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PROBLEMS WITH CONTENT BUILDER

7 REPLIES 7
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Message 1 of 8
e.schoinas
1149 Views, 7 Replies

PROBLEMS WITH CONTENT BUILDER

Hi to all,

   I have been using the autocad mep content builder in order to create duct fittings and I have run into some issues that I cannot seem to solve by myself.

1) I need to have a circle profile rotated by a variable-defined angle. A transition modifier has to be applied between two non parallel circular profiles. I can't find a way to rotate a workplane or any other way to achieve the profile rotation.

2) The boolean subtract/add modifiers are grayed out and I cannot use them.

3) What is the pfadvanced mode and what does it do???

Please help me!!!  

7 REPLIES 7
Message 2 of 8
Keith.Brown
in reply to: e.schoinas

1.  If your profile is circular why do you need to rotate it?  You cannot rotate a workplane.  They are fixed in their position except for an offset plane when can be moved based on a parametric value.

 

Are you trying to sweep a circular profile along a curve?  For this you would create your curve on a flat plane (top in this instance if you want to create an elbow fitting).  Then on that plane you would lay down lines and arcs and contrain them appropriately.  Make sure that your lines and arcs 'flex' correctly according to your parameters and after that and only after that create a start and end profile.  Then sweep the profile along the lines and/or arcs choosing your start profile and your end profile.

 

2.  Its been many years since I have used the content builder but I believe that for fittings you cannot use the boolean add/subtract modifiers.  They are only valid on mvparts.

 

3. You can use vbscript in content builder but here are very limited commands that you can use.  They are the conditonal statements, (greater than, less than, equal, etc, and then If-then-else statements.  This will allow you to drive your geometry I believe.  If Hand = 1 then parameter = x else parameter = y.  You can also validate and restrict certain sizes.  For example, using a part size validation test and setting its formula equal to Total Length > Length A + Length B.  If this statement becomes false when inputing values into Length A and Length B, it will not allow the value to be entered.  This can make sure that the user does not 'break' your part.  I believe that in order to have access to these types of functions you will have to activate the advance mode of content builder which is done by typing pfadvanced at the command line.

 

If you after this you still need help creating a basic fitting I can create a video showing the process.

 

Good Luck!

Message 3 of 8
e.schoinas
in reply to: Keith.Brown

Hi Keith,

    first of all I want to thank you for all your posts on Autocad Mep responding other people's questions, that have helped me tremendously with my work  for the last few years. 

   My latest conundrum is unfortunately the most difficult yet. I have to create a particular fitting (I would'nt call it basic.)  with a branch that starts from a specific diameter and circular profile and end to a different diameter circular profile, that in addition lies to a plane that is not parallel to that of the start profile. (see photo: transition from  D1 to D3) Transition seems to be the correct modifier to use. Unfortunately, it is used only between paralel planes. Therefore I really do not know how to solve this.fitting.jpg

If you have any ideas, please let me know. I have scoured the internet for info on the content builder, but there is really little to find. I have managed to create various fittings with great effort in the content builder. It is really a non user friendly, extremely useful section of Autocad Mep. I wish Autodesk did something to improve it. Or are they abandoning the Autocad Mep platform for Revit Mep? Would my problem be easier to solve with revit perhaps?

Thank you again for all the times that you have unknowingly helped me.

Message 4 of 8
lionel.bekale
in reply to: e.schoinas

Hi @e.schoinas,

Welcome to the AutoCAD MEP forum. Regarding your issue:

  1. You won't be able to rotate a circular profile. However, try to use SWEEP (Command) to be able to rotate along the path.
  2. Content Builder normally provides 6 types of modifiers: extrusion, path, transition, cut plane, Boolean add, and Boolean subtract. The extrusion modifier is the most common type used in part modelling and is generally the base feature for a model. Please see the documentation About Modifiers. or Boolean subtract/add modifiers, please try to create or modify modifiers from primitives.
  3. PFADVANCED is a command that can be run in Content Builder. See About Recommendations for Creating Parametric Fittings Content

I would like to know the kind of Aec Model template you use while working on your project. It would be good to share a short video or screenshot of the issue in AutoCAD MEP.

 

Please let us know how it goes.

 

Regards,




Lionel Bekale


Technical Support Specialist


Link Name
Message 5 of 8
e.schoinas
in reply to: lionel.bekale

Hi Lionel,

    thank you for taking the time to help me with my problem. Unfortunately your answers are generic and are not helping at all.

1) Is there a way to use the sweep command in the content builder in order to create a parametric fitting? I remind you that my issue regards the content builder. Not general 3d modeling with autocad.

2) A generic description of the content builder's modifiers does not explain the fact that the booleans are grayed oud when I try to use them. I think Keith's answer is correct. They are only for MVparts.

3) I have clicked on your link but I have discovered nothing on the function of the pfadvanced mode. Keith has given some interesting suggestions that I will have to look into.

I thank you for your time but my issue stands. The documentation on the content builder is almost non existent. I have to create the particular fitting depicted on the uploaded phot and I cannot find a way to do it.

Message 6 of 8
lionel.bekale
in reply to: e.schoinas

Hi @e.schoinas,

 

Thanks for your update. 

We can have a remote session to see if what you need it is possible to achieve. 

I will send you an email later on today form the Support Case. 

 

Regards,

 




Lionel Bekale


Technical Support Specialist


Link Name
Message 7 of 8
lionel.bekale
in reply to: e.schoinas

Hi @e.schoinas

Thank you for your patience.

When modifying duct fittings using Content Builder it will not be possible to rotate a circular profile.

I believe that it is not going to be possible to achieve it the way you want it. You may try with “primitives and re-usable parts”.

In addition, even though the Content Builder provides 6 types of modifiers (extrusion, path, transition, cut plane, Boolean add, and Boolean subtract), the Boolean modifier options are enabled only if the part Domain is “Multi View part”. See the images below:MV parts.JPG

 

Boolean.JPG

 

PFADVANCED command is not currently documented and this command runs in the content builder only.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

 

Regards,




Lionel Bekale


Technical Support Specialist


Link Name
Message 8 of 8
lionel.bekale
in reply to: e.schoinas

Hi @e.schoinas,

 

I would like to know if my last post was clear and if you still need some assistance.

Please select the Accept as Solution button, if one of the posts answered your questions.

 

Regards,

 

 




Lionel Bekale


Technical Support Specialist


Link Name

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