What is the best software for my application ? Small pumping stations

[Anonymous]

Hi Guys,

It's my first post on here. I've read other threads and there are alot of smart things said and discussed so I wanted to tap into that.

I currently work for a civil engineering firm and my role is to do the 3D modeling and drafting of small pumping stations.

We usually have theses components in our designs:

-A small to medium commercial building,

-An inlet and outlet pipe ranging from 4" to 16" approx.

-A pair of submersible pumps

-MCC & VFD

-Other fittings and instrumentations for automatic controls.

Believe it or not, We are currently using primarily Autocad for all our 3D. I even started doing renderings in it.

Would you recommend I do everything in Fusion 360 or in Revit MEP ?

We draw cylinders for pipe, we have a local block library that we made for pipe fittings.

I have used Revit before but haven't in 3 years. I'm starting to try Fusion 360.

In particular, we still don't have a perfect way with autocad to do LIVE SECTIONNING. I use flatshot alot and I find the other tools not to work well enough.

Thanks guys.

Dominique

[L.Maas · Accepted solution]

I normally approach it slightly differently. What is the problem you are trying to solve. What are your demands (musts) and what are your wishes (nice to have). If you have a clear picture than try to find the right tool to do the job. Think about what kind of information you need to deliver to your clients. What are your clients/supplier/competitors using (exchange of files).

For the choice between Fusion 360 and Revit. Roughly I would say that Fusion 360 is for product design/dvelop and Revit is for Building Modelling.

For all the small details, ready for fabrication, you tend to go to Fusion 360. For larger things (buildings) you tend to go to Revit.

Based on your pictures alone I would estimate that Revit would be a better candidate.

[dgorsman · Accepted solution]

Agreed - unless you are actually designing the valves, mechanical packages, etc. Revit is superior to Fusion.  If you don't have to be too finicky with the building stuff (ie. you aren't responsible for any kind of detailed BOM take off, its just a vendor deliverable) and most of your focus is on the piping, Plant3D may also be a consideration.  As an AutoCAD vertical you would be able to re-use a lot of what you already have.

Client requirements are also a big consideration.  If the client is expecting DWG models, or doesn't have any capability of dealing with Revit models, Revit may not be the ideal choice.

I'd also advise getting comfortable with Navisworks for review, presentation, and rendering regardless of whether you take on Revit or not.

[Mahmoud.Ziedan · Accepted solution]

Dear.

As mentioned above, Revit is dedicated for construction projects.The point is that you are dealing with a pump Room, so most probably you will need to extract the shop-drawings/Composite drawings. When working on construction projects, it is not just about modeling, modeling will be the simplest easiest scope, you have to think about information, schedule as well documentation. In fusion and AutoCAD you will invest a lot of time just to tag or add dimension, however in Revit just you need to begin with the right way and then you can extract whatever you want with minimal effort. Moreover, a lot of library are pretty ready in the websites online, so why you need to lose your time in creating a valve when you can have it in one click!!or why you have to draw the pipes as sweeps if you can simply draw it as a real pipe with real dedicated parameters.

Kindly if this solved your issue mark as solution to help others.

[www.TechRoom.bg · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I'm an civil engineer too. I've lots of pump station and building on my count and i vote for revit with both hands 🙂 If you need i can show you some of my project to help you to create a idea what is capable of revit and how can look your project if you use revit.

[Anonymous]

Thank you guys, I will make sure to get Revit and pay per month to learn and create great drawings and models.

Winsis32

Yes please, I would like to know more about your method in Revit MEP.

I had fun with Revit before but with MEP, I was short on learning videos and material.

how can we message each other ? I tried sending you a direct message but I don't know how.

Dom