Isometric Sheet Split

[Anonymous]

Plant 3D splits the isometrics into TOO MANY drawing sheets. A line that normally would be on 1 sheet in PDMS or Microstation, comes out on 2 to 3 sheets in Plant 3D. This generates lots of extra work both for the engineers, doc.controllers and even the fabricators.

I have tried both the A2 and A3 'Final' iso but both of them splits the drawings.

Does anyone know how we can reduce this into normal amount of sheets?

[Venkatesan.A]

I assume you have tried the options to set the congestion splitting bar to "more" and have selected the option

" Force Iso onto one sheet" in the Advanced Iso creation options.

If so try the below alternative.

1. Open the isoconfig.xml file and find this section... 

<!-- 'MaxDirectionChanges': controls the maximum allowed direction changes for a spool. 
Exceeding which will start --> 
<!-- another spool. Setting this option to zero will ignore it. --> 
<!-- 'MaxWeight': Defines the maximum weight of all components in the spool. It is not taken into account when setting to '0'. --> 
<!-- 'MaxPipeLength': A special case in spool splitting. Normally the max pipe spool is 20ft or 6m. --> 
<!-- Set MaxPipeLength to 0 to ignore the option. --> 
<Spool SpoolSplitMethod="OnSize" SizeLimits="96 480 96" overflowLength="6" 
MaxDirectionChanges="0" MaxWeight="0" MaxPipeLength="240" PropertyChange="PIPING-SPEC" 

In the above code, set the field MaxDirectionChanges to 0. 

2. Next find this section... 

'CongestionLevel': (1.0 - 3.0); CongestionLevel defines the congestion level that is allowed in an iso drawing. --> 
<!-- 1.0 allows the greatest congestion. 3.0 allows the 
least congestion. --> 
<Auto SplitSymbol="SplitMark" SpoolSplit="false" IdentifySpools="true" SplitOnCongestion="true" 
CongestionLevel="1" /> 

In the above code area set the CongestionLevel to 1. 

save and close. go to your model and generate an iso now. Still make sure the "force onto one sheet" check box is selected, this should fix the problem to some extend.

[Anonymous]

Tnx for reply Venkat.

I always use the 'force into one sheet' & 'more' congestion options. If not the line would split into even more sheets.

I re-extracted some lines after changing the setting as per your instrucion, but I hardly see any changes.

An isometric drawing in A2 format should be able to contain lots of information, but this is not the case for Plant 3D isometrics so I think Autodesk should urgently look into this

[Venkatesan.A]

May I know which version are you using?

[Anonymous]

Im on the 2013 version. We also had this issue in 2012.

[Venkatesan.A]

I suspect it may also be due to unconnected component.

Could you try the solution on the below post.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Plant-3D/ISOMETRIC-ISSUE-IN-AUTODESK-PLANT-DESIGN-SUITE/td-p/3...

[Venkatesan.A]

If it still doesnt work, could you post the pcf , let me have a look at the pcf.

[Anonymous]

Tnx for your swift reply Venkat.

I am attaching 2 isometrics + the belonging pcf file. The line is connected all the way and my impression is that the font size on the Plant 3D drawings are much larger than neseccary. You see the cutting list only contain a few items but the list is occupying lots of space. The drawing would on our old system come out as 1 iso, not 2.

The idea of making the block larger (as suggested in the link) could work but it should now be neseccary to do this modification.

[Venkatesan.A · Accepted solution]

The problem actually is the cut table in your template , not with the isometrics.

Some times when you dont place the cut table properly or if you have placed multiple table section in the table area, this issue could occur.

Solution :

Delete your cut table in your existing template and also make sure there are no additional table layer there (blue window) then insert a new cut table but this time make sure you use the "Add to existing area" option that appears on the command window. (refer attached image).

Attached also is a video where i created the Iso successfully with your pcf.

Video

______________________________________________________________

If my post answers your question, please click the "Accept as Solution" button. This helps everyone find answers more quickly!

[Anonymous]

Tnx for your video. I will try this when I have time and hopefully this problem will be solved.

If it is as simple as your video shows, then that's just fantastic !!!

I highly appreciate your effort to help us 🙂

[Anonymous]

Venkat; it seems like we have managed to get the drawings on on 1 sheet after following your instructions.

Initially we used the standard isometric frame from Autodesk, and I see now that it has to be modified.

This is something Autodesk maybe could look into aswell; to make the standard iso-frames more 'user friendly'

Tnx for your assisntance 🙂

[Anonymous]

Hi Venkat,

i have tryed all the solutions on this post including the one on the video and my Isos still split. Attached is the pcf file. I hope you can help me.

Thank you.

[Venkatesan.A]

Hi Felipe,

Looking at the no of component in your pcf, I dont think its logically possible to fit all those onto one sheet.

I guess its the general logic of, paper space : No of component ratio, the software tries to squeeze the  component keeping this logic in mind, but if there are too many component in there, it obviously tries to push it onto next sheet to avoid the ISO being clumpsy. (No point in the ISO being too conjusted without being able to read the dimensions)

Attached is an example from your pcf, you will see there the iso doesnt really look good, also the in the BOM you will see there is no space for the materials to logically fit in further. Hence the split.

Maybe you could try a bigger sheet size indeed to see how it goes, but again in one sheet might be a bit amibitious.

By the way are you using 2012 or 2013 ? Is your hotfixes/service packs up-to-date? 

[Anonymous]

Felipe: Another good suggetstion is to insert the 'BREAK-POINT' yourself before you extract. This gives you better control over the sheets. In addition, like Venkat states, I always use the A2 frame.

[Arun_Kumar_K]

Gone throught the isometric, for this drawing, it is not good to have 2 isometric drawings.

Following annotions are unnecessary:

1. Open end co-ordinates

2. Closed end co-ordinates.

3. Elevations are sufficient to be annoted at the beginning and at the end. Elevationa and coordinates are displayed at all sockets.

4. Size display on the drawing sheet is not required, as it is shown in BOM.

Please remove the above and look the iso, ll see how the iso looks.

[Anonymous]

gracias por la solucion!!!

te agradesco muchisimo ,, tome un año en encontrar la solucion!

estoy muy feliz y agradecido!