Inside the System

New book for AutoCAD MEP 2010

Are you looking for additional resources to learn AutoCAD MEP?

Paul Aubin (author of several books for Autodesk products) has just created a new book titled, “Mastering AutoCAD MEP 2010”. Paul wrote this book in conjunction with current and former Autodesk employees. Here’s the link for the book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-AutoCAD-2010-Paul-Aubin/dp/1439057664/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259710063&sr=8-1

Product Description
MASTERING AUTOCAD® MEP 2010 is the ideal book to provide readers with the skills needed to create construction documents with AutoCAD MEP that are reflective of industry standards and expectations. This book focuses on the rationale and practicality of the AutoCAD MEP process and emphasizes the process of creating projects in MEP, rather than a series of independent commands and tools. Tools are introduced together in a focused process, with a strong emphasis on "why" as well as "how". Both the book and the exercises will provide readers with a clear sense of the value of the tools and a clear indication of each tool's potential. MASTERING AUTOCAD 2010 MEP is a resource designed to shorten readers' learning curve, raise their comfort level and, most importantly, give them real life tested practical advice on using the software to create mechanical, electrical and plumbing designs and calculations.
If you’re at Autodesk University this year, Paul and the rest of the authors are also presenting an “Ask the Experts” session.

Regards,

Toby Smith, PE, LEED AP
AutoCAD MEP Product Manager

Are you attending Autodesk University 2009 in Las Vegas? Amory Lovins Class Added!

This year at Autodesk University Amory Lovins, cofounder and Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute joins Autodesk CEO Carl Bass and Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski at this year's General Session. Lovins, author of Winning the Oil Endgame, is among the world’s leading innovators in energy and its connections to resources, development, security, and the environment. His latest awards include the National Design Award (Design Mind), an Hon. AIA, Foreign Membership of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, and selection by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Lovins will also be teaching "Advanced Design Integration for Radical Energy Efficiency," a look at how integrative design—optimizing a whole system for multiple benefits, not isolated components for single benefits—can yield radical energy efficiency, often at lower capital cost, while giving the designers competitive advantage, bigger profits, and more fun. Amory has been gracious enough to teach a 90 minute classbefore the general session! As his class was added at the last minute, many attendees are unaware of his class and as a follower of the Inside the System blog, we want to be sure you had the opportunity to learn about this new class and register.

As a precursor to Lovins class, check out these videos:

• Charlie Rose: a conversation with Amory Lovins
• TED: Amory Lovins on winning the oil end game

Class details:
Date: Monday, December 1
Time: 8:00 AM
Register: http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=e_class&session_id=5566

Interconnecting Panels and Transformers

Connecting 208/120 volt panels to 480/277 volt panels requires the use of a transformer.  Once the panels and transformers in the distribution system are all connected, loads from the low voltage panels feed through the transformers to the high voltage panels, giving the ability to compute and tabulate the total connected load in the distribution system.

Connecting panels to one another, or to transformers, is concptually similar to circuiting Devices.  You select the component you want to connect, create the power circuit, then specify the equipment that feeds the selected equipment to complete the connection.

Click here for a brief demonstration video.  The basic steps are:

1. Place Panels using appropriate types

2. Set Panel Name and Distribution System for each panel (LA for 208/120, and HA for 480/277).

3. Place transformer

4. Set Primary (480/277) and Secondary Distribution System (208/120) on transformer.

5. Set the transformer name (shown as Panel Name) to T-LA

6. Tag the equipment (optional)

7. Circuit low voltage (208/120) panel LA to Transformer T-LA - note changes in System Browser showing relationship.

8. Circuit the transformer T-LA to the high voltage (480/277) panel HA.

9. Modify the rating of the circuit on HA feeding T-LA:

 

Note: breaker is rated 125% for continuous load, and is rounded up to next standard breaker size.  Standard breaker sizes are: 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1200

10.  Modify the rating of the circuit on HA feeding T-LA:

 

Note different manufacturers provide different standard panel ratings.  Generally, they are 60A, 100A, 125A, 200A, 225A, 400A, 600A, 800A, 1000A, 1200A

Cheers-
Martin Schmid, P.E.
MEP Customer Success Engineer

Circuiting Mechanical Equipment

Click here for a tutorial on circuiting mechanical equipment.  This tutorial starts with the Systems-Default.rte template, and walks you through not only circuiting a mechanical unit, but also modifying various tag families to display the desired circuit and equipment identification information.  Once you are satisfied with such changes, you can save the project as a template and use as a basis for future projects.

Cheers-
Martin Schmid, P.E.
MEP Customer Success Engineer

Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 Update 2 is available

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“All,

I am pleased to announce that Update 2 for Autodesk Revit MEP 2010 is now available at http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...112&id=9262907.

The Update can be applied to all languages of Revit MEP. Currently, only the English download page has the update, but the other language download pages will be available by the middle of next month. Until then users with other languages can download the update from the English page.

Please note: the update release does not contain any new functionality. However, we are developing functionality enhancements that will be available to Subscription customers in the near future. The functionality enhancement release will include Update 2.

Regards,”

Dave Pothier
Product Manager,
Revit MEP

A Case for Type Parameters

The concept of Type parameters vs. Instance parameters seems to put many users' minds into a spin.  Instead of trying to describe what the difference is, I'm going to provide a scenario where Type parameters should be used instead of Instance parameters.  Perhaps by providing a concrete example, one will be more readily able to discern when to use one over the other.

I came across a Revit project file recently.  Some things weren't jiving for me in trying to diagnose an issue, so I put together a quick schedule, and found this:

 

If you have a keen eye, you're asking yourself, how can multiple "Fixture Types" be associated with the same Family and Type (i.e, the Corp_Recessed : 277V Recess)? 

Upon further inspection of this particular Family, I found the following:

 

The issue is simply that the method used in this project to 'type' the fixture will easily lead to inconsistencies.  The Instance parameters, indicated by (default), introduce a lot of uncertainty into the model. 

Take for example the following instances in the model:

 

I.e., what is to keep someone from adjusting the length of an "A1" fixture to be 8' long instead of 4'?  What is to keep someone from adjusting the geometry of an "A4" fixture to appear like a 2x4, or even a 4x4 (instead of the apparently intended 2x2), or adjust the height too?  Or... what is to keep one from mis-'Fixture Typing' a "A1" as an "A9"? 

Even the Load in this family is an instance parameter... I don't think anyone would want to rely on someone to enter the proper load at each instance of all of these fixtures.  For this one type containing 514 total instances, that is over 2500 opportunities for error (514 x 5 params each: length, width, height, load, fixture type).  Using Type parameters for these properties avoids all such problems and will lead to a much more consistent model. 

Take for example (referring to the schedule above) fixture type "E1" - is this fixture supposed to be Wall mounted or Ceiling mounted?  120v or 277v?  If it makes a difference in the model number that needs to be ordered, it could be a change order waiting to happen.

To summarize:  each fixture type (corresponding to a manufacturer's model number) of a lighting fixture should be uniquely identified - this is nothing new.  However, the execution of how you do this can make your documentation much more consistent if applying the proper techniques in your modeling application.  In Revit - this means make sure you have a separate Fixture Type for each Type of fixture.  If you use the 'Type Mark' parameter built-into the software, Revit will even warn you if you in-advertently duplicate a value!

Cheers-
Martin Schmid, PE
MEP Customer Success Engineer

 

Revit Inside - Are you listed?

Do you consider yourself an adopter of BIM? Is your firm listed on the “Revit Inside” website? Why not visit the website today and add your firm to the list of proud BIM adopters! The “Revit Inside” website promotes a wealth of firms across the globe who are proud to promote their successful implementation and use of BIM. As the website grows in popularity, ensuring your firm is listed could be a great way to promote the success of your firm to that of others. Enjoy!

AutoCAD MEP 2010 Product Update 1 Now Available

This is to let everyone know that the Product Update 1 (Product Updates are formerly known as Service Packs) is now available via Live Update via the Communication Center in the product.  This Update will also be available soon on the AutoCAD MEP Services & Support page (http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL13868521).

Thanks,

Toby Smith, PE, LEED AP
AutoCAD MEP Product Manager

Using manufacturers content from Inventor inside of Revit MEP or AutoCAD MEP

This new Skill Builder demonstrates how to use the AEC Exchange tool in Inventor 2010 to simplify the exchange of data with building models created in Revit MEP 2010 or AutoCAD MEP 2010. See how to simplify Inventor models to remove the 'guts' of a part, add MEP connectors and then import those parts into either application.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=13092758&linkID=9243140

Revit MEP - Hydronic Piping Calculations

We've done duct, electrical, heating and cooling loads... Well piping must be next. Please let us know how well the attached document explains the calculations that are taking place in Revit MEP.

Download MEP_Hydronic_Piping

Thanks!

jason