectivity End Type Connectivity Material Connectivity
1 Pipe-A53- GRC_Tube_Bevelled Welded Male N/A Carbon Steel <empty>
CS(A-ERW)-
SCH40-
BLK(BV)
2 Shop Weld – GRC_Butt Weld (Shop) Welded Female None Carbon Steel <empty>
CS-A53 GRC_Butt Weld (Shop) Welded Female None
3 Weld Neck GRC_Butt Welded Welded Male None Carbon Steel <empty>
Flange RF GRC_Flange – Class 150 Flange 150 None None
RF
4 F-2 Gate MIL_Flange – Class 150 Flange 150 None N/A Carbon Steel <empty>
Valve
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Content Resources
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