Martin Buss, 8th of November 2016

Updated 10th of July 2018

Plant3d Cable Trays and HVAC

We have the scripts in Plant Content already, but they are not being used anywhere:
 Create Cable Tray Spec
1. It would make sense to decompile the *.pyc files from the varmain\squareconduitssub folder in
the variants.zip from your ContentFolder (e.g. C:\AutoCAD Plant 3D 2016 Content\CPak
Common). It makes it easier to read the specific design parameters from a variant and gives you
the option to make a custom script based on the existing scripts. You can use freeware python
decompiler to do so.
2. Create new endcode for the cable trays: “CT”. Command in Plant 3d:

3. Create new joint:

4. Choose the variant from the list on top of this document. You find those pictures in the
metadata.zip in the ContentFolder. For this example I chose the “CSQTKZ”, which is of type
“Tee” and has the following design parameters (this is the decompiled pyc file):

5. Go to the catalog builder:

Then: “Catalog Templates” → “create new” → give it a name → select metric or imperial →
Category “Fittings” → Subcategory “Tee” → RIGHTclick on “ Tee” → “new”
 In this demo I will create one size, but of course you can do many sizes at the same time.

Now,

6. In Excel, unprotect sheet, unhide all lines/columns:

Now put your variant information:

Before:

After:
7. Now let’s go back to the catalog builder:

Select your XLSX file, now choose between “Save as New” and “Add to Existing”

8. In the Spec Editor you can now edit the catalog part. Set the connections to “CT”. If it is not in
the dropdown, just type it. Also add “Long description (Size)”. Also add the “Matching Pipe OD”
for the three ports, otherwise you cannot save the part.
9. Now you can insert the part into your spec sheet.

Very important point:

If you apply the geometry update to your drawing after updating the support/cable tray spec and
you select all parts including your cable trays and supports, they will be reset to default variables!

To prevent this, the following workflow should be used to break the connection between the 3d
parts and the spec part:

Use component-designation=Parametric like explained here (since version 2018.1.1)

http://in-the-pipes.typepad.com/in_the_pipes/2017/12/sunnyside-up-secrets-in-plant-3d-
201811.html