Threaded Valves

[littlc]

Does anyone else have issues with threaded (THRD) valves when piping in Plant 3D 2012? Does anyone know where to download a SPEC that will already have THRD valves ready to go?

Issues I am having:

1. No THRD valves (1/4" - 4") ball, check, gate, needle, globe exist in the Spec Editor.

2. When a THRD valve is made (create new component) in the spec editor the following errors occur at random.

     a) Valve does not exist in an iso generated drawing.

     b) Valves do not show up or print in an ortho view generated drawing (top, front or which ever).

     c) Valves do not show up or print if a viewport of the model is clipped in paperspace.

3. Top works for all valves are not easily removed or interchangeable from a handle to gear operated.

4. THRD valve handles default to be much larger then the valve its self.

5. Lug style butterfly valves do not give the option for machine bolts or stud bolts.

6. Lug style butterfly valves do not allow spectacle blinds to be inserted between the (2) RFWN FLG and butterfly valve.

7. 4" THRD FLG. are very difficult to impossible to insert into a model and continue piping.

Converting my CADWorx spec in the Spec Editor didn't work there was a weird file it was requesting that I couldn't locate anywhere within CADWorx.

Thanks

[TomislavGolubovic]

Hopefully I can help:

1. No THRD valves (1/4" - 4") ball, check, gate, needle, globe exist in the Spec Editor.

A: You'd need to pull them from the appropriate catalog. Check in the installed Catalogs, or download the right ones from the Plant Exchange website. If they still aren't there, you can make your own.

2. When a THRD valve is made (create new component) in the spec editor the following errors occur at random.

     a) Valve does not exist in an iso generated drawing.

A: Does the valve in the Catalog have an SKEY?

     b) Valves do not show up or print in an ortho view generated drawing (top, front or which ever).

A: Not sure on this one.

     c) Valves do not show up or print if a viewport of the model is clipped in paperspace.

A: Refer above, not sure.

3. Top works for all valves are not easily removed or interchangeable from a handle to gear operated.

A: In 2013, you select the valve then look at the properties, and here you can edit the topworks

4. THRD valve handles default to be much larger then the valve its self.

A: You edit the topworks for the valve in the catalog, or once placed, you can edit the valve and edit the topworks for it, or add a new one.

5. Lug style butterfly valves do not give the option for machine bolts or stud bolts.

A: The bolts are part of the spec, you can set the defaults.

6. Lug style butterfly valves do not allow spectacle blinds to be inserted between the (2) RFWN FLG and butterfly valve.

A: You can add this as a Joint Connection, and then have the right end codes if need be to accommodate this. But it would be a normal type of connection as the spec blinds would be a wafer item, and the two ends of the valve and flange are FL, so a FL-WFL-FL connection is possible.

7. 4" THRD FLG. are very difficult to impossible to insert into a model and continue piping.

A: How so? There are a few wayst to add items, you can run pipe then type "F" to go into the Fittings dialog and add it from there, or run the pipe then select the valve from the Tool Palette and insert it to where you want it to go.

[bazwaldo]

Please provide a link for a threaded piping spec.

Threaded is as almost common as socketweld, and definitely more common than multiple other very specific specs built in to autocad plant 3d by default.

This apparent lack of interest from Autodesk is pretty poor. Also, most of the videos online are 7 to 8 years old and of little actual help.

Is there a threaded spec yet ?

b

[patpat79]

Your idea is great that having default catalogs/specs created for users, but please be noted that the default catalog of Plant 3D has already threaded component and users just need to create their own spec depends on their project's needs. On my experience, I always create new catalog and specs for every proejct we have for mostly, though the projects has similarities on their requirements, additions and revisions from previous one to the new project always occurs therefore resulting on creating new spec. I think its best for users to create their own so that they can verify/check the specs and components they are using for their project. Having confidence on your catalog/specs saves a lot of 3D model checking time. thanks.

[bazwaldo]

Hi.
Thanks for your reply.
While I agree that making your own specs has its advantages, it should not be necc to generate a new common spec from scratch.There are countless Socket-weld specs, DN specs, Plastic specs,Tubing specs, so why not a simple threaded spec ready to work out of the box??
For most our the projects I work on our specs are quite simple with only half a dozen in number, with at least one threaded spec on every project.
There should be at least one. Its sheer laziness on Autodesks part. A trait far too common within the company.
I dont want to spend my weekend reinventing the wheel. 
Can ANYONE provide a generic Threaded Spec they have already made???  
Regards,
Barrie

[dgorsman]

Me, I'd rather they spend their limited development budget on the program rather than extensive sets of catalogs and specs which will be at least partially wrong for pretty much everyone.  Why bother with hexagonal wheels if you're going to round them off anyways?

Building specs is a fact of life in managing piping design software.

[bazwaldo]

Im not looking for extensive, just that they give you the basics.Threaded Specs are a fact of life on every single project I have done over 25 years.
They are fundamentally the same. Threaded fittings up to 1.5 ", welded after that.For Cooling water and similar system black utility systems.
Have you got a spec developed that you are prepared to share?? Has anyone??
Autodesk charge a lot. This should be standard.
b

[d.burroughs]

This seems like the best forum to ask this question, I have made custom ball valves in the spec editor with Female THRD ends. Now that I have my piping all designed in the system. I want to create a piping cut list for my shop floor but all my piping ends that connect to these ball valves are coming back PL. So I have to manually find every piece and mark that it is a threaded connection (not easy when you have hundreds of connections). Am I missing something? Is there a way for Plant to change the end type?