Using Autodesk MEP for 3D modeling of electrical systems such as Control panel, distribution panel, Cable Ladder System, Cabling in the cable ladder.

[akash_modi]

Hello Forum,

I am an Electrical Design Engineer working for generator manufacturing company.  Currently I have a project on hand which requires 3d modeling of a cable trays within the generator. I am certainly new to this AutoCAD MEP and would like your guidance to select better software that fulfills my design requirements as below:
1. If I create a schematic in AutoCAD Electrical, and want to create a 3D control panel based on the the AutoCAD Electric schematic, is AutoCAD MEP is better tool to perform such task without lose of electrical data ?
2. If I create a 3D model of cable ladder system within the generator using AutoCAD MEP, would I be able to export the 3D file to Inventor without loss of any data ? 

3. If a mechanical team modifies a generator 3D model using Inventor, would I be able to import the STP file from Inventor to AutoCAD MEP without loss of any data ?

4. What are available features AutoCAD MEP has for cable modeling within the cable trays ? 

Please response as soon as possible to my queries. 

Thank you   

[bgumPXZJF]

Meta-data or BIM data is always lost when you export from Autocad to STP. Likewise for all other exports to Autocad.

[bgumPXZJF]

MEP does not have any cable modeling capabilities within cable tray. You will likely model the cable tray, name sections of it, and then use excel to schedule which named cable from your feeder schedule goes in each segment in of tray.

[bgumPXZJF]

There is no interoperability between Autocad Electrical and Autocad MEP. Im not an expert on this so check me on this. But yea if you think you are going to create a panel schematic in Autocad Electrical and have it magically become 3D in Autocad MEP, that is not going to happen. Im not a user of Autocad Electrical though. You should look into Autocad Electricals capabilities if you want 3D generated from a schematic. MEP isnt going to do that though.