ci123034 inventing the civil world inventor for autocad civil 3d … · 2018-08-16 · inventing...

CI123034

Inventing the Civil World – Inventor for AutoCAD Civil 3D and InfraWorks Users

Jerry Berns

4D Technologies | CADLearning

Heidi Boutwell


Description

Can you handle the pressure of inventing for civil? This is a down-and-dirty course in Inventor software and Inventor LT software for civil engineers, civil designers, and civil CAD managers. We’ll cover the skills needed in Inventor software to create parts and assemblies specifically for infrastructure projects. We’ll then add those parts to Parts Editor and export them to gravity or pressure networks in both AutoCAD Civil 3D software and InfraWorks software. During the class, we’ll design a curb inlet in 3 parts, import it into Parts Editor, and place it into an assembly. From the assemblies and families in Parts Editor, we’ll create an AutoCAD Civil 3D Parts catalog. Lastly, we’ll import the new catalog into AutoCAD Civil 3D and apply the new part to a storm drainage system. As a bonus, we’ll repeat all these steps and show you how to import the new part into InfraWorks and apply it to a storm drainage system there. If the gravity of your infrastructure designs is serious enough that you need to reinvent parts, this class is for you!

Learning Objectives

• Discover the best practices for creating and editing parts for InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D using Parts Editor and Inventor LT

• Learn how to use Inventor LT to create parts for the Parts Editor

• Learn how to use the Parts Editor to create new Part catalogs for InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D

• Learn how to use parts that are created in Parts Editor in an InfraWorks model and an AutoCAD Civil 3D model

Speaker(s)

Jerry Berns Manufacturing Content Manager


Jerry Berns is the Manufacturing Content Manager for all CADLearning manufacturing products from 4D Technologies, developing on-demand learning material for Autodesk Software users, including Inventor and Fusion 360. An Inventor Certified Professional and Autodesk Certified Instructor, he has amassed a wealth of expertise at engineering firms and Autodesk value added resellers (VARs) in the implementation, use and support of Autodesk products since 1985. Jerry has worked at a number of Autodesk Resellers, where he worked with hundreds of clients, including several Fortune 100 companies. Jerry has presented several times at Autodesk University since 2006, earning a Top Rated Speaker in 2013.

Heidi Boutwell Infrastructure Content Manager


Heidi Boutwell is the Infrastructure Content Manager for all infrastructure CADLearning products from 4D Technologies, developing on-demand learning material for Autodesk software, including AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D, InfraWorks 360, Navisworks, BIM 360 Field, and BIM 360 Glue. Since 1998, Heidi has made a career of teaching engineering professionals how to use the Autodesk infrastructure design tools to increase their productivity and improve their design modeling skills. Heidi also continues to utilize Autodesk tools on a daily basis to create a variety of infrastructure projects for various clients, is a contributing author, and is an Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Certified Professional. Heidi serves on the InfraWorks Customer Council, Civil Futures and is an Autodesk Civil 3D Gunslinger, helping to drive the strategic direction of product development for infrastructure products for Autodesk. She is also a repeat speaker at Midwest University, Autodesk University, and the Revit Technology Conference.

https://autodeskuniversity.smarteventscloud.com/connect/speakerDetail.ww?PERSON_ID=D04934F76DB7AE466411FF8E3D1E4EA6&tclass=popup

https://autodeskuniversity.smarteventscloud.com/connect/speakerDetail.ww?PERSON_ID=4AF85E85CD1854EC9C635BD61FD12A9B&tclass=popup

Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5

Required Parameters ................................................................................................................. 6

Configure Inventor ..................................................................................................................... 6

Create an Inventor Template for IPE .......................................................................................... 8

Create the IPE Shapes with Inventor ......................................................................................... 8

Create the Underground Structure Part .................................................................................. 8

Create the Surface Structure Part ..........................................................................................15

Create the Grate Part ............................................................................................................18

Best practices for creating and editing parts for InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D using Infrastructure Parts Editor .........................................................................................................20

Importing Inventor Files (*.IPT) ..............................................................................................20

Importing Structures From Inventor IPT Files ........................................................................20

Adding Sizes .........................................................................................................................22

Manually Adding Sizes ..........................................................................................................23

EMM – Everything Must Match. .........................................................................................23

Structures with one size but varying parts. .........................................................................23

Automated Sizes From Excel ................................................................................................24

Backing Up The Part Editing Table ....................................................................................24

View the Structure .................................................................................................................25

Troubleshooting the Size Validation Tab ...............................................................................26

The Inventor Server isn’t running on your computer? .........................................................26

Creating Assemblies ..............................................................................................................27

Creating Assemblies Manually ...........................................................................................27

Importing Assemblies From Inventor (*.IAM) ......................................................................31

How to use the Infrastructure Parts Editor to create new part catalogs for InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D ......................................................................................................................32

Publishing Individual Assemblies to InfraWorks and Civil 3D .................................................32

For InfraWorks: ..................................................................................................................33

For Civil 3D: .......................................................................................................................34

How to use parts that are created from Infrastructure Parts Editor in an InfraWorks model and an AutoCAD Civil 3D model ......................................................................................................35

Applying New Parts To Projects ................................................................................................35

InfraWorks .............................................................................................................................35

Swapping a Part in InfraWorks ...........................................................................................35

Using the Part in a Drainage Network ................................................................................36

Civil 3D ..................................................................................................................................37

Updating a New or Existing Catalog ...................................................................................37

Useful Links: .............................................................................................................................38

Dataset .....................................................................................................................................38

To install the Infrastructure Modeler plugin ................................................................................38

About the Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities ..............................................................................38

PDF Used to create the part. .....................................................................................................38

Introduction

Autodesk Project Kameleon, originally developed in Autodesk Labs, has graduated to become Autodesk Infrastructure Parts Editor. You can now create custom infrastructure shapes with Autodesk Inventor or Inventor LT, and then convert these within Infrastructure Parts Editor for use in Autodesk InfraWorks or AutoCAD Civil 3D.

To demonstrate the workflow, an Oklahoma City Storm Sewer Inlet was selected. The inlet will be designed to have 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 flumes. The additional inlets can be either to the left or to the right of the vault. The vault has a fixed length and width. The vault increases in height as additional flumes are added.

SAMPLE VAULT CONFIGURATIONS

The frame, or inlet, will also have 2 – 6 inlets with a left- or right-side configuration. The portion of the frame that holds the grate is a fixed size.

SAMPLE FRAME CONFIGURATIONS

The grate used in the design only required one configuration size. Since a minimum two-flume inlet was designed, two grates were modeled as one structure component. The size was fixed.

GRATE CONFIGURATION

Required Parameters

Inventor is a parametric design tool that uses parameters to store geometry lengths, diameters, angles, etc. When you change the value of a parameter, the geometry is changed. You can build relationships between parameters and the solid modeling features.

These Inventor parameters are used by Infrastructure Parts Editor (IPE) to create part sizes and assembly configurations. IPE requires specific parameter names to be used in Inventor. For a complete list of the required parameters, you can visit the online InfraWorks Help page.

The table below lists the parameters that were used in the Inventor parts. Notice how certain parameters are shared between the Vault and Frame, and the Frame and Grate. This overlap of parameter names allows for part size matching in IPE.

Vault Frame Grate Description

USLength US = Underground Structure

USWidth

SSLength SS = Surface Structure

SSWidth

SSHeight

CurbHeight

CGLength CGLength CG = Cover or Grate

CGWidth CGWidth

CGHeight CGHeight

SPLength SPLength SP = Structure Port

SPWidth SPWidth

Configure Inventor

The following are recommended Inventor configurations to make it easier to develop the models. Begin by accessing the Inventor Application Options.

1. Launch Inventor

2. File menu > Options

Tab Setting

General

Sketch

Create an Inventor Template for IPE

Inventor LT includes several templates for creating parts and drawings. The part standard templates use an unconventional coordinate system. It is a best practice to configure a template such that when viewing normal to the XY Plane, the ViewCube reports a TOP view. Follow these instructions to create a template for creating the infrastructure components.

1. Launch Inventor.

2. From the File menu, select New.

3. In the Create New File dialog box, chose either the English folder for imperial parts or Metric folder for metric parts.

4. Select either the Standard (in).ipt or Standard (mm).ipt template, depending on the folder selected above.

5. Select Create.

6. When the new part editing window appears, use the ViewCube to look perpendicular at the XY Plane.

7. Right-click on the ViewCube, and then select Set Current View as > Top.

8. Use the arrows on the sides and corners of the ViewCube to view from a Top-Front-Right camera viewpoint. Then right-click the ViewCube and then select Set Current View as Home > Fit to View.

9. From the File menu, select Save As > Save Copy as Template.

10. You can save the template in the top-level folder or create an optional subfolder to organize your custom templates.

11. Name the template. For example, “IPE”. Save the template.

12. Close the file.

Create the IPE Shapes with Inventor

In this section, the structural components for IPE will be modeled in Inventor.

Create the Underground Structure Part First steps will be to set up some parameters.

1. In Inventor, create a new part using the IPE template created earlier.

2. In the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), select Parameters (fx).

3. In the Parameters dialog box, click Add Numeric.

4. For the first parameter name, type “SPLength”. Press TAB. Leave the Unit/Type as is.

5. Click in the Equation field and then type, “1”.

6. Click in the Key and Export fields to select these.

7. Click in the Comment field and then type, “Placeholder for table matching”.

Add the remaining Numeric parameters using the table information below:

The FlumeQty parameter must be converted to a Multi-Value parameter with values of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

1. In the FlumeQty row, click the cell in the Unit/Type column. Type “ul”. Click OK.

2. Right-click on FlumeQty and select Make Multi-Value.

3. In the Value List Editor, delete existing values.

4. In the Add New Items group, type each value followed by ENTER. When you have typed values 2 through 6, click Add. Click OK.

5. You can now choose the FlumeQty using the multi-value list.

6. Change FlumeQty to 3.

FlumeRightHand must be converted to a Multi-Value parameter with values of 0 and 1.

1. Change FlumeRightHand unit/type to ul.

2. Convert FlumeRightHand to a multi-value parameter.

3. Add the values of 0 and 1 to the list.

4. Change FlumeRightHand to 0.

Next, you will begin to model the part. It begins with a 2D sketch.

1. Click OK to close the Parameters dialog box.

2. On the ribbon, Sketch panel, select Start 2D Sketch.

3. Select the XY Plane.

4. On the ribbon, 3D Model tab, Create panel, expand the Rectangle/Slot/Polygon menu. Select Rectangle - Two Point Center.

5. For the rectangle center, pick the Origin point at the center of the graphics window.

6. Move the cursor down and to the right. The length field is active.

7. Type, “USLength=70.5”. Press TAB. Type, “USWidth=37”. Press ENTER.

8. From the ribbon or marking menu, select Finish 2D Sketch.

9. Press F6 to restore the Home View.

10. From the ribbon or marking menu, select Extrude.

When you are creating an underground structure component, it is best practice to extrude down or in the negative Z direction. This will keep the XY Plane at the top of the model.

1. In the Extrude dialog, click Direction 2.

2. For the Distance value, type “USHeight= 29”.

3. Click OK.

4. Open the Parameters dialog box.

5. Change the equation for USHeight to be, “29 + (1.0625 * (FlumeQty - 2 ul))”.

6. Click OK.

Next, you will hollow the box.

1. On the ribbon, Modify panel, select Shell.

2. For the Thickness value, type “WallTh=6”. Note the red void at the center.

3. With the Remove Faces button active, click the top face of the box. Now you can see inside.

4. In the dialog box, click the More (>>) button.

5. In the Unique face thickness group, select Click to add. Type “BaseTh=6”. Orbit the model to view the bottom. In the dialog, click 0 selected to activate selection. Select the bottom face. This will provide an independent base thickness control.

6. Click OK.

Next, the work planes and work axis are added.

1. On the ribbon, Work Features panel, click Work Plane.

2. Select the bottom face of the box, and then select the bottom-left edge of the box. This will create an angled work plane about an axis. Type “7” for the angle in degrees.

3. Repeat the Work Plane command. Using the left side of the box, click and drag to create an offset work plane. For the value, type “FlumeLength * (FlumeQty - 2 ul)”.

4. On the ribbon, Work Features panel, click Work Axis.

5. Select the two work planes to create the axis from the intersection of the planes.

Sketches are added to be used by the Loft command to create the additional flumes.

1. Turn off the visibility of the offset work plane.

2. Right-click the left side of the box and select Create Sketch from the mini toolbar.

3. From the marking menu, select 2-Point Rectangle.

4. Hover the cursor over the top-left corner. Click when the cursor turns green.

5. Click the bottom edge of the face, but avoid picking the midpoint of the edge.

6. From the marking menu, select General Dimension.

7. Pick the left and then right edges of the sketched rectangle. Place the dimension above, and for the value type “7 + (WallTh * 2)”. Finish sketch.

8. Restore the visibility of the offset work plane.

9. Begin a 2D sketch on the offset work plane.

10. From the marking menu, select Project Geometry.

11. Select the Work Axis, and then from the previously sketched rectangle, the left and right edges.

12. Using 2-Point Rectangle, draw from the upper endpoint of the left edge to the intersection of the work axis projection and the right-edge projection. Finish Sketch.

13. On the ribbon, Create panel, select Loft.

14. Select the rectangle sketch on the left side of the box and then the rectangle on the offset work plane. Click OK.

15. Using Shell, select the top and interior faces of the loft feature. For the Thickness, type “WallTh”. Click OK.

To create right-side configurations, a Mirror feature will be added.

1. On the ribbon, Pattern panel, select Mirror.

2. In the Mirror dialog, select Mirror Solids, Mirror Plane, Origin YZ Plane, and Remove Original. Click OK.

When a 2-flume configuration is needed, the Loft feature must be suppressed. When a left-side configuration is needed, the Mirror feature must be suppressed. This is controlled with feature properties.

1. In the browser, right-click Mirror1. Select Properties.

2. In the Suppress group, select If. Expand the Parameters menu to select FlumeRightHand. Expand the Operators menu and select = (Equals). For the value, type “0”. Click OK. The left-side configuration should appear.

3. In the browser, right-click Loft1. Select Properties.

4. In the Suppress group, select If. Expand the Parameters menu to select FlumeQty. Expand the Operators menu and select < (Less Than). For the value, type “3”. Click OK.

5. Apply the same suppression property to the Shell2 feature as you did for the loft feature.

Now, to specify the material and appearance of the model.

1. On the QAT, expand the Materials menu and then select Concrete.

2. On the QAT, expand the Appearance menu. Select Autodesk Material Library. Expand the Appearance menu again to select Flat – Broom Gray.

3. Toggle off the visibility of the work planes and work axis.

Now to test the flume quantity and side configurations.

1. Zoom or pan the model towards the right side of the graphics window.

2. Click Parameters.

3. Change FlumeQty to 2. The loft and second shell feature should suppress.

4. Change FlumeQty to the other values to ensure the restoration of the loft and shell feature.

5. Change FlumeRightHand to 1. The part is mirrored again. Test the FlumeQty configurations.

6. When all configurations are verified, restore a 2-flume, left-side configuration.

7. Using the table above, ensure the specified parameters have been selected in the Key

and the Export columns.

8. Click OK.

9. Save the part. For example, AU_Vault_Original.

With the modeling complete, the infrastructure information will be added. Connectors will inform IPE how to attach this underground component to a surface component.

If the Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities are not available on the Inventor ribbon, use this link to assist with the installation.

To install the Infrastructure Modeler plugin

1. On the ribbon, Environments tab, Begin panel, select Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities.

2. On the ribbon, select Assembly Connector.

3. For the Port Name, type “UndergroundStructurePort”. No variations allowed for the port name.

4. Pick the top face of the vault. In the dialog, click Select, and then pick the top face again.

5. Expand the Set Position menu and select Point. In the browser, expand the Origin folder, and then select Center Point.

6. Use Flip Direction as needed to ensure the assembly connector arrow is pointed upward. Click OK.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/INFMDR/ENU/?guid=GUID-A957B009-55E4-4FC3-AF1D-2C604228AD00

With the connector added, a template will be created that is compatible with IPE.

1. On the ribbon, click Export Template. The parameters you marked as KEY and Export should appear in the preview. Warning: if you do not see sketch dimensions, you may have missed the step to Key and Export the necessary parameters.

2. Note the path where the template will be exported. For the template Name, type

“AU_Vault”.

3. Click Export. When the export is complete, the part name will have changed. Click Close. Click Finish Infrastructure.

4. Close the model without saving.

Create the Surface Structure Part The surface structure part would be developed in a similar manner as the underground structure part. It would use sketches, extrusions, patterns, work features, and feature suppression rules. Because the frame is slightly more complicated, a modeled part is provided, to which you will add the infrastructure information.

Review parameters and suppression rules.

1. In Inventor, open from the exercise folder, the model named, AU_Frame_Start.ipt.

2. Click Parameters.

3. In the Parameters dialog box, review the configurations by changing the parameters FlumeQty and FlumeRightHand. Set FlumeQty = 2 and FlumeRightHand = 0.

4. Save the model as AU_Frame.

With the modeling complete, the infrastructure information will be added. Connectors will inform IPE how to attach this surface component to the underground component. A second connector will create the relationship between the surface and grate components. Reference points will also be added, which are used for two things. First, in Civil 3D reference points represent locations for move and rotation grips, and they can be both. Secondly, only the 5th reference point is used to replace the insertion point for InfraWorks.

1. On the ribbon, Environments tab, select Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities.


3. For the Port Name, type “UndergroundStructurePort”. No variations allowed for the port name.

4. Pick the bottom face of the frame. In the dialog, click Select, and then pick the bottom face again.


6. Use Flip Direction as needed to ensure the assembly connector arrow is pointed downward. Click Apply.

7. For the second connector, Expand the Set Position menu and select Center Point of Loop of Edges. In port name, type “GrateOrCoverPort”. On the vertical support bar near the center of the model, pick the top face. Click Select, and then pick the same face again. Switch Set Position to Point. In the browser or graphics window, pick Work Point1. Click OK.

With the connectors added, the reference points are next.

1. On the ribbon, select Reference Point.

2. In the dialog, use the default name, P1, for the first reference point. Pick the top, left, rear corner of the frame. Click Apply. Create three more reference points using the top, outside corner points indicated in the image.

3. For the fifth reference point, type the name “P5 movegrip rotationaxis”. This name is

used by Civil 3D. Pick the edge as shown in the image.

4. Click OK.

The connectors and reference points should appear as shown.

With the connectors and reference points added, the template can be exported.

1. On the ribbon, click Export Template. The parameters marked as Key and Export should appear in the preview. Warning: if you do not see sketch dimensions, you may have missed the step to Key and Export the necessary parameters.


“AU_Frame”.



Create the Grate Part The grate component would be developed in a similar manner as the underground and surface structure parts. Since it is simpler, it would only use sketches and extrusions. Again, a modeled part is provided, to which you will add the infrastructure information.

1. In Inventor, from the exercise folder, open the model named, AU_Grate_Start.ipt.

2. Save the model as “AU_Grate”.

With the modeling complete, the infrastructure information is added to connect the grate to the surface structure component.

1. On the ribbon, Environments tab, select Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities.


3. For the Port Name, type “GrateOrCoverPort”. No variations allowed for the port name.

4. Pick a bottom face of the grate. In the dialog, click Select, and then pick the bottom face again.


6. Use Flip Direction as needed to ensure the assembly connector arrow is pointed downward. Click OK.

With the connector added, the template can be exported.

1. On the ribbon, click Export Template. The parameters marked as Key and Export should appear in the preview.


“AU_Grate”.



Best practices for creating and editing parts for InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D using Infrastructure Parts Editor

Infrastructure Parts Editor is not a "part" creating program. So exactly what is Infrastructure Parts Editor? This program is a put-all-the-parts-together-to-create-an-assembly program. Those parts come from Inventor or Inventor LT and the Infrastructure Part Shape Utility tool export feature within Inventor/LT.

Importing Inventor Files (*.IPT) Once a part is exported from Inventor or Inventor LT, that part can then be imported into IPE. The part must be exported using the Export Template command found on the Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities ribbon. Also, any required parameter to be filled out in IPE must be selected in the Parameters dialog of Inventor as Key, and any other parameters which affect the part must be selected to Export within that same dialog.

Importing Structures From Inventor IPT Files To import a structure such as a vault, frame, or grate, select the family which the structure will be imported into, then right-click and select New. Or select the family category, then click New from the ribbon.

Family Part Types

Underground Structures Vault, box, basin, any bottom below ground of a completed structure.

Surface Structures Frame, Inlet, Curb Inlet, Area Inlet, any top of a structure that meets the surface.

Grate or Cover Grates, covers, any structure that fits inside a frame.

PART FAMILY TAB

Give the new part a unique name for the Part Family Name on the Part Family tab.

To insert a new part from Inventor or Inventor LT, on the Shapes tab, select New shape template.

Otherwise, select a tile from the parametric shape library to start with.

Make sure you select an appropriate part that matches the category under the Navigation Panel. If you have created an underground structure, then the shape should be a vault, basin, or cylindrical bottom.

SHAPES TAB

On the Detailed Properties tab, the minimum required here is to select the Structure Base Form from the drop-down. The rest is all optional. IMPORTANT: Do not change the Part Family Global Name.

DETAILED PROPERTIES TAB

Adding Sizes Sizing is added and controlled in the structures, not in the assemblies. Assemblies pull the size information from a structure to create an Assembly size table. Each structure must have sizes

assigned in the Part Editing table. Those sizes must match the other structures that will combine with the structure you are editing. There are two ways to add sizes to a structure in IPE: manually or by using an excel spreadsheet that IPE generates.

Manually Adding Sizes To manually add sizes on the Part Editing tab, simply click in a cell within the Part Editing table and enter in the correct information.

PART EDITING TAB, WITH THE PART EDITING TABLE

EMM – Everything Must Match. Fill out the Part Editing table. What is filled out here must match the other structure part editing tables. If you have a length for a vault, that length must match the surface structure or frame length. Grate widths must match the frame grade width.

Structures with one size but varying parts. If you’re designing a part where the vault does not change size but changes design after the vault, then the SPLength and SPWidth columns are only place-holder columns. These columns specifically line up the two different tables. Instead of entering a size in these columns, you should use numbers like 1-4 in one of the columns, and the other column may be left blank. This must be done on each structure part. For instance, if a vault remains 48x48 in all sizes but as each configuration is created, a part outside of the 48x48 box is added or disappears, then use the SPLength column to designate which row in the Underground Structure (vault) table lines up with the identical row in the Subsurface Structure (frame) table. Thus, you would enter a number from 1-4 in the Vault’s table. In the frame that attaches to the vault, in the same column, you would enter the matching 1-4 number that would line up each row to match with the vault table.

Automated Sizes From Excel Once you create all the necessary rows for a part, you can export the blank table to an Excel spreadsheet to quickly fill in the information. Select Export to Excel.

EXPORT TO EXCEL DIRECTORY

Note the directory where the spreadsheet is stored. Using Windows Explorer, browse out to that directory, open the spreadsheet, and enter in the size information that is needed for the part.

When you Save the file, the Import From Excel button will activate in IPE. Select this, and all the information you added is now populated in the table. The Import button deactivates once this is complete. You can continue to add rows, export the table again, modify the table, then reimport as necessary to complete the part sizing that is needed.

Backing Up The Part Editing Table To have a backup of your part editing table once it is fully filled out, export the table to Excel and then rename it. If you ever need to bring it back in, simply create a single row in the Part Editing table. Click the Export to Excel button. Locate your backup table, rename it to match the table name created from the Export, and override the exported table. The Import From Excel button will activate and allow you to bring back in the backup table with the additional rows and information that is necessary for your part.

COMPLETED PART EDITING TABLE

View the Structure On the Size Validation tab, if you filled out the Part Editing table correctly, you should be able to review the structures created based on the table and IPT part here. In some cases, the part may not appear. Several factors could be at play here.

SIZE VALIDATION – SURFACE STRUCTURE (FRAME)

Troubleshooting the Size Validation Tab

Issue Solution Resolved?

No 3D image appears in the Size Validation tab after the initial part creation is complete.

The image did not regenerate initially. Select between a couple of the generated rows in the Size Table.

Did this resolve the issue? If not, then move to the next Issue.

After selecting a row, no 3D image is generated.

In the Size Validation tab, click Done. Then Save the Catalog. Re-enter the structure and select the Size Validation tab. Image should appear.

Did this resolve the issue? If not, then move on to the next Issue.

After finishing the Structure and Saving the catalog, no 3D image appears in the Size Validation tab.

Close and then re-open Infrastructure Parts Editor. Access the structure again and check the Size Validation tab.

Did this resolve the issue? If not, then move on to the next Issue.

Not a single image from any structure appears in either the structures or assemblies on the Size Validation tab.

Inventor Server did not start. Close IPE and run the batch file. Try accessing the structure again.

Did this resolve the issue? If not, then move on to the next Issue

Inventor Server started, but still no 3D Image.

Bad IPT file from Inventor, or something is missing from the Part Editing table.

The Inventor Server isn’t running on your computer? You’ve tried and tried and the 3D image just will not show up, no matter what you select. That’s the main issue you can see; however, the reason for this is because the Inventor Server didn’t start.

Inventor Server is installed with IPE, but sometimes it won’t start. To fix this, you’ll have to manually start it. How? Simple—you use a batch file.

Below is the batch file name and text. You’ll need to verify that your EXE files are in the same directory. If not, change the information to match your directory that the files are found in.

Save this as Launch_IPE.bat

"C:\Program Files\Autodesk\InfraWorks\ParametricGenerator\Inventor

Server\Bin\InventorFCADServer.exe"

TIMEOUT 3

cd "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Infrastructure Parts Editor\Bin\"

start InfrastructurePartsEditor.exe

Close IPE, double-click the batch file to run it, and then access the structure. Check the Size Validation table again. The image should now appear.

If, after all that, the image never appears, then there is something wrong with either the Part Editing table or the IPT file from Inventor.

Creating Assemblies Once you have three unique structures in your catalog, one in each family, you can combine those structures into an assembly. First, understand that structures only combine if they share parameters within the Part Editing table. Second, structures will combine with multiple sizes if the parameters and dimensions from the IPT part are created and called out correctly when the parameters are exported.

There are two ways to create assemblies. You can manually assemble structures together, or you can import a completed assembly from an IAM file from Inventor.

Creating Assemblies Manually In the Navigation Pane, select the Assembly button. Then right-click the family you want to create the assembly in and select New. Or. select the family then click New from the Parts tab of the ribbon.

Assemblies are created from the middle structure out. That's right, the MIDDLE structure. What is the middle structure? The Surface Structure or frame.

From the Base Part tab, expand the Choose Base Type drop-down, select the family type, and then select the tile of the part you want to begin the assembly with. Finally, at the bottom of the Base Part tab, give the assembly a name under Assembly Properties.

BASE PART

Next, from the Matching Parts window, drag and drop the matching components to the empty tiles in the Assembly View window. Choose only the components without an exclamation warning symbol on them. If they have a warning, then the structure most likely does not fully match with the surface structure you first selected, meaning that the part editing tables do not match between these components.

COMPONENTS

If you need to resolve the warning for a part, go into the structure that has the warning triangle and address the mismatched information in the Part Editing tab. This is where EMM (Everything Must Match!) takes effect.

DETAILED PROPERTIES

Confirm that the Part Family Global Name is correct, and select whether the new assembly has sump or if it's an inlet. Actually, if this is a catch basin type of structure, you must select Is Inlet for it to even work correctly in InfraWorks. I recommend that you just select this, regardless.

Lastly, on the Size Validation tab, verify that all the parts married together. There should be no shaded cells. Shaded cells indicate a mismatched row. The 3D image should appear, and it should change when you select a new size from the Assembly Size Table.

SIZE VALIDATION

Did all the right parts come together correctly? Is there an issue? Maybe you see the right number of frames, but only one of the options for an underground structure or grate?

Again, if you see issues here, check the Part Editing table to see if a structure may be causing the issue. If that doesn't fix it, there may be a missing parameter or dimension in the IPT part from Inventor that needs to be addressed.

Did the image appear correctly when you selected the Size Validation tab? How about after selecting one or two different rows? If not, click Done, then Save the catalog.

Check the Overview window tile. Did the image appear correctly on the tile? If so, then you can now re-enter the assembly, and the 3D image should now appear in the Size Validation tab.

If no image is present, then one of 3 things has occurred:

• Inventor Server didn’t start. Go to Troubleshooting the Size Validation Tab to find out what to do next.

• One or more of the cells of one of the structures in the Part Editing table is not filled out correctly.

• The Inventor IPT part isn’t working at all in one of the structures.

Importing Assemblies From Inventor (*.IAM) If you have a completed assembly from Inventor stored as an IAM file, you can import this into IPE as well. The trick is, where in the Structures families do you import this assembly?

Knowing an assembly must be started from the middle or Surface Structures family, right-click this and select New.

Then follow the steps above, as you would with a structure:

• Name the File

• Import the IAM file

• Designate the Inlet from (Is Inlet option)

• Add in the Part Sizes

• Validate the Part

How to use the Infrastructure Parts Editor to create new part catalogs for InfraWorks and AutoCAD Civil 3D

You now have several assemblies created, and you want to use them in InfraWorks and/or Civil 3D. From IPE, you must export the assemblies or Publish them to a catalog for either InfraWorks or Civil 3D or both. Exporting can be done a few ways. You can export all assemblies in a catalog at one time, or you can select individual assemblies to be exported. If you created a structure that was a complete assembly from an IAM inventor file, then you can publish this as well. When you export or publish, you can export the individual assemblies and merge them into a completed catalog at one time to either InfraWorks, Civil 3D, or both at the same time. Or, you can overwrite a catalog for both InfraWorks and/or Civil 3D.

Publishing Individual Assemblies to InfraWorks and Civil 3D To publish a part to InfraWorks or Civil 3D, select the part from the Assembly tab or Structure tab if it was an IAM file, and then right-click and select Publish…. If the Publish option is not available or does not appear, then that part is not publishable yet.

PUBLISH OPTION

In the Select assemblies to publish dialog, select the assemblies you would like to publish. Note that you can select a single assembly, multiple assemblies, or Select all. Then, click Next.

SELECT ASSEMBLIES TO PUBLISH DIALOG

Then, select which catalogs to publish to: Civil 3D, InfraWorks, or both.

PUBLISH DIALOG

For InfraWorks:

• To overwrite an existing catalog and start it over with the assemblies you selected, select Overwrite.

• If you want to add the assemblies to the existing catalog, select Merge.

• If you want to start a new catalog, select Overwrite and change the Location of the catalog for InfraWorks so you don’t overwrite the existing catalog.

• To add this part to not only the overall Infraworks catalog but also to a specific model, select Model, and then select the model to add the part to.

• Change the Catalog name that is being generated in the text box. This name is pulled from the IPE catalog to start.

For Civil 3D: If you are publishing to Civil 3D, verify the catalog location. If you’ve changed your catalog location, browse to the new location.

When everything is set, click OK.

PUBLISH REPORT DIALOG

If you’re successful, in the Publish Report dialog, you’ll be told what worked and what didn’t. You’ll also get a log file of what didn’t work, to show you what failed.

How to use parts that are created from Infrastructure Parts Editor in an InfraWorks model and an AutoCAD Civil 3D model

Assemblies have been made, catalogs have been either created or modified, and now it’s time to put those new parts into action. Here's how you can find and use the parts you just created and published in both InfraWorks and Civil 3D.

Applying New Parts To Projects

Depending on which program you need will determine how you find the newly created parts and catalogs for those programs.

InfraWorks In order to update a model in Infraworks, when you publish from IPE, you must not be in the model that the part will be placed in. Also, when you leave that model, make sure you didn’t have an object selected and then leave. All objects must be deselected, so click in outer space to deselect anything you were working on, then return to the Home page.

Now you can publish the parts from IPE.

Go back into the model.

Swapping a Part in InfraWorks If you have a drainage network already created, simply select an existing inlet.

In the Stack, under Type, select the part image, then select More Content.

In the Select Style dialog, scroll and locate the new part and double-click it. Once the part updates in the Stack, it’ll appear in the canvas for you to manipulate it.

EDIT EXISTING PART IN INFRAWORKS

Using the Part in a Drainage Network Or, if you have a design road that you would like to apply a drainage network to, which uses the new part, select the design road, then right-click and choose Drainage > Add Drainage Network.

ADD DRAINAGE NETWORK TO DESIGN ROAD

On the Add Drainage Network asset card, change the Inlet type by selecting the link.

Then in the Select Component dialog, scroll and select the new part by double-clicking it.

ADD DRAINAGE NETWORK ASSET CARD

Back on the asset card, finish setting up the parameters for the new network. Once complete, press Enter, and the new drainage network with the new part is added to the canvas.

Civil 3D Once a catalog is published to Civil 3D, you’ll need to Regen the catalog in order to use it. If you want to use the new part in the existing catalog, when you publish the catalog in IPE, you must use the same catalog name as the one that has all your current Civil 3D parts in it and then Merge them together. Even when you do this process, you must Regen the catalog to use the new part.

Updating a New or Existing Catalog First, set the catalog current that the new published part was placed in.

SET PIPE NETWORK CATALOG

Next, on the command line, type, “PARTCATALOGREGEN” and then select Structure to update the catalog with the newly created parts you added to it.

COMMAND LINE COMMAND

The catalog will update, and now the part is ready to be placed in an existing parts list or a new parts list for use in a drawing.

If you added the new part to an existing catalog, then any parts lists that were created from the existing catalog can have the new part added to them. Once the part is added, it can be used in existing or new Pipe Networks. Although, I have seen issues with this and I have found that just creating a new parts list will sometimes resolve the issue.

If you added the new part to a new catalog, then you will need to create a new parts list and add the part to the new parts list in order to use it in a drawing. From there, you can add the part to any Pipe Network using this new parts list.

At this time, IPE will only publish modified shipped parts or new catalogs using shipped parts to Civil 3D catalogs. There is a known issue with publishing parts that are brand-new Inventor parts that have been placed in either shipped catalogs or new catalogs. When the issue is resolved, you will be able to publish your brand-new part to Civil 3D and use it.

Useful Links:

Dataset

http://autode.sk/2ltjNMi

To install the Infrastructure Modeler plugin


About the Infrastructure Part Shape Utilities

https://help.autodesk.com/view/INFMDR/ENU/?guid=GUID-9AA8E638-21DF-42C7-878D-7EF68BA5A7E9

PDF Used to create the part.

http://autode.sk/2ltjNMi





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