Dear P3D User Group & Autodesk Professionals:
In my 20+ years of doing CAD design it has never been an issue for multiple people to collaborate and work together on a single 3D model or drawing. Before users would do their portion and then their work would be inserted into the main drawing or model. However, this is not quite as simple with the P3D piping. When inserting piping from another model often the colors and layers change or the connectivity of the pipes, fittings and valves are often lost. Right now we are just using copy/paste from one model to the main model. There must be a better way!
Can someone offer suggestions for multiple users to collaborate work in our office on 3D piping layout so we can easily mesh the piping work together in our main model fluidly, with far better results and less rework. If that is even possible? We have searched the Autodesk knowledge base and have not found any good advice.
Solved! Go to Solution.
Solved by dzine14u. Go to Solution.
Best Regards,
Pat Andres
Autodesk Expert Elite
Plant 3D Administrator
GHD Manila
Patpat:
Thank you for your input. I would like to emphasize again that we are still new to the P3D intelligent piping and are learning more every day. I think our biggest hurdle is that fact that we are a very small firm of just a few people and have taken on a very large project. Without formal training on the full capabilities of P3D, we have used this project to learn the piping and utilize it on our own. We still have much to learn. In addition, we did not use the P&ID portion of the software on this project as the P&ID's were produced by another firm and not in P3D. With time NOT on our side we simply went to work on creating a very complex 3D model (I say we but mostly me). It has been one of the largest challenges I have faced in my career, but again, we have learned a lot in the process.
Today we successfully created our first 493 iso piping sheets...a huge milestone.
We do see the value in xrefs and will continue to improve how we manage larger projects with their extensive use. We have never had a problem in the past with collaboration...but then again, this is our first attempt to utilize the intelligent piping. We are learning.
I think its just going to be a change in workflow and (internal) process on how you are running a project. Its best to break the job down into 'workable' area's and give each designer their own area, be it a space, or a set of numbers in a model, or by something to break the project down. XREF'ing between model's isn't an issue, so you just stop one model at a Tee (or elbow) for example, and then the next model continues the pipe run.
I wouldn't lean towards trying to copy things into a master model. For example, if you had 10 area's in your project, I would break each area into its own discipline, so that makes 30 models. One for Piping, one for Equipment and one for Plant3D Structure, for each area. That way you can have different designers working on different area's without having to go tap someone on the shoulder asking them to exit their model.
Best Regards,
Pat Andres
Autodesk Expert Elite
Plant 3D Administrator
GHD Manila
Hi Chuck,
I have been watching the frustration you have been going through online & I thought this might help. It is set up similarly to the link about how to manage large projects. I too have been in a similar situation to yours, with no formal training & trying to make it work on the fly. It's getting easier as I learn & as they improve the software.
I used to work in an office where they used “another major plant program”, however, they were not efficient or disciplined enough to create the NWDs effectively – it took hours to create with many duplicated models, making it sluggish to use. I realized that I needed to create a hierarchy of xrefs & a template folder for project setups that already contained the drawings as they are shown. This setup will create a drawing that can be turned into an NWD in seconds without duplication of xrefs if done correctly. It also shows the breakdown of the piping by service. If all xrefs are @ 0,0,0, there should be no problem with connectivity.
I realize this is a lille off the subject, being mainly concerned with NWD creation, but it works for file management as well.
There are a hundred ways to skin a cat, & you will have your own way of breaking things down, but I would bet that if you came up with a nice visual such as this for your people (the visual thinkers that they are), it will turn out much easier for you.
Regards,
Lisa
Lisa:
Thanks to you as well for your input. Sounds like you have been in the same exact position. When I tell people we are a very small firm I don't think they realize that I am talking about a group of four...two of which are fresh out of school and have only recently joined our group. So a large project such as the one we are currently tackling is a collossal task for us. We are responsible for nearly every aspect of the project with the exception of the building itself.
This was obviously not the best situation to be in to self-learn how to use all the added functionality of P3D. I am a wizard when it comes to creating complex 3D models of an entire plant, equipment, etc. but this intelligent piping is a whole different animal.
On the brighter side...we have gained new phrases like "Blow it out your olet!" LOL. I hate olets in P3D!!! They dont seem to play well with everything else and have a mind of their own.
Ooops. LOL I meant Lauth. My apologies.