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Civil 3D model scale issue

11 REPLIES 11
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Message 1 of 12
agreement
2594 Views, 11 Replies

Civil 3D model scale issue

I've been learning this program and believe it's the best program to use for modeling future underground utilities on the project I'm on. I've been able to create new pipe sizes and materials and have been able to set inverts and rim elevations, but I realized that it's not modeling the diameter of the pipes correctly. I'm in the proper units and my lengths dimesion properly, but say if I select a 48" HDPE pipe to be drawn, when it's modeled I can measure the diameter and it says 4.25". So, it's converting almost every 12" to 1". A 4" iron pipe models as 3/8" diameter. I've played with multiple new files and units, but can't seem to get it to model at the true diameter. Even if I scale the drawing it does not scale the diameter, only length. Is there something simple I'm missing? Thanks for any help.

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11 REPLIES 11
Message 2 of 12
tcorey
in reply to: agreement

Hello,

 

What command are you using to query the diameter? What view are you in? Feel free to post a drawing.

 

Tim

 

 

 

    



Tim Corey
MicroCAD Training and Consulting, Inc.
Redding, CA
Autodesk Gold Reseller

New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. -- Kurt Vonnegut
Message 3 of 12
AllenJessup
in reply to: agreement

It sounds like you have your units set incorrectly. Civil 3D can only be run in 2 systems. A foot based system or a Meter based system. If units are set to Architectural. Things will not work right. Also do not use the Units command to control this.

 

Go to the Toolspace and move to the Settings Tab. Right click on the active drawing and select Edit Drawing Settings. In the Drawing Settings dialog box, go to the Units and Zone tab. Below is my drawing settings for a Foot based drawing at a 40' scale in State Plane coordinates.

 

s1.PNG

 

Try THIS link.



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 4 of 12
agreement
in reply to: tcorey

I'm just using the distance command to measure the diameter. It will measure the same whether I'm in 3D, plan, or elevation. No matter what units I'm set at it won't model the actual diameter. I need them to model as the actual diameter so I can bring into a master file in navisworks for clash detection and coordination. Does Civil just not model the actual size since it's more of an engineering tool?

Message 5 of 12
agreement
in reply to: AllenJessup

I opened a new file and didn't mess with the units except for the screenshot you posted below, which I've been in before and set up almost the way you have it. I copied what you had and did the same process and if I model a 12" concrete pipe the diameter will measure as 0.4000 (since I'm in Decimal). If I change it to Architectural it measures as 3/8", which obviously are both the same measuremant. Does Civil just not model actual diamters? As I posted in the other reply I need it to actual model a 12" diameter pipe so I can bring into a main file in Navisworks to test for clash detection and construction coordination.

The only way I have found to model actual diameters is to sweep a circle that I make at a 12" diameter with my line. This method isn't as efficient and accurate when needing to set rim and invert elevations.

Message 6 of 12
BrianHailey
in reply to: agreement

Civil 3D most definitely models the actual diameter. As others have stated, you are having a units issue. Try this, create a new drawing using the provided .dwt that comes with Civil 3D and create a pipe. Now go measure the pipe. You'll see it is the actual size you specified.

 

Another thing, make sure you measuring the inside diameter as a pipe can display just the outside of the pipe, just the inside of the pipe, or both (depending on the style assigned to the pipe).

 

CLICK HERE FOR IMAGE

Brian J. Hailey, P.E.



GEI Consultants
My Civil 3D Blog

Message 7 of 12
agreement
in reply to: BrianHailey

Correction to my last two replies. Sorry, I meant to say that a 4" Pipe will measure as 0.4000 (Decimal) or 3/8" (Architectural) and a 12" Pipe will measure as 1.3333 (Decimal) or 1-5/16" (Architectural).

 

I opened Civil, selected new drawing, drew a line, create pipe network from object, select 12" concrete pipe, and then measure the diamter and get the dimensions I typed above for a 12" pipe.

 

In your attached image it says 2.0000 for the dimension, isn't that saying it's 2". If you change units to Architectural it should dimension as 2". I did a test with exporting this to Navisworks, or any other program that can read 3D models, imported it, measured, and still a 12" pipe made in civil measures as 1-5/16".  

 

The outer diameter is displayed and is set at 12", which is default to Civil 3D. My file is attached.

Message 8 of 12
BrianHailey
in reply to: agreement

As mentioned before, Civil 3D will not work in units of inches. The drawing is in feet. Your pipe is a 12" pipe - which is a 1' pipe. If I measure the inside diameter of your pipe, you'll see it is 1 unit wide (which is 1'). HERE

 

When you are in a 3D view, you are seeing the outside of the pipe. Remember, pipes have a wall thickness. Your pipe has a wall thickness of 2" (HERE) for a total outside diameter of 12"+2"+2" or 16" or 1' 4" or 1.3333' HERE

 

When I take your drawing into Navisworks, the pipe shows up as 1.33 ft. HERE

 

Never ever ever ever never ever never ever ever ever never set your drawing units in Civil 3D to Architectural. Architectural units ONLY work when the drawing units are set to inches and Civil 3D should NEVER have drawing units set to inches. HERE

Brian J. Hailey, P.E.



GEI Consultants
My Civil 3D Blog

Message 9 of 12
Neilw_05
in reply to: agreement

I concur with Brian. The pipe has the correct dimensions when measured using the Distance command.

 

Remember that Autocad files do not know what a unit represents. You must assign what a unit represents in the DWG settings with the units command. When you assign Architectural units to a dwg, a unit is interpreted as 1 inch.  When you assign Decimal units to a dwg, a unit is interpreted as 1 foot (or 1 meter in a metric project). Civil 3D tools require units to be set to decimal. It always interprets a unit=1 foot (or 1 meter in a metric C3D project).

 

So when you measure a 12" diameter pipe with units=decimal, it will measure 1.0 units. Now if you look at the Civil 3D pipe properties it reports the pipe is 12" diameter and 2" wall thickness. Those units are coming from the pipe part attributes, not the Autocad units. That is probably where you are getting confused.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 10 of 12
AllenJessup
in reply to: agreement

I looks like others have covered this issue while I was off. Hopefully their advise will have solved your problem.

 

Allen



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 11 of 12
troma
in reply to: AllenJessup

Can someone give a hand over here:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Civil-3D/Z-distance-in-inches-not-feet/td-p/3732422#.UMeVCOQ72...

 

Similar problem I think, but I'm not familiar enough with imperial settings to be of much use.  The OP accidentally market it as solved when it isn't, so just a heads up that help is needed.

Thanks.


Mark Green

Working on Civil 3D in Canada

Message 12 of 12
Neilw_05
in reply to: troma

I took off the first "Solution" tag. Please check to see if it is fixed.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com

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