CATIA 3D model to AutoCAD Plant 3D

[Leinar]

Is it possible to import CATIA 3D model to Plant 3D? If yes, how?

Our company is using CATIA for modeling complex parts then needs to import this to Plant 3D for piping layout.

If this is possible we will consider using Plant 3D to replace our current stone-age microstation.

[TomislavGolubovic]

Export CATIA to .dwg then XREF?

[Leinar]

Unfurtunately it's not possible to create (.dwg) file on catia.

I hope it's possible to import step file to Plant 3D, that's how we do on microstation to import catia model.

[Jan-TSpD]

Try exporting to .sat, you can import .sat into P3D. I use Inventor to import .sat or.step then export to .dwg.

[Leinar]

that's also not available in catia, I tried inventor fusion and I can import catia then save as .dwg and it works. But I hope it's possible to purchase this as a tandem.

[dgorsman]

I've had CATIA-using clients provide IGES, but the resulting files are too large for practical use.  Probably one of the reasons they use CATIA in the first place...

[Leinar]

I mean is to purchase Plant 3D and Inventor Fusion as tandem software for our company. Could this be possible?

[DarrenP]

inventor fusion is free add in that comes with most of the 2012 autocad based products not all

Plant 3D 2012 is one of them that inventor fusion doesn't come with it

 but you can download it from here: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/fusion/

[Leinar]

how can I create a nozzle on the catia model that I converted to .dwg? is it also possible to build a nozzle in the specs editor to use on my 3D model that also links to P&ID nozzle tag?

[jiju_pp]

In my opinion best way is to integrate the complete 3D model in Navisworks for review. Also it is better to keep a Gt inSD model with CATIA and can be used as interface model for Plant 3D. The interface model / Overal Layout can be converted to step file and import it to plant 3D. I was using catia for designing whole FPSO that includes Hull and Topside systems. An example of my work : http://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/dana-petroleum-orders-fpso-from-cosco-nantong/

[michellehackett]

Do you know of a good replacment for this now that Inventor fusion has become unavailable? I don't see the conversion listed as a feature of Fusion 360. I'd like to use the 3d Catia in AutoCAD Mechanical.

[vakhtang]

To Import a Non-Autodesk 3D Model

Import IGES, STEP, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhino, CATIA (V4, V5), SolidWorks, JT, UGS NX and Parasolid files.

Note: Some formats listed in this topic may not be available in individual AutoCAD-based products.
Click Insert tabImport panelImport.  Find
In the Import File dialog box, in the Files of type box, select the file type corresponding to the 3D model file you want to import.
Find and select the file you want to import, or enter the name of the file at File Name.
Click Open.
Import is performed as a background process. A notification bubble is displayed when the command is done.
Click the file name in the notification bubble. The imported file is inserted in the current drawing.
Tip: If you accidentally close the notification bubble, right-click the import icon on the status bar, and click Insert. The imported file is inserted in the current drawing.

[shreesha.bhat]

Hello everyone

My query is an extension to the one posted at the beginning of this thread: My company uses the piping workbench in CATIA V5 to route pipelines in 3d model space, and then converts the individual pipe spools into production isometrics using an in-house developed VBA script. As this is a tedious process, and as we have thousands of isometrics to process, we want to try out this process in AutoCAD Plant 3d. 

I imported a CATIA piping model into AutoCAD Plant 3d, and tried to generate an isometric drawing from it. But it appears that the CATIA model is imported in the form of a plain 3D solid with no line id information, and no isometric is generated as AP3D does not recognize the model as a pipe. Is there a way to do this? Would it help if I import the CATIA model as a STEP file instead of a CATIA V5 file? 

[dgorsman]

No.  Plant3D is spec and catalog driven - it uses data from files to create custom objects that represent pipes, elbows, and other components.  When isometrics are run it's that data, not the 3D solid, which is used to draw out the isometric.  You'd need to create catalogs and specs in the program then import PCF (provided that CATIA module can export in valid PCF format).  Otherwise you're back to square one, tracing over the solids.

If that piping module doesn't do traditional single-line isometrics, exporting to another program may not be the most efficient process.  It has good capabilities for automatically generating drawings, so given the option I'd be looking at the drawings it *can* produce e.g. dimensioned isometric views.