Engineering with a Fabrication database in revit Vdc Tdindustries Craig technology chappell specialist
Main objectives • Class Description • This class will focus on efforts to utilize a Fabrication Database in Revit for Engineering. With an effort to vertically align Engineering, Estimating, VDC and Manufacturing on a common platform, it was important to utilize the same common database. It was necessary to determine the hurdles involved in adapting Engineering workflows to use Fabrication parts and how we were able to resolve them. This class is not meant to be a definitive explanation of the right methods, but a look at how it has been accomplished. Therefore, time will be allotted for open discussion. • Course Objectives • Learn how to use Fabrication Parts during design. • Explore best practices to add value for Engineering, Estimating and VDC.
What about me? What about me? VDC Technology Specialist at TDIndustries, Inc. - 2016 TDIndustries delivers a comprehensive approach to mechanical service, maintenance, operations and construction. Originally founded in 1946, TD provides innovative facilities services that optimize the performance of world- class mechanical systems in multiple industries. Adjunct Faculty at Collin College Computer Aided Drafting and Design – 2018 to current Adjunct Faculty at Kansas State University Architectural Construction Science Department - 2013 to 2016 14 years of experience in AEC industry Mechanical design, Project Management, Teaching & Research & Development 5 years as a 3 rd Assistant Engineer on US Flagged Cargo Ships. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - Class of 2001 Over 900 Days at sea.
What about me? What about you? • Engineers • Revit Experience • CADmep Experience • Consulting Firm • Revit+Fabrication? • Contractors • Contractors • Pre-Construction • Construction • Architects
What is the why? • Test Design Build workflows working jointly with Engineering, VDC, Estimating and Manufacturing • Gain Knowledge of Fabrication in Revit • Work with a common Fabrication Database.
The ask • Can we develop an efficient workflow for a Design Build project using one Revit model that can facilitate Engineering design workflows as well as VDC Coordination and Shop Fabrication scope?
What are some of the potential impacts? • Design Build vs. Plan & Spec • When to convert (if at all) • Revit Families vs. Fabrication ITMs • Permit Set & Coordination Scopes • Design Workflows • Visibility Graphics • Annotations • Deadlines and Responsibilities
definitions • Families – Modeled content that is native to Revit • ITMs – Modeled content that is native to Fabrication. May also be referred to as Fabrication Parts. • VDC Coordinator – Trade specialist focused on producing clash free shop drawings for construction. May also be referred to as a Detailer.
Design build • The nature of this project being a Design Build gave us the ability to work together across departments from Engineering, VDC as well as Estimating. • Engineering was able to leverage the expertise of our Partners in Estimating and VDC to provide feedback on construction layout and cost.
When to convert? • The final goal is to provide coordinated fabrication items in Revit to our shop. • Through that process we needed to develop Engineering drawings for permit. • This meant that we were going to need to either start initially in parts or convert at some point.
When to convert? • Starting in parts was not ideal because our Engineering Partners did not have strong experience with Fabrication ITMs overall. • ITMs do not carry flow information that is used in our design workflows with Families. • This made it undesirable to create fabrication initially.
When to convert? • There is not a lot of known information in the project at the Schematic Design phase. • Many systems and specifications are still being discussed. • Not much is modeled to this point, so a conversion would not be ideal.
When to convert? • A lot of work goes into creating final Permit set drawings with regards to annotations and documentation. • Converting after the Permit set would cause all that annotation work to be lost.
When to convert? • It was determined to model with Revit Families through the DD phase and then begin to convert over to Fabrication ITMs any Sheetmetal, Piping or Plumbing • After the DD set was issued, VDC Coordinators began supporting the Engineering teams and provided guidance on conversion and some coordination. • It was not necessary to fully coordinate the systems yet, which was a little out of character for our VDC Partners.
Permit set vs coordination progress • VDC support after DD Set issue. • As Design layouts began to be more formalized, the routing was also being coordinated with other trades as best as possible. • Not necessarily fully coordinated. • “Pencils Down!”
Peer to peer mentoring • Most Engineering Partners were comfortable working in Revit, but new to Fabrication. • The VDC Partners were comfortable utilizing a Fabrication database, but new to the canvas of Revit. • The team worked jointly to mentor each other.
responsibilities • The Engineering team was divided into four groups to represent Sheetmetal, Mechanical Piping, Plumbing and Model Management. • This aligned with our VDC Partners.
Common master database • A company wide database is managed by a team and its use was introduced into the Revit model. • This common platform is working towards developing modeled content that can be used by Engineering, Estimating, Coordination and ultimately Manufacturing.
Cad standards • System color standards between Engineering and VDC. • Engineering adopted VDC color settings.
Visibility graphics • Model Categories • Revit System Colors • Service Filters • Visual Style
Visibility graphics • Line Weights – View Discipline Setting
Visibility graphics • View Discipline Settings – Plumbing vs Coordination
Visibility graphics • Rise / Drop Symbology
Modeling standards • Loss of Flow in Revit Families when Converting.
Modeling standards • Mechanical Settings for Angles of Duct and Pipe. • Some ITMs that work fine in CADmep caused problems in Revit and had to be addressed.
Modeling standards • The direction that a Revit Family of Duct or Pipe is modeled determines the orientation for an ITM when converted. • Slope does not affect this issue. • The Family can be flipped, but the converted ITM will revert back to the original orientation.
Annotations • Families and ITMs are different model categories and Tags will remain when the associated Family is converted. • The Labels for the Tags had to be recreated, since the Tag cannot simply change category assignment.
Cad standards • Engineering and VDC have different standards for Font and text size. We worked together to find common ground in visual standards that support both groups.
Conversion tips • Verify that Fabrication ITMs are modeled correctly for use to the shop. • Example, Sheetmetal reducer needs to have values represented in the ITM. It is possible to model an ITM and not have the properties represent that for CAM.
Conversion tips - hurdles • Button Mapping developed • Direction of Flow • Bad Angles • Concentric vs Eccentric • Inline fittings
Conversion tips – what to convert • Converting major components • Route and Fill • Multi-point Routing
Key take-aways • Ultimate Goals • Impacts on Engineering Design • Changes in Modeling Standards • Solutions to using ITMs in Revit
Questions? comments!
Thank you for attending our class! Please fill out the survey for this session in the app. Go to “My Schedule” Select this session Scroll down to “Session Survey” Craig Chappell VDC Technology Specialist craig.chappell@tdindustries.com @MoDyBIM
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