How to Create Custom Parts for AutoCAD Civil 3D Consulting

How to Create Custom Parts for AutoCAD Civil 3D Consulting

Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D is a BIM tool developed specifically for Civil engineers by Autodesk. You can create/import survey points and perform geometrical operations to locate intersection points as desired while doing your “AutoCAD Civil 3D Consulting”. Surfaces can be created at ease using points, Digital Elevation Models, contour lines, etc.

Sometimes, in order to create a pressure network, the user requires creating certain network parts which might not be available in default Pressure Network Catalog such as reducers.

To create a network part, create a 3-D solid geometry of the network part in 3D Modeling workspace of AutoCAD Civil 3D, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Make sure that the 2D Wireframe visual style is active and create the axis of the reducer which will be collinear with the pressure pipe of the pressure network. Figure 2 shows the axis created for the reducer.

 

 

Figure 2

Change the workspace from 3D Modeling to Civil 3D workspace and choose the Insert tool from the Connection Point panel of the Insert tab, as shown in Figure 3.

 

Figure 3

You will be prompted to pick an object to add the connection point to. Select the axis of reducer and you will be prompted to pick the insertion point in the object.

Click on one of the endpoints of the axis that you want to use as an insertion point. After specifying the insertion point, you will be prompted to pick the 1st point for the direction. Click on one of the endpoints of the axis, and similarly click on another endpoint to specify the direction of reducer to be attached.

After specifying the direction on the axis, you will be prompted to add engineering data. Specify yes in the command prompt area and the command terminates.

Enter PUBLISHPARTCONTENT in the command prompt area and hit ENTER; you will be prompted to select a solid for publishing.

Click on the solid geometry of the reducer; you will be prompted to select a centerline entity that represents the previously selected solid.

Click on the axis of reducer, you will be prompted to specify the measuring unit. Select the desired unit from the command prompt area.

Next, you will be prompted to specify the part type. Select the Reducer option from the command prompt area; the Select location to save CONTENT file dialog box will be displayed.

 

Save the part to an appropriate location.

Open the Content Catalog Editor from Start > All Programs > Autodesk > [Autodesk Civil3D folder] in Windows 7. For other OS, refer OS/software manual.

Choose Open Catalog button from the toolbar; the Open dialog box will be displayed.

Navigate to [system drive]\\ProgramData\\Autodesk\\C3D {version}\\enu\\Pressure Pipes Catalog\\Metric
*Replace [system drive] with the drive in which the software is installed and {version} with the software version.

Open the catalog in which you want to add the reducer.

Right-click on the reducer node displayed.

Choose the Import part option, as shown in Figure 4.

 

 

Figure 4

On choosing the Import part option; the Import Part wizard will be displayed, as shown in Figure 5.

 

 

Figure 5

Choose the Browse button displayed next to Import from.CONTENT file edit box; the Open dialog box will be displayed.

Open the *.CONTENT file published in earlier steps and choose Next.

Select the Water and the Reducer option from the Industry and Part Type drop-downs, respectively.

Specify the part family name in the Part Family Name edit box and choose Next.

Specify the material and description in the ID Material drop-down and Description edit box, respectively.

Choose Next followed by Finish; the Import Part wizard will close and the *.CONTENT file will be added to the catalog.

Save the catalog using the Save Catalog button from the toolbar.

Now you will be able to use the reducer part in creating pressure networks in Civil 3D.

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