AutoCAD MEP

[#1]

Just started using MEP. Have used AutoCad for many years but need some help with MEP. I can't seem to get piping to draw in 3D. Elec-Duct all work fine but Plumbing and Mech Piping draw as one line or 2D. What must I do to turn it on? Any help would be appreciated.

[#2]

Hi,

Just so you know, the plumbing module in Autocad MEP is 2D only.  That being said, if you want to draw 3D pipe then you can use the piping module.  You will just not have any access to the autosizing of your plumbing lines.

In AutoCad MEP you draw with objects.  Duct, Duct Fittings, Conduit, Conduit Fittings, Pipe, Pipe Fittings, etc. Because they are objects, they can be displayed differently depending on the view, the display representation you are currently in, elevation, etc.  Now, as far as piping goes, when you are in a display representation that uses a plan view then the piping size is controlled by the system definition.  You can go into the system definitions found on the manage tab of the ribbon and then under the Style Manager drop down.  Click on your system definition and then single line graphics.  These two checkboxes will determine at what size your pipe will display as double line.  If you would like your pipe to always be 2-line then just uncheck both of these boxes for all of your systems.  You could also change your display representation to MEP Basic 2-Line.  This will force your piping into a 2-line display no matter what the system definitions show. 

You should always model your pipe in MEP Basic 2-Line representation.  When is this display configuration, piping that crosses over each other will not break or hatch the way it should due to elevation.  This breaking and hatching eats up valuable CPU processing power.  You can set the display representation of your paperspace viewport to MEP DESIGN.  This will show your pipe breaking and hatching correctly when one pipe crosses over another.  This is true for all objects, not just pipe.

To summarize:

•   The plumbing module is not 3D
•   Draw plumbing systems with the piping module for 3D pipe
•   Make sure you model your pipe in the Mep Basic 2-Line Display Representation
•   Set your viewport's Display Representation to MEP Design in order for your pipe to display correctly.
•   The piping systems control whether or not your pipe displays as single line or 2 line when in the MEP Design    Display Representation.

I hope this explains it a little better.  Don't be afraid to ask more questions and more importantly use the help system.  It is packed full of excellent infomation.