Plant 3D Practical Knowledge
Fabrication isometrics with AutoCAD Plant 3D
From the 3D model, AutoCAD Plant 3D generates fabrication isometrics with bill of materials, cut list and welds – fully dimensioned and recreated after every change. Here you can see what matters and how to set up the isometric to your company standard.
With us you will find solutions for your tasks.
What a fabrication isometric contains
The isometric shows a pipeline in three dimensions, but not to scale. It is the document from which the pipeline is fabricated in the workshop or on site.
- Pipe route with dimensions, elevations and coordinates
- Bill of materials with order texts and quantities
- Cut list with the pipe lengths
- Welds with numbers and weld list
- Flow direction, slope and references to connecting lines
- Title block with line number, piping spec and revision
From model to isometric in AutoCAD Plant 3D
- Line completeEvery component has a line number, every line a piping spec. The project unit (mm or inch) determines how the nominal size appears in the bill of materials.
- Choose the iso styleCheck isometric for review, fabrication isometric for output, spool style only with the welded parts.
- Create the isometricIsometrics are normal AutoCAD drawings (DWG) in the project's isometric folder. The file name is defined by the project configuration.
- Split onto sheetsYou split overloaded isometrics onto several sheets using split points. Split points you set yourself keep the sheet layout stable.
- Recreate after changesIf the model changes, you recreate the isometrics. Revision and change note go into the title block.
Bill of materials, order texts and iso symbols come from the catalog
What appears in the bill of materials comes from the components of the piping spec: long description, size, material and standard. How a component looks on the isometric is determined by its iso symbol type and the SKEY (symbol key) in the catalog. If this information is missing or does not match, the component is shown incorrectly or not at all – angle valves, for example, need their own angle valve symbols.
You check and correct catalogs with the Catalog Checker. Tested catalogs to DIN ENDIN – German Institute for Standardization “DIN” before a number means that the standard is published in Germany by the German Institute for Standardization. Background and sources ›EN – European Standard European Standard, developed by CEN (general) or CENELEC (electrical engineering). Background and sources › are available as ASEING Piping Catalogs.
Isogen, SKEY and PCF
AutoCAD Plant 3D generates isometrics using Isogen technology. Autodesk licensed it from Intergraph (now Hexagon) in 2009, first for AutoCAD Plant 3D 2010. The SKEY for iso symbols and the PCF exchange format come from this technology.
A PCF file (Piping Component File) describes the pipeline component by component with coordinates. AutoCAD Plant 3D exports it – for fabrication programs and for pipe stress calculation in other programs. Plant 3D itself does not include a stress analysis.
Typical pitfalls
From our questions from practice – asked so often that we wrote down the answer.
- No isometric is generated – all connected components need a line number – no line number, no isometric. Go to the question
- The bill of materials only shows a generic description – the table setup shows the family description instead of the size description. Go to the question
- Fields in the title block stay empty – every property that is to appear on the isometric must be entered in the attribute file. Go to the question
- No more isometrics are generated after inserting the weld list – remove the tables from the iso style and place them again. Go to the question
- Coordinates should refer to the plant origin point – enter an offset in the advanced settings – the model stays where it is. Go to the question
All questions on isometrics from training and support: Questions from practice in the Infobase.
How we support you
Iso style to company standard
We set up the iso style, title block, tables and iso symbols for your project – remotely or on site.
Video Course Plant 3D Isometrics
Set up the isometric template, iso style, title block, annotation, dimensioning and iso symbols (SKEY).
Configuration training
Live with a trainer: project configuration and isometric settings in AutoCAD Plant 3D.
Support
Isometric aborts or looks wrong? Via Teams, billed by actual time.
Would you like to clarify it on your project?
Self-test exercises
For studies, vocational training and induction – with a solution to expand.
Exercise 1 No isometric is generated for a pipeline. What do you check first?
Show solution
Whether all connected components have the same line number and the line has a piping spec. Without a line number, no isometric is created.
Exercise 2 What is in the cut list, and what is in the bill of materials?
Show solution
The cut list names the pipe lengths to be cut. The bill of materials lists all components with order text and quantity – pipes, fittings, flanges, valves, gaskets and bolts.
Exercise 3 What is a PCF file used for?
Show solution
It describes the pipeline component by component with coordinates. You use it to pass the line on to fabrication programs or to a pipe stress program.
More exercises and a guide to the modules in your studies: For teaching and education.
Frequently asked questions
Why does AutoCAD Plant 3D not generate an isometric for my pipeline?
Usually a component is missing the line number. All connected components of a line need the same line number, and every line needs a piping spec.
Can I adapt the isometric to our company standard?
Yes. In Project Setup under “Isometric DWG Settings” you define the iso style, title block, dimensioning, annotation, tables and iso symbols. Details are in the configuration files of the iso style. We can set this up for you on request.
What is a PCF file?
PCF (Piping Component File) is a text format that describes a pipeline component by component with coordinates. It comes from Isogen technology. AutoCAD Plant 3D exports PCF files, e.g. for fabrication or for pipe stress programs.
Before you go …
Don't miss any training dates, C³ invitations and news on AutoCAD Plant 3D and P&IDR&I – Piping and instrumentation diagram Flow diagram showing all pipes, valves, equipment and instrumentation of a plant (P&ID, Piping and Instrumentation Diagram). Background and sources ›.
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Terms, background and sources 5 terms on this page
Brief explanations for reference. They do not replace the standard or code itself.
- DWG – AutoCAD drawing format
AutoCAD file format for drawings and 3D models; AutoCAD Plant 3D and AutoCAD P&ID also save in this format.
- PCF – Piping Component File
Text file with which AutoCAD Plant 3D passes piping data to the isometric generator and to other programs.
- DIN – German Institute for Standardization
“DIN” before a number means that the standard is published in Germany by the German Institute for Standardization.
DIN was founded in 1917 as the Standards Committee of German Industry. If “DIN EN” or “DIN EN ISO” precedes the number, a European or international standard has been adopted unchanged as a German standard.
- EN – European Standard
European Standard, developed by CEN (general) or CENELEC (electrical engineering).
Every member country must adopt an EN unchanged as a national standard – in Germany as “DIN EN …”. Conflicting national standards are withdrawn.
- R&I – Piping and instrumentation diagram
Flow diagram showing all pipes, valves, equipment and instrumentation of a plant (P&ID, Piping and Instrumentation Diagram).
Symbols and drawing rules: DIN EN ISO 10628-1 and -2. Identification letters for instrumentation: DIN EN 62424 or ISA-5.1.
Sources and origins
- Autodesk – DWG (for DWG)
- Autodesk – AutoCAD Plant 3D Help (for PCF)
- DIN – German Institute for Standardization (for DIN)
- CEN and CENELEC – European standardization (for EN)
- ISO – International Organization for Standardization (for R&I)
- IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (for R&I)